Market Insights
Bringing you the trading news around the world.
Stock Gains Widen as Investors Hope for Lower Inflation
by David Russell | May 13, 2024
Money is flowing back into stocks as investors hope for a better inflation report this week. The S&P 500 rose 1.9 percent between Friday, May 3, and Friday, May 10. It was the third straight positive week. More than four-fifths of the index's members advanced,...
Recent stories
The Basics of Options
by David Russell | May 12, 2024
Options are an important tool for many retail investors. They can either replace trading shares, or make it easier to position oneself in stocks. Let’s consider the first things options traders need to know. An Option’s Price Is Usually Called ‘Premium’ There are some...
Memory Tricks for Options Greeks Like Delta, Gamma and Vega
by David Russell | May 12, 2024
Options are complex instruments that can swing sharply in value. Traders may find the moves confusing, so this article will help explain key "Greeks" -- some of the most important factors impacting the price of options. Greeks are Greek letters used in complicated...
Bullish, Neutral, Even Bearish: 3 Ways Options Traders Can Use Covered Calls
by David Russell | May 10, 2024
Covered calls are one of the most common strategies for options traders. While many investors have heard of them, they may not realize that covered calls are highly versatile. This article will cover how the method can be bullish, neutral and even bearish. First,...
More stories
Stock Gains Widen as Investors Hope for Lower Inflation
by David Russell | May 13, 2024
Money is flowing back into stocks as investors hope for a better inflation report this week. The S&P 500 rose 1.9 percent between Friday, May 3, and Friday, May 10. It was the third straight positive week. More than four-fifths of the index's members advanced,...
The Basics of Options
by David Russell | May 12, 2024
Options are an important tool for many retail investors. They can either replace trading shares, or make it easier to position oneself in stocks. Let’s consider the first things options traders need to know. An Option’s Price Is Usually Called ‘Premium’ There are some...
Memory Tricks for Options Greeks Like Delta, Gamma and Vega
by David Russell | May 12, 2024
Options are complex instruments that can swing sharply in value. Traders may find the moves confusing, so this article will help explain key "Greeks" -- some of the most important factors impacting the price of options. Greeks are Greek letters used in complicated...
Bullish, Neutral, Even Bearish: 3 Ways Options Traders Can Use Covered Calls
by David Russell | May 10, 2024
Covered calls are one of the most common strategies for options traders. While many investors have heard of them, they may not realize that covered calls are highly versatile. This article will cover how the method can be bullish, neutral and even bearish. First,...
Calm Returns as Rate Fears Subside: Market Trends This Week
by David Russell | May 9, 2024
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. Register for Market Trends here. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500 back above 50-day MA. MACD turns higher More index members above 20-day MA than above...
Stock Gains Widen as Investors Hope for Lower Inflation
by David Russell | May 13, 2024
Money is flowing back into stocks as investors hope for a better inflation report this week. The S&P 500 rose 1.9 percent between Friday, May 3, and Friday, May 10. It was the third straight positive week. More than four-fifths of the index's members advanced,...
The Basics of Options
by David Russell | May 12, 2024
Options are an important tool for many retail investors. They can either replace trading shares, or make it easier to position oneself in stocks. Let’s consider the first things options traders need to know. An Option’s Price Is Usually Called ‘Premium’ There are some...
Memory Tricks for Options Greeks Like Delta, Gamma and Vega
by David Russell | May 12, 2024
Options are complex instruments that can swing sharply in value. Traders may find the moves confusing, so this article will help explain key "Greeks" -- some of the most important factors impacting the price of options. Greeks are Greek letters used in complicated...
Bullish, Neutral, Even Bearish: 3 Ways Options Traders Can Use Covered Calls
by David Russell | May 10, 2024
Covered calls are one of the most common strategies for options traders. While many investors have heard of them, they may not realize that covered calls are highly versatile. This article will cover how the method can be bullish, neutral and even bearish. First,...
Calm Returns as Rate Fears Subside: Market Trends This Week
by David Russell | May 9, 2024
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. Register for Market Trends here. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500 back above 50-day MA. MACD turns higher More index members above 20-day MA than above...
Stock Gains Widen as Investors Hope for Lower Inflation
by David Russell | May 13, 2024
Money is flowing back into stocks as investors hope for a better inflation report this week. The S&P 500 rose 1.9 percent between Friday, May 3, and Friday, May 10. It was the third straight positive week. More than four-fifths of the index's members advanced,...
