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The Economy Could Be Accelerating as the Fed Prepares Rate Cuts
by David Russell | Sep 18, 2024
The U.S. economy could be accelerating, even as the Federal Reserve enters a rate-cutting cycle. Retail sales beat estimates for the third straight month in August, lifted by strong demand for autos. Industrial production increased by 0.8 percent, quadruple the...
What Are the Top Contracts for Futures Traders?
by David Russell | Feb 22, 2023
(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...
The Stock Market Is Tightening Into a Range as Traders Wait for More Fed News
by David Russell | Feb 21, 2023
Stocks are squeezing into a tight range as investors weigh the risks of inflation and more interest-rate hikes. The S&P 500 slid 0.3 percent between Friday, February 10, and Friday, February 17. It was the index's second straight negative week after hitting a...
Is Tesla Overvalued? Check Out These Stunning Comparisons to GM and Ford
by David Russell | Feb 17, 2023
Tesla is one of the market's most active companies for stock and options traders. It could also look most expensive by various measures, but is it overvalued? This article will address the question by comparing Elon Musk’s company with other major car makers. It...
S&P Holds December High as Volatility Fades: Market Trends This Week
by David Russell | Feb 16, 2023
Downloads available here and here. Register for Market Trends here. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500 tests and holds December high of 4,101.38.2% retracement of YTD moveTests and holds middle of price channel, potential signal for bull flag breakoutS&P...
Looking for Support and Resistance? Price Channels Might Help
by David Russell | Feb 14, 2023
Traders often use support and resistance to get an edge in the stock market. However levels can change as prices move, so today we'll consider a tool that automatically adjusts as trends evolve: price channels. TradeStation's Price Channel indicator tracks recent...
Can Stocks Keep Running With Another Big Inflation Report This Week?
by David Russell | Feb 13, 2023
Stocks fell last week as traders sold recent gainers in the technology space. They now face a potentially big test with key inflation data due tomorrow morning. The S&P 500 retreated 1.1 percent between Friday, February 3, and Friday, February 10. It was the first...
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication
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...
Five Reasons Why Stocks Began November With a Giant Blastoff
by David Russell | Nov 9, 2020
Stocks began November with a monster rally, and there are at least five reasons why. The S&P 500, Nasdaq-100 and Dow Jones Industrial Average each had their biggest weekly gains since March. Technology stocks led the charge, along with health care and precious...
Apple IPhones Drive a 5G Feeding Frenzy in Chip Stocks Like Qualcomm: Earnings This Week
by David Russell | Nov 6, 2020
Apple unveiled its first 5G iPhones this month, and the suppliers are already flying. Semiconductor stocks like Qualcomm (QCOM), Skyworks Solutions (SWKS), Qorvo (QRVO) and Cirrus Logic (CRUS) jumped after beating earnings and revenue forecasts. QCOM rose the most,...
Facebook and Alphabet Get Advertising Boost, Apple Has IPhone Angst: Earnings This Week
by David Russell | Oct 30, 2020
Earnings were pretty good for big technology companies like Apple. But are they good enough to overcome jitters about the pandemic and Presidential Election? We're finishing the busiest and most important week of earnings season. The five most-valuable U.S. companies...
Amazon Earnings Are Tonight, Along With Apple and Facebook
by David Russell | Oct 29, 2020
It's a huge day for the Nasdaq-100, with some of the biggest and most important stocks issuing results. Amazon.com (AMZN), Apple (AAPL) and Alphabet (GOOGL), three of the market's four companies worth at least $1 trillion, report earnings this afternoon. Facebook...