Market Insights
Bringing you the trading news around the world.
The Basics of Options
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...
Recent stories
Calm Returns as Rate Fears Subside: Market Trends This Week
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
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...
Chart of the Day: Oracle May Have Found Support
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...
More stories
The Basics of Options
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...
Bullish and Bearish: Key Points About Vertical Option Spreads
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...
Chart of the Day: Oracle May Have Found Support
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...
Stocks Could Be Stabilizing. How Do I Find Potential Opportunities?
The stock market is bouncing after a dip. Are any companies stabilizing as sentiment recovers? Today's article will consider a method for discovering potential opportunities. It uses TradeStation's EasyLanguage scripting tool to create a custom indicator, which can...
Stocks Claw Back from Losses as News Shifts and Yields Fall
Last week's news wasn't great, but it was good enough to stop the bears. The S&P 500 rose 0.5 percent between Friday, April 26, and Friday, May 3. At one point the index was down as much as 2 percent, only to snap back in the last two sessions. Yields also fell...
The Basics of Options
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...
Bullish and Bearish: Key Points About Vertical Option Spreads
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...
Chart of the Day: Oracle May Have Found Support
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...
Stocks Could Be Stabilizing. How Do I Find Potential Opportunities?
The stock market is bouncing after a dip. Are any companies stabilizing as sentiment recovers? Today's article will consider a method for discovering potential opportunities. It uses TradeStation's EasyLanguage scripting tool to create a custom indicator, which can...
Stocks Claw Back from Losses as News Shifts and Yields Fall
Last week's news wasn't great, but it was good enough to stop the bears. The S&P 500 rose 0.5 percent between Friday, April 26, and Friday, May 3. At one point the index was down as much as 2 percent, only to snap back in the last two sessions. Yields also fell...
Chart of the Day: Oracle May Have Found Support
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...
Chip Selloff Hammers Growth Stocks. Is the AI Boom Over?
Chip stocks like Nvidia led the market to new highs last earnings season. The opposite could be happening this time. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 9.2 percent between Friday, April 12, and Friday, April 19. It was the index's biggest weekly drop in almost...
Energy Stocks Pull Back But Are Still Leading This Year
Energy stocks have led the market this year, and now they've pulled back. The S&P Select Energy SPDR fund (XLE) jumped to $98.97 last Friday -- the highest level in almost a decade. It pulled back this week and touched $93.73 before bouncing. That was just $0.04...
Options Alert: Traders Position for Potential Drop in Uranium Miner
Uranium miner Cameco has been stuck at an old high, and one big options trader is bracing for a potential drop as earnings approach. This large transaction was detected yesterday in CCJ, unfolding in several blocks over the course of the afternoon: Some 30,000 May 45...
Chart of the Day: Are Regional Banks Turning Higher?
Regional banks had a big surge in late 2023. Now, after a period of consolidation, some traders may expect further gains. The first pattern on today’s chart of the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF is the falling trendline along the highs of January and early March....
Chart of the Day: Oracle May Have Found Support
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...
Chip Selloff Hammers Growth Stocks. Is the AI Boom Over?
Chip stocks like Nvidia led the market to new highs last earnings season. The opposite could be happening this time. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 9.2 percent between Friday, April 12, and Friday, April 19. It was the index's biggest weekly drop in almost...
Energy Stocks Pull Back But Are Still Leading This Year
Energy stocks have led the market this year, and now they've pulled back. The S&P Select Energy SPDR fund (XLE) jumped to $98.97 last Friday -- the highest level in almost a decade. It pulled back this week and touched $93.73 before bouncing. That was just $0.04...
Options Alert: Traders Position for Potential Drop in Uranium Miner
Uranium miner Cameco has been stuck at an old high, and one big options trader is bracing for a potential drop as earnings approach. This large transaction was detected yesterday in CCJ, unfolding in several blocks over the course of the afternoon: Some 30,000 May 45...
Chart of the Day: Are Regional Banks Turning Higher?
Regional banks had a big surge in late 2023. Now, after a period of consolidation, some traders may expect further gains. The first pattern on today’s chart of the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF is the falling trendline along the highs of January and early March....