Chart of the Day: Oracle May Have Found Support
by David Russell | May 7, 2024
Oracle jumped to new highs almost two months ago. Now, after a pullback, the software giant may have found support. The first pattern on today’s chart is the gap higher on March 12 after earnings surprised to the upside. ORCL retraced the move and is starting to...
AI Boom Fades as Fundamentals Weaken: Earnings Recap
by David Russell | Apr 30, 2024
Most of the big earnings reports have now occurred, and so far they've done little to boost the market. Companies like Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Netflix (NFLX), Caterpillar (CAT) and Intel (INTC) reported profits above Wall Street estimates. However...
Nasdaq Surges as Traders Buy the Dip Before Fed Meeting
by David Russell | Apr 29, 2024
Stocks are rebounding as key earnings beat estimates and investors get comfortable with fewer rate cuts. The S&P 500 rose 2.7 percent between Friday, April 19, and Friday, April 26. The Nasdaq-100 jumped 4 percent. Those were the biggest weekly gains for both...
Chart of the Day: Does ARK Innovation Have Downside Risk?
by David Russell | Apr 25, 2024
The ARK Innovation ETF has chopped in a range for the last two years, and some traders may expect a push back to longer-term lows. The first pattern on today’s chart is the rounded top in February and March. It was slightly below the peak of ... For more,...
Stock Gains Widen as Investors Hope for Lower Inflation
by David Russell | May 13, 2024
Money is flowing back into stocks as investors hope for a better inflation report this week. The S&P 500 rose 1.9 percent between Friday, May 3, and Friday, May 10. It was the third straight positive week. More than four-fifths of the index's members advanced,...
Chart of the Day: Oracle May Have Found Support
by David Russell | May 7, 2024
Oracle jumped to new highs almost two months ago. Now, after a pullback, the software giant may have found support. The first pattern on today’s chart is the gap higher on March 12 after earnings surprised to the upside. ORCL retraced the move and is starting to...
AI Boom Fades as Fundamentals Weaken: Earnings Recap
by David Russell | Apr 30, 2024
Most of the big earnings reports have now occurred, and so far they've done little to boost the market. Companies like Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Netflix (NFLX), Caterpillar (CAT) and Intel (INTC) reported profits above Wall Street estimates. However...
Nasdaq Surges as Traders Buy the Dip Before Fed Meeting
by David Russell | Apr 29, 2024
Stocks are rebounding as key earnings beat estimates and investors get comfortable with fewer rate cuts. The S&P 500 rose 2.7 percent between Friday, April 19, and Friday, April 26. The Nasdaq-100 jumped 4 percent. Those were the biggest weekly gains for both...
Chart of the Day: Does ARK Innovation Have Downside Risk?
by David Russell | Apr 25, 2024
The ARK Innovation ETF has chopped in a range for the last two years, and some traders may expect a push back to longer-term lows. The first pattern on today’s chart is the rounded top in February and March. It was slightly below the peak of ... For more,...
AI Boom Fades as Fundamentals Weaken: Earnings Recap
by David Russell | Apr 30, 2024
Most of the big earnings reports have now occurred, and so far they've done little to boost the market. Companies like Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Netflix (NFLX), Caterpillar (CAT) and Intel (INTC) reported profits above Wall Street estimates. However...
Is Inflation Making a Comeback as the Fed Looks to Cut Interest Rates?
by David Russell | Mar 19, 2024
The stock market has been optimistic about inflation since late 2023, but price pressures may be returning as the Federal Reserve considers interest-rate cuts. The price of energy, shelter and materials have quietly risen in the last month. The increases follow months...
Tech, Housing, Inflation: Stock Market Trends To Watch in the New Year
by David Russell | Jan 4, 2024
The New Year begins with increased confidence that inflation and interest rates have peaked. What will that mean for the market? Here are some potential outcomes based on recent trends. New Growth Stocks May Go Mainstream The period after 2017 saw a flurry of initial...
What Is Event Risk? Why Does It Matter? How Can it Be Managed?
by David Russell | Dec 31, 2023
Investors face several kinds of risk in the stock market. Today we'll consider one of the most common: event risk. While some events are unexpected, many are known. Stocks often move around certain occurrences, like earnings reports, Federal Reserve meetings or...
Markets Feeling Dovish Before the Fed: 5 Key Charts Right Now
by David Russell | Dec 6, 2023
Financial markets seem be increasing their dovish views with three major economic events in the next week. The charts and news events below paint a picture of slowing economic growth and inflation. That's making investors think the Federal Reserve will skip a rate...
