Market Insights
Opportunity knocks for those with trading in their DNA.
Curiosity creates opportunity. Insights create strategy. Born traders create their destiny.
Stocks
Options
Futures
Saved by Semiconductors? Rotation Swings Back to Growth: Market Trends
by David Russell | Sep 12, 2024
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. Check out our next “State of the Market,” on Monday, 9/16. Tickets for the Crossroads Summit 2024 can be accessed here. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500 forms...
Layoffs Increase, Potentially Welcome News for the Federal Reserve
by David Russell | Nov 10, 2022
Layoffs are a new trending theme, which is potentially welcome news for the Federal Reserve. The Google Trends chart below shows interest in the term "layoff" tripling since the beginning of October. It's now back to its highest level since May 2020 near the start of...
Chart of the Day: Can Anything Stop Hess?
by David Russell | Nov 7, 2022
Energy remains the top-performing sector this year. Today we're focusing a member of the group with potentially classic breakout behavior: Hess. The first pattern on the oil and gas stock's chart is the is the October 26 surge above $137. That was the previous...
Investors Survive a Turbulent October, Shifting to New Stocks as Interest Rates Climb
by David Russell | Nov 1, 2022
Stocks held their ground during a turbulent October as investors focused on new areas that could lead in the market's next cycle. The S&P 500 rose 8 percent, advancing for the first time in three months. The move came after a higher-than-expected inflation report...
Stocks Keep Climbing Before the Fed: Will Jerome Powell Finally Slow Down?
by David Russell | Oct 31, 2022
Will Jerome Powell finally hit the brakes? Stocks could be moving like the Federal Reserve is near the end of its rate-hiking cycle. The S&P 500 rose 4 percent between Friday, October 21, and Friday, October 28. It was the second weekly gain of at least 4 percent,...
Options Traders Look for Marathon Oil to Keep Running
by David Russell | Oct 25, 2022
Marathon Oil is the third-best performer in the S&P 500 this year, and options traders seem to think it will keep running. Check out this large complex trade in the Houston-based energy driller: 15,423 January 24 calls were sold for $6.70.15,423 January 21 puts...
Stocks Try to Bounce Before a Huge Week of Earnings
by David Russell | Oct 24, 2022
Stocks are trying to bounce as investors await key earnings and hope for slower rate hikes. The S&P 500 rose 4.7 percent between Friday, October 14, and Friday, October 21. It was the biggest weekly gain since June, with every major sector advancing. More than...
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication
Chart of the Day: Alphabet Pulls Back After Earnings Rally
by David Russell | Aug 4, 2023
Alphabet jumped to a new 52-week high on strong results last week. Now it may be giving trend followers a potential opportunity. The first pattern on today’s chart is the bullish gap on July 26 after revenue beat estimates and its Cloud business surprised to the...
Semiconductors Are Breaking Out. Here Are the Top Stocks For Options Traders
by David Russell | Apr 6, 2021
Semiconductor stocks are breaking out amid a global shortage of microchips. Let's take a closer look at an industry that's crushing the market, even with the broader technology sector lagging. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index ($SOX) has risen 18 percent so far...
Trade QQQ? The Nasdaq Just Had its Worst Quarter in a Decade, by This Measure
by David Russell | Apr 1, 2021
The Nasdaq-100 went from an amazing year in 2020 to its worst quarter in a decade, compared with the rest of the stock market. The technology heavy index, home to trillion-dollar giants like Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft (MSFT), rose just 1.6 percent between the end of...
Bearish Triangle and Death Cross in Zoom Video: Technical Analysis
by David Russell | Mar 29, 2021
As Zoom Video Communications continues to struggle, more bearish patterns have appeared on the chart. First, the recent price action has resulted in a descending triangle , with support around $309. This is a classic continuation pattern, pointing to potentially more...
Chinese Stocks Are Crashing. Here’s Why It Could Be Good Luck for U.S. Investors
by David Russell | Mar 25, 2021
Most investors know that big Nasdaq stocks have struggled lately. They may be less aware of the carnage in Chinese markets. The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) has dropped 8 percent so far in March. That puts it on pace for the worst month in the last year. It also...