Market Insights
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Chart of the Day: Exxon Challenges Short Term Resistance
Exxon Mobil rallied in March and early April. Now, after a pullback, some traders may expect further upside. The first pattern on today’s chart is the falling trendline along last month’s highs. The energy giant closed above it on Friday, which could be considered ......
Here Are 3 Key Hedging Strategies If You’re Worried About a Pullback in the Stock Market
Stocks have been sliding since Labor Day. This post will consider some potential hedging techniques if you're worried about a deeper pullback. The strategies use options, which give investors the right to buy and sell shares at given prices. Because they're...
Stocks Retreat as Data Weakens. Is Stagflation Coming?
Stocks had their worst week in almost three months as the economy slows and the Federal Reserves prepares to tighten monetary policy. The S&P 500 slid 1.7 percent in the holiday-shortened period between September 3 and September 10. It was the biggest drop since...
This Tech-Savvy Restaurant Chain Took Off During the Pandemic. Can You Guess September’s Mystery Stock?
The coronavirus pandemic transformed the nature of in-person businesses like retail and restaurants. This month's mystery stock was ready for the change, and has thrived amid the crisis. It started 28 years ago when a sous chef noticed the popularity of tacos and...
Is the S&P 500 Rolling Over? Check Out Today’s Technical Analysis
The S&P 500 has climbed for seven straight months. But it may face some near-term challenges as September gets underway. The main pattern on today’s chart is the resistance line running along the highs since mid-April. Notice how prices have stalled once again at...
Options Alert: Call Buyers Target Breakout in Up-and-Coming Cloud Stock
Datadog, an 11-year old cloud-computing firm, broke out to new highs last month. Today, options traders looked for the rally to continue. More than 20,000 call options changed hands at the 140 strike, plus another 5,000 at the 142 strike. Four contracts accounted for...
IPOs, iPhones and Fed Tapering: Stocks Enter the Home Stretch for 2021
The U.S. economy took a hit last month, but investors may find new opportunities as they come back from the summer. A wave of initial public offerings (IPOs), changes in Federal Reserve policy and technology news could prove catalysts in coming weeks. We'll consider...
Technology & Communication
Options Alert: Call Buyers Take the Wheel At Apple On Report of Self-Driving Electric Vehicle
Apple could launch a self-driving electric car in 2025, and options traders are loving it. Nearly 3.2 million calls traded in the iPhone maker yesterday, the highest total in 14 months. The volume focused heavily on short-term weekly contracts expiring today: More...
Showdowns in Tech: Let the Ad Wars Begin
Amazon.com (AMZN) has disrupted plenty of industries, and now the e-commerce giant is challenging major players in Silicon Valley. We're talking about digital advertising, a field long dominated by Alphabet (GOOGL) and Facebook (FB). While those two companies control...
Bright Spots as Big Tech Disappoints: Earnings This Week
The last week of quarterly results featured bad news from some high-profile stocks, but other names rose in prominence. Right off the bat, Apple (AAPL) had disappointing iPhone sales and stunned investors by saying it would stop reporting unit volumes on its flagship...
Volatility Evaporates as Election Drives Relief Rally
Stocks are enjoying a healthy rally today as the uncertainty of mid-term elections fades. With so much going on, let's just hit on a few key takeaways. First, health care is leading the rally after Democrats won a majority in the House of Representatives for the first...
Boring Stocks Rose Before the Midterms
After October's volatility, investors seemed to be playing it safe. Big and "boring" stocks are among the top performers in the last month. Most of them are consumer facing rather than dynamic innovators. We're talking Gillette razors, big-box retail and Egg...