Market Insights

Bringing you the trading news around the world.

Stories

Turkish Turmoil Fuels the Volatility Machine

Turkish Turmoil Fuels the Volatility Machine

Bulls made money, bears made money. Turkey got slaughtered. That's pretty much what happened last week. The S&P 500 began with a steady climb on Monday and continued higher into Tuesday. That's when the bulls made money. On Wednesday and Thursday, the index...

Volatility and the Dog Days of Summer

Volatility and the Dog Days of Summer

Earlier today, we highlighted the spreading risk of global debt and currency problems. But what does it mean for the chart most of us really care about, the S&P 500? Here are some thoughts. First, the U.S. index is in the midst of its longest weekly winning streak...

As Expected, Volatility Hits Global Markets

As Expected, Volatility Hits Global Markets

Just two days ago, Market Insights said that "traders hankering for volatility may want to keep an eye on currencies and crude oil." Both of those events are now playing out. Oil came first, tumbling to a three-week low hours after the post. This morning,...

Big Moves in Small Tech

Big Moves in Small Tech

Lots of attention obviously focuses on the biggest stocks, but results from smaller companies have been arguably better this earnings season. This post will review some of those lesser-known names, especially in the e-commerce space. A big one is Match (MTCH). The...

Options Recap: Traction for Major Automaker?

Options Recap: Traction for Major Automaker?

Is a well-known automaker ready to regain traction after skidding lower? One big investor seems to think so. A massive put sale was detected yesterday in Fiat Chrysler (FCAU), apparently reflecting a belief further downside will be limited. If the trader is right, he...

Are Buyers Returning to This Forgotten Corner of Tech?

Are Buyers Returning to This Forgotten Corner of Tech?

Disclosure: This post is intended for educational purposes only and isn't intended as a trade recommendation. Most traders love technology stocks. Did you know that a long-forgotten group in the space is ripping higher this month? We're talking about fiber optics....

Oil and Currencies in Play as China Stumbles

Oil and Currencies in Play as China Stumbles

Oil, China and currencies: They’re all in play today as a slew of global events sweep markets. Market Insights recently detailed how President Trump’s trade policies weakened business confidence overseas. Last week we cautioned the slowdown — especially in China —...

Know Your Options: Buying Volatility When It’s Cheap

Know Your Options: Buying Volatility When It’s Cheap

Buy low, sell high. It's a basic rule of investing everyone's heard. What they might not appreciate, however, is how it applies to implied volatility. We'll examine that today because it may help spare some readers money and hassle. First, remember that implied...

Consumer Stocks Drift Higher Before Events

Consumer Stocks Drift Higher Before Events

Consumer stocks on the rise, just in time for a series of important news events. Of all the major sector-tracking SPDR ETFs, consumer discretionary (XLY) is closest to its 52-week high. (See RadarScreen® below.) That shows bullish sentiment toward the group and may...