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Stock Rally Widens as Economy Gains and Megacaps Falter
by David Russell | Nov 25, 2024
Megacap growth stocks are fading as a strong economy lifts the rest of the market. The S&P 500 rose 1.7 percent between Friday, November 15, and Friday November 22. Every major sector climbed, along with 86 percent of the index's members. An unusual mix of stocks...
Platform Lesson: How Big Was Thursday’s Sharp Move?
by David Russell | Aug 2, 2024
The S&P 500 fell 1.4 percent yesterday, but in some ways the move was much bigger than that. The chart below includes two custom indicators highlighting the size of a symbol's move. Both show that Thursday's drop was the most dramatic in over a year. (They're...
Stocks Rose Again in July as New Sectors Spring to Life
by David Russell | Aug 1, 2024
Stocks kept rising last month, but important changes could be happening as the second half of 2024 begins. The S&P 500 climbed 1.1 percent between Friday, June 28, and Wednesday, July 31. However the Nasdaq-100 fell 1.6 percent and lagged the broader market by its...
Megacaps vs. Small Caps: Market Trends This Week
by David Russell | Aug 1, 2024
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. Check out our next “State of the Market,” on Monday, 8/5. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500 holds 50-day moving average New record high for advance / decline line...
Financials Take Leadership as Megacaps Sputter
by David Russell | Jul 29, 2024
Financial stocks have become the year's top performing sector as rotation away from megacaps intensifies. The group, which includes banks, insurers and securities firms, is now up 15 percent in 2024. It just pulled ahead of communications, which includes Nasdaq giants...
Rotation Intensifies as Tesla, Alphabet Drop: Market Trends This Week
by David Russell | Jul 25, 2024
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. Check out our new webinar "State of the Market," launching on Monday. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500 revisits mid-June price range, 50-day MA Lowest RSI since early May...
Oil Could Be Teetering Before OPEC+ Meeting Next Week
by David Russell | Jul 24, 2024
Crude oil has been sputtering, and OPEC+ isn't expected to provide much relief next week. Ministers from the energy cartel, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, are scheduled to meet on Thursday, August 1. Reuters reported on July 18 that they will probably let oil...
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication
Options Alert: Long-Term Position Stays Bullish on Chip Giant
by David Russell | Sep 25, 2024
Will Broadcom be the next company to achieve a $1 trillion valuation? One big options trader may think so. Check out this unusual activity yesterday in AVGO, which is up more than 50 percent so far this year: 7,000 December 200 calls were purchased for $5.40. 7,000...
Chart of the Day: Tight Consolidation in Semiconductor Equipment Stock
by David Russell | Mar 14, 2023
Semiconductors have outperformed lately as investors get excited about demand from artificial intelligence (AI). Today’s chart considers equipment supplier Lam Research . The first pattern is the rising 50-day simple moving average. LRCX has consolidated in a tight...
Technical Analysis: Have Chipmakers Already Bottomed?
by David Russell | Jan 13, 2023
Most people know that technology stocks ended 2022 on a weak note. But they may not realize one group started to outperform: chipmakers. The first pattern on today’s chart of the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index is the falling trendline along the highs of last year....
Options Alert: Trader Looks for More Upside in Chinese Tech Stock
by David Russell | Jan 5, 2023
Chinese technology stocks have been jumping, and one options trader is positioning for the move to continue. Check out this unusual activity this afternoon in e-commerce company JD.com (JD): Some 5,000 February 70 calls were purchased for $4.01.At the same time, the...
Chart of the Day: Is Oracle Attempting a Breakout?
by David Russell | Jan 4, 2023
Oracle has performed better than most technology and software companies, and now it may be attempting a breakout. The first pattern on today’s chart is the triangle that took shape in December. Prices ended 2022 slightly above the top, and buyers jumped in yesterday....