AI Boom Fades as Fundamentals Weaken: Earnings Recap
by David Russell | Apr 30, 2024
Most of the big earnings reports have now occurred, and so far they've done little to boost the market. Companies like Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Netflix (NFLX), Caterpillar (CAT) and Intel (INTC) reported profits above Wall Street estimates. However...
Is Inflation Making a Comeback as the Fed Looks to Cut Interest Rates?
by David Russell | Mar 19, 2024
The stock market has been optimistic about inflation since late 2023, but price pressures may be returning as the Federal Reserve considers interest-rate cuts. The price of energy, shelter and materials have quietly risen in the last month. The increases follow months...
Tech, Housing, Inflation: Stock Market Trends To Watch in the New Year
by David Russell | Jan 4, 2024
The New Year begins with increased confidence that inflation and interest rates have peaked. What will that mean for the market? Here are some potential outcomes based on recent trends. New Growth Stocks May Go Mainstream The period after 2017 saw a flurry of initial...
What Is Event Risk? Why Does It Matter? How Can it Be Managed?
by David Russell | Dec 31, 2023
Investors face several kinds of risk in the stock market. Today we'll consider one of the most common: event risk. While some events are unexpected, many are known. Stocks often move around certain occurrences, like earnings reports, Federal Reserve meetings or...
Markets Feeling Dovish Before the Fed: 5 Key Charts Right Now
by David Russell | Dec 6, 2023
Financial markets seem be increasing their dovish views with three major economic events in the next week. The charts and news events below paint a picture of slowing economic growth and inflation. That's making investors think the Federal Reserve will skip a rate...
The Basics of Options
by David Russell | May 12, 2024
Options are an important tool for many retail investors. They can either replace trading shares, or make it easier to position oneself in stocks. Let’s consider the first things options traders need to know. An Option’s Price Is Usually Called ‘Premium’ There are some...
Memory Tricks for Options Greeks Like Delta, Gamma and Vega
by David Russell | May 12, 2024
Options are complex instruments that can swing sharply in value. Traders may find the moves confusing, so this article will help explain key "Greeks" -- some of the most important factors impacting the price of options. Greeks are Greek letters used in complicated...
Bullish, Neutral, Even Bearish: 3 Ways Options Traders Can Use Covered Calls
by David Russell | May 10, 2024
Covered calls are one of the most common strategies for options traders. While many investors have heard of them, they may not realize that covered calls are highly versatile. This article will cover how the method can be bullish, neutral and even bearish. First,...
Calm Returns as Rate Fears Subside: Market Trends This Week
by David Russell | May 9, 2024
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. Register for Market Trends here. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500 back above 50-day MA. MACD turns higher More index members above 20-day MA than above...
Bullish and Bearish: Key Points About Vertical Option Spreads
by David Russell | May 8, 2024
Vertical spreads are one of the most common strategies in the options market because they can generate leverage with limited risk. This article will consider key points about bullish and bearish spreads. Vertical spreads involve two "legs" on the same underlier to...
The Basics of Options
by David Russell | May 12, 2024
Options are an important tool for many retail investors. They can either replace trading shares, or make it easier to position oneself in stocks. Let’s consider the first things options traders need to know. An Option’s Price Is Usually Called ‘Premium’ There are some...
Memory Tricks for Options Greeks Like Delta, Gamma and Vega
by David Russell | May 12, 2024
Options are complex instruments that can swing sharply in value. Traders may find the moves confusing, so this article will help explain key "Greeks" -- some of the most important factors impacting the price of options. Greeks are Greek letters used in complicated...
Bullish, Neutral, Even Bearish: 3 Ways Options Traders Can Use Covered Calls
by David Russell | May 10, 2024
Covered calls are one of the most common strategies for options traders. While many investors have heard of them, they may not realize that covered calls are highly versatile. This article will cover how the method can be bullish, neutral and even bearish. First,...
Calm Returns as Rate Fears Subside: Market Trends This Week
by David Russell | May 9, 2024
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. Register for Market Trends here. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500 back above 50-day MA. MACD turns higher More index members above 20-day MA than above...
Bullish and Bearish: Key Points About Vertical Option Spreads
by David Russell | May 8, 2024
Vertical spreads are one of the most common strategies in the options market because they can generate leverage with limited risk. This article will consider key points about bullish and bearish spreads. Vertical spreads involve two "legs" on the same underlier to...