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Stocks Try to Stabilize Amid Major Uncertainty
by David Russell | Mar 24, 2025
Stocks are trying to stabilize amid major uncertainty about tariffs and the economy. The S&P 500 rose 0.5 percent between Friday, March 14, and Friday, March 21. It was the first gain in five weeks. Negative headlines on tariffs and government policy continued....
Nvidia Calls Get Active as AI Goes Mainstream
by David Russell | Jan 7, 2025
Options traders flocked to Nvidia yesterday ahead of a potentially key week for the AI giant. Volume surged in short-dated weekly calls expiring this Friday, which suggests investors are looking for a quick move. Here were some of the busiest contracts: More than...
Assessing the Market With Sector Performance
by David Russell | Jan 7, 2025
Market internals is a field of technical analysis that considers how companies within the stock market are performing. A recent article covered breadth, and now we'll turn to sector performance. This technique assesses the S&P 500 by comparing price changes of...
Is Big Tech Starting 2025 With Bullish Signals?
by David Russell | Jan 6, 2025
The Nasdaq-100 may be confirming a breakout as the New Year begins with more strength in AI. The tech-heavy index probed below 21,000 last week before reversing higher. That pullback included tests under its October high, December low and 50-day moving average....
Check out These Big Stories in 2024
by David Russell | Dec 26, 2024
The S&P 500 is headed for another strong return as 2024 winds down. Here were some of the big stories along the way: Netflix Leads Market to New Highs Before Fed Meeting (January 29): While megacap AI stocks stole the show in 2024, an other growth name broke out...
Rollercoaster Week Draws Money from the Sidelines
by David Russell | Dec 23, 2024
The stock market had a rollercoaster week but could be riding bullish momentum into yearend. The S&P 500 slid 2 percent between Friday, December 13 and Friday, December 20. It was the index's second straight negative week, with prices rebounding from a drop of 3.6...
All Eyes on the 10-Year Treasury Yield
by David Russell | Dec 19, 2024
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. Check out our next “State of the Market,” on Monday, 1/16. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500 falls the most since 8/5, hits low of month Prices under 8-, 21-day EMAs, 50-day MA...
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication

Tech: Smaller Names Break Out as the ‘Big 3’ Lag
by David Russell | Feb 4, 2025
Technology is the worst-performing sector this year. A lot of the weakness is at the top, but some smaller names are breaking out. Apple (AAPL), Nvidia (NVDA) and Microsoft (MSFT) are the three biggest technology stocks, accounting for more than 40 percent of the...

These AI Stocks Could Be Active With Nvidia Earnings Later Today
by David Russell | May 22, 2024
Nvidia releases earnings today, and it could impact other stocks in the AI space. While per-share earnings are expected to increase about 8 percent from the previous quarter, attention could focus on demand trends. Some investors have worried that the planned launch...

Chart of the Day: Oracle May Have Found Support
by David Russell | May 7, 2024
Oracle jumped to new highs almost two months ago. Now, after a pullback, the software giant may have found support. The first pattern on today’s chart is the gap higher on March 12 after earnings surprised to the upside. ORCL retraced the move and is starting to...

AI Boom Fades as Fundamentals Weaken: Earnings Recap
by David Russell | Apr 30, 2024
Most of the big earnings reports have now occurred, and so far they've done little to boost the market. Companies like Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Netflix (NFLX), Caterpillar (CAT) and Intel (INTC) reported profits above Wall Street estimates. However...

Nasdaq Surges as Traders Buy the Dip Before Fed Meeting
by David Russell | Apr 29, 2024
Stocks are rebounding as key earnings beat estimates and investors get comfortable with fewer rate cuts. The S&P 500 rose 2.7 percent between Friday, April 19, and Friday, April 26. The Nasdaq-100 jumped 4 percent. Those were the biggest weekly gains for both...