Market Insights
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Stocks Pause Near Record Highs Before Inflation, Earnings
Stocks are pulling back as traders wait for key inflation data and the start of earnings season. The S&P 500 fell 1.5 percent in the holiday-shortened period between Friday, December 29, and Friday, January 5. It was the first drop in 10 weeks, ending the index's...
Investors Sold Everything That Wasn’t Nailed Down Last Week
Stocks just finished their worst week in seven years as investors sold everything that wasn't nailed down. All the major sectors declined at least 5 percent. Energy cratered 10 percent, small caps slid 9 percent and Technology dropped 8 percent. The S&P 500's 6.6...
Bears Keep the Pressure on Struggling Blue Chip
Options traders are sticking with one of the most consistent trends in the last two years. They're betting against a stock that once ruled the roost in global markets. General Electric (GE), once the world's most valuable company, has lost more than half its value...
A Dreaded Currency Is on the Rise
The Japanese yen, everyone's dreaded safe-haven, is on the rise. Futures on the currency (@JY) rose 0.85 percent, their biggest daily gain since May. There's also signs of a potential upward reversal after a breakout through the 50-day moving average. (Today's move...
Put Volume Swells in Junk Bond Fund
Options traders seem to be bracing for downside in junk bonds as negativity sweeps financial markets. The iShares High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) is having its worst month in over three years as investors shun leveraged companies. The largest options trade so far...
Suddenly Vultures Circle in the Credit Market
The Federal Reserve has everyone talking about hawks and doves this week. But another kind of bird may be swooping in: vultures. Recent headlines suggest credit markets are getting squeezed. This could create bearish opportunities for traders willing to play buzzard...
How Low Can Oil Go?
Energy just had its worst month in decades, and the bears are still in control. Crude oil futures (@CL) dropped 7.2 percent yesterday, their biggest decline in over three weeks. Not only did they break under the psychologically key $50 level, @CL also closed at the...
Technology & Communication
Four Key Options Strategies to Know With the Biggest Week of Earnings Season About to Begin
Next week is the biggest week of earnings season. More than one-third of the S&P 500's members announce results, including the biggest companies like Apple. This blog post will focus on options strategies that can help stock investors during earnings season. It...