Is Inflation Making a Comeback as the Fed Looks to Cut Interest Rates?
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...
Did Stocks Just Break Out? Here Are Key Facts as Inflation Cools
Higher inflation sank stocks into a bear market early last year. Now slowing inflation may be setting the market up for a return to new highs. The S&P 500 jumped 1.9 percent yesterday. But perhaps more important, the index broke a falling trendline from the...
Earnings Have Been Decent, But the Market Has Other Worries
Earnings season is off to a decent start as key themes like Artificial Intelligence boost technology results. But other issues are weighing on the market. Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon.com (AMZN), Alphabet (GOOGL) and Meta Platforms (META) all beat estimates. But they...
Options Strategies for Earnings Season and Other Events
Quarterly earnings and other important events have the potential to trigger sudden moves in stock prices. Call and put options can help investors manage the risk of these catalysts by positioning for directional moves or hedging against declines. Key strategies...
Attention Fed Watchers: 4 Reasons Why April’s Inflation Report Could Be Good News
Consumer prices rose 4.9 percent in April, which could be good news for investors worried about inflation and the Federal Reserve. The reading was below 5.25 percent, the top of the central bank's target range. This represents the first drop below the Fed funds rate...
Is Inflation Making a Comeback as the Fed Looks to Cut Interest Rates?
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...
Did Stocks Just Break Out? Here Are Key Facts as Inflation Cools
Higher inflation sank stocks into a bear market early last year. Now slowing inflation may be setting the market up for a return to new highs. The S&P 500 jumped 1.9 percent yesterday. But perhaps more important, the index broke a falling trendline from the...
Earnings Have Been Decent, But the Market Has Other Worries
Earnings season is off to a decent start as key themes like Artificial Intelligence boost technology results. But other issues are weighing on the market. Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon.com (AMZN), Alphabet (GOOGL) and Meta Platforms (META) all beat estimates. But they...
Options Strategies for Earnings Season and Other Events
Quarterly earnings and other important events have the potential to trigger sudden moves in stock prices. Call and put options can help investors manage the risk of these catalysts by positioning for directional moves or hedging against declines. Key strategies...
Attention Fed Watchers: 4 Reasons Why April’s Inflation Report Could Be Good News
Consumer prices rose 4.9 percent in April, which could be good news for investors worried about inflation and the Federal Reserve. The reading was below 5.25 percent, the top of the central bank's target range. This represents the first drop below the Fed funds rate...
Memory Tricks for Options Greeks Like Delta, Gamma and Vega
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...
Stocks Could Be Stabilizing. How Do I Find Potential Opportunities?
The stock market is bouncing after a dip. Are any companies stabilizing as sentiment recovers? Today's article will consider a method for discovering potential opportunities. It uses TradeStation's EasyLanguage scripting tool to create a custom indicator, which can...
Potential Bear Flag as News Worsens: Market Trends This Week
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 stalls under 50-day MA, April 12 (weekly) close Potential bearish flag forming January 31...
Rates, Geopolitics Cast Gloom Before Earnings: Market Trends This Week
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 has retraced about half its move since breaking 2022 high S&P 500 testing bullish gap from...
Are Rate Cuts Out the Window? Market Trends This Week
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 in midst of first negative month since October Prices break trendline, rising 21-day exponential...
Memory Tricks for Options Greeks Like Delta, Gamma and Vega
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...
Stocks Could Be Stabilizing. How Do I Find Potential Opportunities?
The stock market is bouncing after a dip. Are any companies stabilizing as sentiment recovers? Today's article will consider a method for discovering potential opportunities. It uses TradeStation's EasyLanguage scripting tool to create a custom indicator, which can...
Potential Bear Flag as News Worsens: Market Trends This Week
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 stalls under 50-day MA, April 12 (weekly) close Potential bearish flag forming January 31...
Rates, Geopolitics Cast Gloom Before Earnings: Market Trends This Week
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 has retraced about half its move since breaking 2022 high S&P 500 testing bullish gap from...
Are Rate Cuts Out the Window? Market Trends This Week
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 in midst of first negative month since October Prices break trendline, rising 21-day exponential...
