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Troubled Trio? Why These Megacaps Are Faltering in 2024
by David Russell | Mar 5, 2024
The stock market is off to a roaring start in 2024, but three former leaders might be left behind. Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA) and Alphabet (GOOGL) have dropped in recent weeks as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 rallied to new highs. They're now below chart levels that...
Futures 101: The Difference Between Trading Stocks and Futures
by David Russell | Jan 17, 2023
Not well-versed in the futures market? Scared about a new kind of advanced product? Here are some basic points to get started. Futures are different from traditional stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) because they track an index. You don't own anything. You...
Technical Analysis: Have Chipmakers Already Bottomed?
by David Russell | Jan 13, 2023
Most people know that technology stocks ended 2022 on a weak note. But they may not realize one group started to outperform: chipmakers. The first pattern on today’s chart of the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index is the falling trendline along the highs of last year....
Fear Could Be Evaporating After Another Cool Inflation Report
by David Russell | Jan 12, 2023
Inflation was lower than feared for the third straight month, and investors loved it. December's consumer price index (CPI) shrank 0.1 percent, compared with estimates for an unchanged reading. It followed cooler-than-expected readings for November and October,...
A Soft Landing? Why Stocks May Be Attempting a Turn as 2023 Begins
by David Russell | Jan 9, 2023
Stocks began the New Year with gains as investors see the potential for inflation to ease without a recession. The S&P 500 broke a four-week losing streak, rising 1.5 percent in the holiday-shortened period between Friday, December 30. Every major sector advanced,...
Options Alert: Trader Looks for More Upside in Chinese Tech Stock
by David Russell | Jan 5, 2023
Chinese technology stocks have been jumping, and one options trader is positioning for the move to continue. Check out this unusual activity this afternoon in e-commerce company JD.com (JD): Some 5,000 February 70 calls were purchased for $4.01.At the same time, the...
Chart of the Day: Is Oracle Attempting a Breakout?
by David Russell | Jan 4, 2023
Oracle has performed better than most technology and software companies, and now it may be attempting a breakout. The first pattern on today’s chart is the triangle that took shape in December. Prices ended 2022 slightly above the top, and buyers jumped in yesterday....
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Technical Analysis: Tight Consolidation in Another Clean Energy Stock
by David Russell | Sep 14, 2022
Clean-energy stocks have been one of the strongest parts of the market lately, and today’s chart focuses on a new battery-tech name: Stem. The first pattern is the quick uptrend in late summer, fueled by the Inflation Reduction Act and strong quarterly results on...

Technology and the Nasdaq Turn Negative for the Year as Reopening Triggers Broad Rotation in the Stock Market
by David Russell | Mar 4, 2021
The Nasdaq-100 just sank into negative territory for the year as investors dump the same technology stocks that boomed during the pandemic. The index is now 1.6 percent below its closing price on December 31. That dragged on two important exchange-traded funds (ETFs)...

Chart Study: Can Nvidia Climb a Wall of Worry?
by David Russell | Mar 2, 2021
Nvidia has gone nowhere since the summer, but now the chart may be lining up for another push to the upside. The first pattern is the series of higher lows beginning in early January, plus a new all-time high in February. Next, the most recent low of around $528 is...

February Ends on a Bearish Note as Inflation Fears Mount. Twitter and Snap Jumped
by David Russell | Feb 26, 2021
February started strong but ended on a bearish note as investors worried about rising inflation. The S&P 500 went almost straight up in the first half of the month. It stalled immediately after President's day and trended lower for the second half of the month....

Cisco Is Holding Multi-Decade Support: Chart Analysis
by David Russell | Feb 24, 2021
Cisco Systems has gone nowhere for three years, but now the tech stock may be showing signs of life. First, notice the pullback from new highs in early February. Second, notice where CSCO broke out and is trying to stabilize. The current $45.50 level was resistance in...