Market Insights
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Stocks Break Out as Cyclicals Rally: Market Trends This Week
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. The next Market Trends will be Thursday, April 4. Register for Market Trends here. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500 closes at record high above 5200 Advance / decline...
Oil and Energy Stocks Teeter as Coronavirus Cases Soar in the U.S.
After a huge bounce last quarter, energy is struggling again as coronavirus keeps spreading. The SPDR Energy ETF (XLE) fell 9 percent between June 30 and Thursday's close. That makes it the worst-performing sector this quarter by a huge margin. It also contrasts with...
Key Options Strategies to Know as Earnings Season Begins Next Week
Second-quarter earnings season begins next week against one of the most uncertain backdrops ever. It's a good time to review some options strategies to manage risk in the age of coronavirus. Here are some options trading strategies we'll consider today: Long...
All of a Sudden, Investors Are Waking Up to Global Stocks
The U.S. dollar is under pressure, spurring interest in a whole new universe of stocks and commodities. The iShares China Large Cap ETF (FXI) flew 9.5 percent on Monday, its biggest rally in more than a decade. KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB) also rose more...
Covid or no Covid, Bullish Things Keep Happening in the Stock Market
Stocks rose again last week as one bullish chart pattern after another appeared. The S&P 500 rose 4 percent in the holiday-shortened week between Friday, June 26, and Thursday, July 2. Winners outnumbered losers by more than 19-to-1. The index also registered a 1...
Market Insights’ Biggest Stories From a Dramatic First Half of 2020
The stock market just had one of its most dramatic runs ever. It flew to new highs, crashed to multiyear lows and then bounced sharply. Coronavirus has redefined the economy and the market. The pandemic has catapulted some industries forward, and doomed others with...
Tesla, Netflix and These Other Tech Stocks Broke Out Yesterday
Tesla, Netflix and Amazon.com are leading a breakout in the technology sector as investors prepare for the Fourth of July weekend. The e-commerce giant, electric-car maker and streaming-video provider closed at new highs yesterday. But they weren't alone. Many smaller...
Technology & Communication
Investors Move Back to Cyclicals, Looking for a Hotter Economy Into Yearend
Another rotation toward value stocks could be underway as investors look for a stronger economy into yearend. Financials, industrials and materials have gained momentum in the last week. (The key tracking ETFs for all three have broken above their 50-day moving...
Know Your Options: Diagonal Spread Targets Apple Volatility Crush
One of the most predictable things in the market is time decay after a big event like earnings. Have you ever used a diagonal spread to capitalize on the change? Today we'll see how it's done. First, remember that option premiums attempt to factor in price swings. As...
Tech Falls as Earnings and Economic Data Disappoint
Technology stocks took a hit last week, but the broader market still managed a fourth straight gain. The S&P 500 rose 0.6 percent between Friday, July 20, and Friday, July 27. That contrasted with the Nasdaq-100's decline of 0.7 percent. Sub-par earnings and...
Suddenly Tech Is a Margin Story
Technology stocks are usually all about growth, but in the last few days costs have been the talk of the town more recently. Facebook (FB) is the big example, losing a record $119 billion of market value yesterday. Slower growth was part of the problem, but most...
Caution Reigns in Chip Space: Options Recap
Options traders are bracing against a drop in chip makers as earnings season marches on. Here's a breakdown a large bearish spread in the Market Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH) yesterday: Roughly 22,000 September 100 puts were bought for $1.85. Roughly 22,000...