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Stocks Have Been Frozen on Tariff Uncertainty
by David Russell | Apr 21, 2025
The stock market has been in suspended animation as investors wait for tariff news. The S&P 500 fell 1.5 percent between Friday, April 11, and Thursday, April 17. It represented only a minor dip following the explosive rally a week before, with most of the prior...
Options Alert: Nvidia Reports Earnings Tonight
by David Russell | Feb 26, 2025
Nvidia reports earnings this afternoon, which could trigger countless trades across the options market. The AI chip giant is the second-busiest options underlier, trailing only the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). That can help traders position for upside, downside or...
Options Alert: Traders Eye Downside in Potato Giant
by David Russell | Feb 25, 2025
Lamb Weston has been falling for years, and at least one big trader may see further downside. This large transaction was detected yesterday in the food company: 16,440 March 55 puts traded for $2.12 against open interest of 20,967 contracts. 16,440 April 50 puts...
Stocks Face Potential Reversal as Fears Grow
by David Russell | Feb 24, 2025
Stocks may have experienced a "false breakout" as investors worry about inflation, jobs and economic growth. The S&P 500 fell 1.7 percent between Friday, February 14, and Friday, February 21. It was the third negative week in the last four and the biggest weekly...
Chips Gain Before Nvidia Results
by David Russell | Feb 20, 2025
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. Check out our next “State of the Market,” on Monday, 2/24. Sizing Up the Market S&P 500 crosses 6,119 as volatility fades MACD, RSI, 9-day rate of change (ROC) steadily push...
Chart of the Day: Vistra May Have Shaken Off DeepSeek
by David Russell | Feb 20, 2025
Vistra fell in January because of DeepSeek. It quickly rebounded and now some traders may expect its longer-term uptrend to continue. The first pattern on today’s chart is the rally between the low of January 27 and the high of January 30. The nuclear-power company...
Intel Rallies on Sudden Flurry of Bullish News
by David Russell | Feb 19, 2025
After years of being left for dead, Intel is coming to life. The chipmaker jumped 16 percent yesterday, its biggest gain since the 2020. That surge followed its best week (+24 percent) since January 2000, near the peak of the dotcom bubble. The stock is now above its...
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication

Chart of the Day: Apple May Have Peaked
by David Russell | Apr 2, 2025
Apple has tried to bounce recently, but some traders may think the tech giant has peaked. The first pattern on today’s chart is the February low of $225.70. AAPL broke under the level on March 11 and has stayed there since. That may suggest old support is new ... For...

Stocks Keep Climbing as Chips Falter and ‘Everything Else’ Advances
by David Russell | Oct 21, 2024
Chipmakers have led the market all year, but they could be losing their edge as investors position for new conditions into yearend. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index ($SOX) dominated price action in the first half and remained the top performer through the end of...

Stocks Break Out as Technology and Cyclicals Come Back to Life
by David Russell | Oct 14, 2024
Stocks broke out to new highs last week, led by technology and cyclicals like financials and cruise ships. The S&P 500 rose 1.1 percent between Friday, October 4, and Friday, October 11. It was the fifth straight positive...

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...

AMD Has Lagged in the AI Race. Could It Catch Up This Week?
by David Russell | Oct 8, 2024
Advanced Micro Devices was an early mover in the AI boom. Now, after a long period of stagnation, traders may see potential for the chip stock to play catch-up. Thursday, October 10, could be a pivotal session. That's when CEO Lisa Su plans to unveil the company's...