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Horseshoes and Hand Grenades: Levels on the S&P 500

Horseshoes and Hand Grenades: Levels on the S&P 500

Ever heard the saying that "close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades?" It means coming close to a goal isn't good enough for most projects. But it can be good enough when it come to charting the S&P 500. Last week, for instance, Market Insights surveyed...

Volatility and the Dog Days of Summer

Volatility and the Dog Days of Summer

Earlier today, we highlighted the spreading risk of global debt and currency problems. But what does it mean for the chart most of us really care about, the S&P 500? Here are some thoughts. First, the U.S. index is in the midst of its longest weekly winning streak...

Vix under Siege as S&P 500 Fills January Gap

Vix under Siege as S&P 500 Fills January Gap

The S&P 500 hit its highest level since late-January as the index fills a "bearish gap." Remember, gaps are patterns on candle-stick charts that show a security jumping up or down from one price zone to another without any transactions between the two. That leaves...

S&P 500 Erases February Selloff

S&P 500 Erases February Selloff

Stocks may have just broken a key level from early in the year, shortly before they suffered a gut-wrenching drop. Here's what it felt like at the time: The S&P 500 hit a record high on January 26. It then stalled and chopped in a right range before spiraling...

Traders, Key an Eye on Small Caps

Traders, Key an Eye on Small Caps

It's a busy week for earnings and economic news. But, don't forget about one the year's strongest areas in the market. We're talking about small-cap stocks, tracked by the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM). Its 9 percent gain so far this year makes it the second-best...

Oil Holds Its Ground Despite Bearish News

Oil Holds Its Ground Despite Bearish News

Something weird is happening in crude oil: It's not going down on bad news. Last night the American Petroleum Institute reported energy stockpiles rose by 629,000 barrels, versus an estimated drop of 3 million barrels. Numbers from the Energy Department were even...

Takeaways From Tuesday’s Remarkable Session

Takeaways From Tuesday’s Remarkable Session

A bunch of interesting things happened yesterday -- all of them potentially bullish. First, the S&P 500 closed at its highest level since February 1. Translation? The early-2018 market crash is pretty much history. In fact, the index is now only 2 percent below...

Here Come Earnings

Here Come Earnings

It's hard to deny sentiment is building for a strong earnings season. Depending on who you ask, profits are projected to rise more than 20 percent. While the estimates vary, direction is positive because all the research shows consensus figures climbing in recent...

Are Stocks Headed for a Breakout?

Are Stocks Headed for a Breakout?

We've written a lot about the S&P 500 holding a bullish trend line. Now another potentially key level could be at play for the index. A resistance level around 2800 has been in play since mid-March as equities rebounded from their violent swoon in February. Now...