Market Insights
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What Are the Top Contracts for Futures Traders?
(This post was updated March 20, 2023.) Futures are derivatives that track products like the S&P 500, crude oil, Treasury bonds and gold. Traders use futures to position for rallies and drops, with the ability to place orders most times of the day. These extended...
Market Action summary: 7/30/18
Click here to register for the webinar. S&P 500 overview: Hits resistance at January downgap Failed breakout → Risk of bearish phase. SPX bearish harami on Thursday, July 26. Remember we've been up 4 straight weeks. 2700 may be key level on SPX: Trendline, pivot,...
Don’s Notebook July 30, 2018
An exceptionally busy week begins with more earnings, global interest rate meetings and political news with economic repercussions. The only economic report of the day comes at 10 a.m. ET, when the National Association of Realtors issues its June report on pending...
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...
Don’s Notebook July 27, 2018
Report Notes: GDP may have been soft in Q1, but today’s report shows a big second quarter. Consumer spending drove GDP higher in the second quarter, to a 4.1 percent annualized. At 10 a.m. ET, the University of Michigan will issue its final July consumer sentiment...
Technology & Communication
Apple and Facebook Come Through With Strong Results: Earnings This Week
The busiest part of earnings season has passed, and big technology stocks were winners again. In particular, Apple (AAPL), Facebook (FB), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Intel (INTC) all rallied on strong results. Big health-care names like Merck (MRK) and Amgen...