Futures
Chart of the Day: Gold is Pushing $2,000

Chart of the Day: Gold is Pushing $2,000

Gold has consolidated for more than two years, and now it may be inching toward a breakout. The first pattern on today’s weekly chart is the rally in October between roughly $1,812 and $2,000. That move broke a falling trendline from the summer when bond yields were...

Oil’s Fundamentals Could Be Weakening After a Big Surge

Oil’s Fundamentals Could Be Weakening After a Big Surge

Energy stocks and crude oil were among the market's best performers in the third quarter, but fundamentals may be weakening. The sector started climbing in late June as Energy Department data showed crude-oil inventories remaining near long-term lows. The Strategic...

Chart of the Day: Will Crude Oil Run Again?

Chart of the Day: Will Crude Oil Run Again?

Crude-oil futures are having their worst week since March, but some traders might think about buying the pullback. The first pattern on today’s chart is the price area around 83.50. It represented the peak in December and April. It’s also near the spot where ... For...

What Are the Top Contracts for Futures Traders?

What Are the Top Contracts for Futures Traders?

(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...

Diagnosing the Coronavirus Selloff: Just How Bad Is It?

Diagnosing the Coronavirus Selloff: Just How Bad Is It?

Editor's note: This article was originally published on February 25, 2020. Stocks continued their selloff on Tuesday as coronavirus spreads around the world. Here are some facts on what it means for your money. First, this pullback is now a "big one." The S&P 500...