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Software Powers Growth-Stock Comeback as 4th Quarter Begins
by David Russell | Oct 9, 2024
2024 is entering its homestretch, and large-cap growth stocks could be making a comeback. Technology, communications and consumer discretionaries are the three best-performing sectors in the last month, according to TradeStation data. That's important for at least two...
Chart of the Day: Are Chips Losing Their Edge to Software Stocks?
by David Russell | Sep 11, 2023
Semiconductor stocks have surged this year, thanks in large part to Nvidia. But they could be losing relative strength to software makers within the technology sector. Today’s main chart focuses on the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH), which closely tracks the...
Breakout or Breakdown? Events This Week Could Set Market Direction
by David Russell | Sep 11, 2023
Stocks face major tests this week as investors brace for inflation data, a potential autoworker strike and the expected introduction of new iPhones. The S&P 500 fell 1.4 percent in the holiday-shortened week between Friday, September 1, and Friday, September 8....
Technology Rebounds as New Companies Rally In the Sector
by David Russell | Sep 5, 2023
Technology stocks are rebounding from a weak August as investors target a widening swath of companies like Intel and Western Digital. The S&P 500 rose 2.5 percent between Friday, August 25, and Friday, September 1. But technology stocks rallied 4.4 percent, their...
Energy Led in August as Higher Rates Dragged The Stock Market Lower
by David Russell | Sep 1, 2023
The stock market pulled back in August after a five-month rally. Energy was the only positive sector, thanks to rising oil prices. The S&P 500 was down 5.5 percent at its low on August 18, but rebounded to end the month with a 1.8 percent decline. More than...
Chart of the Day: Tesla Could Be Accelerating
by David Russell | Aug 28, 2023
Tesla skidded lower after its last earnings report on July 19, but now the EV giant could be turning a corner. The first pattern on today's chart is the dive toward $212 on August 18. It was the lowest level in more than two months, but TSLA gapped back to the upside...
Stocks Are Trying to Stabilize Before a Trio of Major Economic Events
by David Russell | Aug 28, 2023
Stocks are trying to stabilize before three major economic events that could determine direction in coming months. The S&P 500 rose 0.8 percent between Friday, August 18, and Friday, August 25. It was the first gain in the last four weeks, supported by large-cap...
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Technology & Communication
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...
Options Alert: Call Buyer Gives Chinese Tech Stock More Time for a Potential Move
by David Russell | Mar 22, 2022
Chinese technology stocks jumped last week, and one big options trader is targeting a former high flier. Check out this unusual options activity in Shanghai-based e-commerce company Pinduoduo (PDD): A block of 15,000 April 50 calls was sold for $1.67 against open...
Tech Stocks Break the Downtrend Despite a Hawkish Fed. Are the Bears Losing Control?
by David Russell | Mar 21, 2022
Stocks just had their biggest rally in over a year as a broad cloud of bearishness began to lift, despite an increasingly hawkish Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 rose 6.2 percent between Friday, March, 11, and Friday, March 18. The Nasdaq-100 jumped 8.4 and the Dow...
After Getting Cut in Half, An Options Trader Thinks this Social Media Giant May Have Bottomed
by David Russell | Mar 17, 2022
Social-media giant Meta Platforms has gotten cut in half, and now one big investor seems to think it will stabilize. Check out the unusual options activity detected in the company formerly known as Facebook (FB) yesterday: A trader sold 16,500 8-April 200 puts for...
Global Energy Squeeze Revives Interest In Solar Stocks Following a Year of Consolidation
by David Russell | Mar 10, 2022
Solar energy stocks were one of the top performing groups in the pandemic year 2020. Now after a long pause, the global energy shock is reviving the group. SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG) is up 36 percent in the last month, making it the top performing member of the...