Education
Key Points About Selling Credit Spreads

Key Points About Selling Credit Spreads

The previous post covered debit spreads, when you pay a debit looking for a stock or ETF to move in a certain direction. Credit spreads are just the opposite, with traders collecting premium upfront in hope that the stock won't move a certain way. What a Credit Spread...

Key Points About Trading Vertical Spreads

Key Points About Trading Vertical Spreads

Traders often expect a stock will move higher or lower. But they might not be sure which strategy to use. Should they buy calls looking for a rally, or puts looking for a drop? Should they buy single options, or spread one contract against another? This post will...

Should This Industry Replace Transports in Dow Theory?

Should This Industry Replace Transports in Dow Theory?

Something weird is happening in the market: Transportation stocks are dead in the water as almost everything else rallies. This pattern runs contrary to "Dow Theory," one of the most cherished concepts in the history of investing. Created by journalist Charles Dow in...

Stocks Fell Yesterday. How Serious Is It?

Stocks Fell Yesterday. How Serious Is It?

Stocks just had their sharpest drop in a couple of months. What should we make of it? The first thing that jumps out on the chart is that the S&P 500 remained in breakout territory versus its old trading range. The index is still 1 percent above old resistance...

Relative Strength: Follow the Leader

Relative Strength: Follow the Leader

There are thousands of stocks in the market, and dozens -- if not hundreds -- of industries. You can study them everyday in search of trades, and still miss plenty. That's why many traders use relative strength to focus on potential opportunities. Relative Strength...