This post is the fourth in a series about the catalysts for stock movements. It’s based on a series of talks at TradeStation’s Master Class learning sessions. Most investors want to see companies making money on a regular basis. Today we'll look...
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Options Trader Braves Volatility in Media Giant
Damn the volatility -- full speed ahead. That seemed to be the message from one big options trader in Comcast (CMCSA) yesterday: A block of 5,669 23-November 35 puts was bought in the middle of the afternoon for just $0.02. Volume was below open interest, which...
Showdowns in Tech: Battle for the Cloud
The world of technology is all about disruption, and now a fight is brewing in the cloud. Microsoft (MSFT) is making serious efforts to enter the world of "cloud computing," the business of large companies using third-party servers and software instead of running...
This Chart Shows Just How Bearish Tech Has Gotten
Most clients know technology stocks are getting hammered. But just how bad is the selling? Pretty bad, it turns out, according to TradeStation's award-winning platform. This chart compares the Select Technology Index ($XLK.IV) to the Select Consumer Staples Index...
Brazil Bull Looks for Carnival Rally: Options Recap
Someone's looking for a Carnival rally in Brazil's top bank, with the help of an unusual options strategy. Shortly after lunch on Friday, a trader sold 10,180 June 17 puts in Itau Unibanco (ITUB) for $3.58. At the same second, he or she bought exactly the same number...
Fed Signals Potentially ‘Dovish’ Turn
After years of steady rate hikes, the Federal Reserve may be signaling a change of course. The U.S. central bank's top two policymakers made potentially "dovish" statements in the last three days. That means they may favor less aggressive interest-rate increases going...
S&P Battles to Defend Key Level
The S&P 500 is trying to defend a key level, battling off waves of bearish headlines. 2700 has been important several times this year. It was resistance in mid-April and support in late June. The index bounced slightly above it on October 12, and last week's sharp...
Are There Winners from the Selloff in Oil?
Oil just had its biggest drop in at least four years, and winners may be emerging. Airlines are one of the best-performing groups recently, according to TradeStation's uber-useful RadarScreen® app. They've risen 3 percent in the last week and 6 percent in the last...
Bears Are Digging for Downside in This Space
Bears are digging for downside in gold miners, one of the worst-performing major industry groups this year. More than 23,000 December 11 puts were bought yesterday in Barrick Gold (ABX). The first blocks changed hands for $0.10 but premiums rose to $0.12 as the bids...
Why Stocks Move: Business Volumes
This post, originally published on September 27, is part of a series about the catalysts for stock movements. It’s based on a series of talks at TradeStation’s Master Class learning sessions. In business, "more is better." More orders. More customers. More...