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Fed Makes Big Pivot to Employment Mandate: Market Trends This Week
by David Russell | Sep 19, 2024
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. Check out our next “State of the Market,” on Monday, 9/23. Tickets for the Crossroads Summit 2024 can be accessed here. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500...
This Year Could Be Starting to Look Like the Mirror Image of 2022
by David Russell | Jan 17, 2023
Stocks just rose for the second straight week, potentially raising an important question: Will 2023 be a mirror image of last year? The S&P 500 advanced 2.7 percent between Friday, January 6, and Friday, January 13. It's gained the first two weeks of 2023. Last...
Futures 101: The Difference Between Trading Stocks and Futures
by David Russell | Jan 17, 2023
Not well-versed in the futures market? Scared about a new kind of advanced product? Here are some basic points to get started. Futures are different from traditional stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) because they track an index. You don't own anything. You...
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....
Fear Could Be Evaporating After Another Cool Inflation Report
by David Russell | Jan 12, 2023
Inflation was lower than feared for the third straight month, and investors loved it. December's consumer price index (CPI) shrank 0.1 percent, compared with estimates for an unchanged reading. It followed cooler-than-expected readings for November and October,...
A Soft Landing? Why Stocks May Be Attempting a Turn as 2023 Begins
by David Russell | Jan 9, 2023
Stocks began the New Year with gains as investors see the potential for inflation to ease without a recession. The S&P 500 broke a four-week losing streak, rising 1.5 percent in the holiday-shortened period between Friday, December 30. Every major sector advanced,...
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...
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication
Nvidia Is Sitting Quietly After Another Strong Report
by David Russell | Nov 29, 2023
Nvidia is the only member of the S&P 500 that's tripled this year. Now it's stuck near record highs as traders enter the home stretch into 2024. This chart highlights some a few patterns on the semiconductor giant. First, notice how prices have shown signs of...
Memory Chip Maker Holds Key Level as Market Rebounds: Chart of the Day
by David Russell | Jul 9, 2021
This week was cut short by Independence Day. That makes it a good time to view Micron Technology (MU), which seems to have the spirit of 76. The memory-chip maker had a false breakdown below that level on January 27. It quickly rebounded and returned to test $76 three...
Amazon.com Could Be Preparing for a Breakout: Technical Analysis
by David Russell | Jul 6, 2021
Amazon.com has consolidated since last August. Now it may be ready for a breakout, especially with the Nasdaq leading again. Friday’s close of $3,510.98 was AMZN’s second-highest close ever. It was also the highest close since September 2, a potential sign of...
Facebook Joins the Trillion Dollar Club as Fear Bubble Melts and Ad Revenue Piles In
by David Russell | Jun 28, 2021
Facebook's market capitalization just rose above $1 trillion, making it the fifth member of an elite club in the U.S. stock market. FB surged 4.2 percent, adding $40 billion of valuation. It closed at a record high of $355.64 to reach 13-digit status. The only other...
Options Alert: Bulls Target Roku as Original Content Draws Comparisons with Netflix
by David Russell | Jun 23, 2021
Options activity is heating up in Roku as the streaming-video upstart launches original content. Call volume has steadily increased since ROKU signed Kevin Hart for a second season of his action/comedy program. (Last year it was called "Die Hart." The next one will be...