Market Insights
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Are Stocks Headed for a Breakout?
We've written a lot about the S&P 500 holding a bullish trend line. Now another potentially key level could be at play for the index. A resistance level around 2800 has been in play since mid-March as equities rebounded from their violent swoon in February. Now...
Headlines Keep Pressuring Oil Higher
News events keep pushing oil higher. Last month, Iranian sanctions were the story. Now traders are focusing on a disruption in Norway as oil workers go on strike. Libyan supplies are also being kept off the market as civil war halves the country's crude production....
So Much for a Trade War Killing Stocks
The economy is strong, earnings are near and a trade war might be priced in. That kept stocks rising last week. The S&P 500 climbed 1.5 percent in the holiday-abbreviated week between June 29 and July 4. More than four-fifths of of the companies in the benchmark...
Goldilocks Silences Jerome Powell
Fairy tales keep coming true in the U.S. economy. Most people know the classic story of Goldilocks describing the porridge of the Three Bears: Not too hot, not too cold, but just right. Most people probably also know how it gets applied to finance: Inflation's not too...
Traders Doubt Safety of Classic Safe Haven: Options Recap
So much for utilities being a safe haven. The SPDR Utility Fund (XLU) has risen about 6 percent in the last month, making it the top-performing major sector. But yesterday, traders braced for a potential selloff: A block of 75,000 September 50 puts in XLU was bought...
China Trade War Sends Chip Giant on Wild Ride
One of TradeStation's most actively traded stocks is finding itself at the middle of a trade war. Micron Technology (MU) was the second-busiest symbol among our clients in May and June as management raised guidance. This month, President's Trump's trade war with China...
Basics of Hedging, Part 2: Covered Calls
Most investors know that volatility can inflict pain on even the best holdings. So today we're continuing a series of posts on using options to hedge. Last time we considered buying puts for protection. Today we'll look at selling covered calls for protection. Owning...
IPOs Have Another Strong Month in June
Initial public offerings (IPOs) keep coming at their quickest pace in three years. Some $4.5 billion of stock in new companies came to market last month, according to data from ClickIPO. It was the busiest June since 2015. Click here for more stories about IPOs. The...
Some Interesting Chart Patterns as Q3 Gets Started
Stocks began July on a positive note yesterday, led by technology. Several big names are also showing some patterns that could be interesting -- especially if investors are seeking opportunities at the start of a new quarter. As usual, we started by firing up...
Are Stocks Headed for a Breakout?
We've written a lot about the S&P 500 holding a bullish trend line. Now another potentially key level could be at play for the index. A resistance level around 2800 has been in play since mid-March as equities rebounded from their violent swoon in February. Now...
Headlines Keep Pressuring Oil Higher
News events keep pushing oil higher. Last month, Iranian sanctions were the story. Now traders are focusing on a disruption in Norway as oil workers go on strike. Libyan supplies are also being kept off the market as civil war halves the country's crude production....
So Much for a Trade War Killing Stocks
The economy is strong, earnings are near and a trade war might be priced in. That kept stocks rising last week. The S&P 500 climbed 1.5 percent in the holiday-abbreviated week between June 29 and July 4. More than four-fifths of of the companies in the benchmark...
Goldilocks Silences Jerome Powell
Fairy tales keep coming true in the U.S. economy. Most people know the classic story of Goldilocks describing the porridge of the Three Bears: Not too hot, not too cold, but just right. Most people probably also know how it gets applied to finance: Inflation's not too...
Traders Doubt Safety of Classic Safe Haven: Options Recap
So much for utilities being a safe haven. The SPDR Utility Fund (XLU) has risen about 6 percent in the last month, making it the top-performing major sector. But yesterday, traders braced for a potential selloff: A block of 75,000 September 50 puts in XLU was bought...
China Trade War Sends Chip Giant on Wild Ride
One of TradeStation's most actively traded stocks is finding itself at the middle of a trade war. Micron Technology (MU) was the second-busiest symbol among our clients in May and June as management raised guidance. This month, President's Trump's trade war with China...
Basics of Hedging, Part 2: Covered Calls
Most investors know that volatility can inflict pain on even the best holdings. So today we're continuing a series of posts on using options to hedge. Last time we considered buying puts for protection. Today we'll look at selling covered calls for protection. Owning...
IPOs Have Another Strong Month in June
Initial public offerings (IPOs) keep coming at their quickest pace in three years. Some $4.5 billion of stock in new companies came to market last month, according to data from ClickIPO. It was the busiest June since 2015. Click here for more stories about IPOs. The...
Some Interesting Chart Patterns as Q3 Gets Started
Stocks began July on a positive note yesterday, led by technology. Several big names are also showing some patterns that could be interesting -- especially if investors are seeking opportunities at the start of a new quarter. As usual, we started by firing up...