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Can This Social Media Stock Double in the Next Year?

Can This Social Media Stock Double in the Next Year?

A social-media stalwart got hammered yesterday, and someone positioned for a major rebound. Twitter (TWTR) fell almost 9 percent about halfway through the morning. As it clawed its way back to cut those losses, a trader amassed about 80,000 January 2020 70 calls for...

Don’t Worry, October’s Almost Over

Don’t Worry, October’s Almost Over

Here's one good thing you can say about October: It's almost finished. The S&P 500 is in the midst of its worst month since early 2009, down almost 9 percent since the end of September. That includes a 4 percent drop last week as waves of bearishness swamped...

Wider Fears Amid Some Good Results: Earnings This Week

Wider Fears Amid Some Good Results: Earnings This Week

A handful of big companies announced strong results in the last week, but wider problems are tarnishing the story. Feeble semiconductor demand, doubts about the industrial sector and lackluster guidance emerged as recurring themes as we progress through the busiest...

Basics of Hedging, Part 3: Buying Vs. Selling Options

Basics of Hedging, Part 3: Buying Vs. Selling Options

We recently outlined protective puts and covered calls as common hedging techniques. This brings us to the important question of selling options versus buying options. To understand the these two basic kinds of transactions, traders need to recognize the difference...

Your Favorite Sector’s Getting Reshuffled

Your Favorite Sector’s Getting Reshuffled

Everyone loves tech. Did you know the sector's about to get reshuffled? Over the years, "technology" has become an increasingly ambiguous term. What do semiconductors have in common with phone companies? Why should routers and photocopiers get lumped alongside social...

Finally a Pullback, Thanks to Tech

Finally a Pullback, Thanks to Tech

Traders finally got a pullback last week, thanks to a mini-crash in technology. The S&P 500 slid 1 percent in the holiday-shortened period between Friday, August 31, and Friday, September 7. But that was nothing compared to the Nasdaq-100, whose 2.8 percent slide...

Tech Troubles, Emerging Meltdown Lifts Volatility

Tech Troubles, Emerging Meltdown Lifts Volatility

Volatility's on the rise again today, especially for tech stocks and emerging markets. A combination of political risk, currency anxiety and simple buyer exhaustion seem to be triggering the move. The political risk is happening on Capitol Hill as major e-commerce...

Not All Tech is Rolling Over

Not All Tech is Rolling Over

Earlier today, Market Insights highlighted the general weakness in technology. But there's one huge exception to that statement: Apple (AAPL). Tim Cook's smart-phone behemoth made a new high this morning, and has set new records in nine of the 13 trading sessions this...

Not Perfect but Big Names Come Through: Earnings This Week

Not Perfect but Big Names Come Through: Earnings This Week

It hasn't been a perfect week for earnings, but the big names came through. First and foremost, Apple (AAPL) shot to a new all-time high above $200. Not only did did the tech giant beat estimates, details of the income statement revealed a company that's evolving in a...