Market Insights
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Stocks Keep Advancing as Economic, Inflation Hopes Draw Investors Back to the Market
Stocks advanced again last week as inflation-wary investors keep inching back into the market. The S&P 500 rose 0.36 percent between Friday, July 29, and Friday, August 5. It was the third straight weekly advance, returning the index to its highest level in two...
Options Alert: Big Investor Adjusts Upside Trade In Ford Motor
Ford Motor has jumped as its business roars back to life, and one options trader is giving the automaker more room to run. Check out this unusual options activity in F this morning: Some 20,000 August 16 calls were purchased for $0.25 against open interest of 68,700...
Technical Analysis: Exxon Mobil Could Be Stalling
Energy stocks have dominated the market this year, but now the biggest of the bunch is showing signs of weakness: Exxon Mobil. The first pattern on today’s chart is the jump following strong quarterly results on July 29. While that may have been impressive, it soon...
Where’s the Fear? VIX Keeps Sliding as Big Events Fail to Lift Volatility
Cboe's "fear index" hasn't been showing a lot of panic lately. The Volatility Index ($VIX.X) declined steadily between mid-June and late July. That six-week slide was the longest negative streak since late 2019, according to TradeStation data. It's up slightly this...
Stocks Leapt Higher in July, But Will the Rally Continue this Month?
Stocks just finished their best month in over a year. Can they keep running in August? The S&P 500 climbed 4.3 percent in the week between Friday, July 22, and Friday, July 29. That helped lift the index 9.1 percent in July, giving the index its biggest monthly...
Chart of the Day: Chinese Electric Car Stock Rallies and Pulls Back
Most Chinese stocks remain well below their 52-week highs, but not Li Auto. Let's consider some of the patterns on the Beijing-based maker of electric cars and SUVs. First you have the level around $33. It was the opening price on December 3 when news of Didi's...
Options Alert: Mega Call Spreads Target Historic Level in Brazilian Energy Stock
For the second session in a row, options traders targeted a key level in South American oil driller Petrobras. Check out this large bullish call spread Monday in Rio De Janeiro-based PBR: A block of 40,000 January 14 calls was purchased for $0.50. An equal number of...
Stocks Muscle Higher as Rate Hike Looms and Earnings Stream In
Stocks are muscling higher before one of the busiest weeks of the year, packed with key earnings and a major Federal Reserve meeting. The S&P 500 rose 2.5 percent between Friday, July 15, and Friday July 22. The index closed at its highest level in over a month as...
This Food Stock Broke Out to New Highs. Now It’s Pulled Back
General Mills has been a slow mover for years, but the Cheerios maker has gotten more interesting lately. The main pattern on today’s chart is the June 29 rally above $73. That was not only a new 52-week high. It was also a breakout above the previous all-time peak in...
Stocks Keep Advancing as Economic, Inflation Hopes Draw Investors Back to the Market
Stocks advanced again last week as inflation-wary investors keep inching back into the market. The S&P 500 rose 0.36 percent between Friday, July 29, and Friday, August 5. It was the third straight weekly advance, returning the index to its highest level in two...
Options Alert: Big Investor Adjusts Upside Trade In Ford Motor
Ford Motor has jumped as its business roars back to life, and one options trader is giving the automaker more room to run. Check out this unusual options activity in F this morning: Some 20,000 August 16 calls were purchased for $0.25 against open interest of 68,700...
Technical Analysis: Exxon Mobil Could Be Stalling
Energy stocks have dominated the market this year, but now the biggest of the bunch is showing signs of weakness: Exxon Mobil. The first pattern on today’s chart is the jump following strong quarterly results on July 29. While that may have been impressive, it soon...
Where’s the Fear? VIX Keeps Sliding as Big Events Fail to Lift Volatility
Cboe's "fear index" hasn't been showing a lot of panic lately. The Volatility Index ($VIX.X) declined steadily between mid-June and late July. That six-week slide was the longest negative streak since late 2019, according to TradeStation data. It's up slightly this...
Stocks Leapt Higher in July, But Will the Rally Continue this Month?
Stocks just finished their best month in over a year. Can they keep running in August? The S&P 500 climbed 4.3 percent in the week between Friday, July 22, and Friday, July 29. That helped lift the index 9.1 percent in July, giving the index its biggest monthly...
Chart of the Day: Chinese Electric Car Stock Rallies and Pulls Back
Most Chinese stocks remain well below their 52-week highs, but not Li Auto. Let's consider some of the patterns on the Beijing-based maker of electric cars and SUVs. First you have the level around $33. It was the opening price on December 3 when news of Didi's...
Options Alert: Mega Call Spreads Target Historic Level in Brazilian Energy Stock
For the second session in a row, options traders targeted a key level in South American oil driller Petrobras. Check out this large bullish call spread Monday in Rio De Janeiro-based PBR: A block of 40,000 January 14 calls was purchased for $0.50. An equal number of...
Stocks Muscle Higher as Rate Hike Looms and Earnings Stream In
Stocks are muscling higher before one of the busiest weeks of the year, packed with key earnings and a major Federal Reserve meeting. The S&P 500 rose 2.5 percent between Friday, July 15, and Friday July 22. The index closed at its highest level in over a month as...
This Food Stock Broke Out to New Highs. Now It’s Pulled Back
General Mills has been a slow mover for years, but the Cheerios maker has gotten more interesting lately. The main pattern on today’s chart is the June 29 rally above $73. That was not only a new 52-week high. It was also a breakout above the previous all-time peak in...
Crocs Is Trending Higher: Technical Analysis
Footwear stock Crocs has been in a steady uptrend since the market bottomed in March 2020. Now it's pulled back and may be interesting to swing traders. The first pattern on today’s chart is the 50-day moving average. CROX tested it on Friday and Monday, closing above...
This Disruptor Is Moving Beyond Mobile After Helping Create Smart Phones: Do You Know December’s Mystery Stock?
Even before coronavirus drove triggered heavy demand for electronic devices, chipmakers were booming. This month's mystery stock has been a key player in the semiconductor industry for over a generation. Like many technology firms, its history began during the Cold...
Stocks Fall Again as Investors Brace For the Fed to Take Away the Punch Bowl
Stocks fell again last week as investors brace for the Federal Reserve to "take away the punch bowl," by tightening monetary policy. The S&P 500 slid 1.2 percent between Friday, November 26, and Friday, December 3. Following the earlier week, the index had its...
This Corner Of the Technology Sector Was Coming to Life Before Omicron Struck the Market
Stocks have tumbled in the last week as investors worry about the omicron variant of coronavirus. However a certain group of technology firms was rallying before the selloff: computer hardware. HP (HPQ) and Dell Technologies (DELL), the world's No. 2 and 3 PC makers,...
Chart Analysis: Is a Breakout Coming in Bitcoin Miner Riot Blockchain?
Bitcoin miner Riot Blockchain hit a seven-month high in mid-November. It pulled back sharply and now may be attempting a breakout. The first pattern on today's chart is the price zone around $38. This is the roughly the spot where RIOT peaked in June and August. It's...
Omicron Variant Hammers Stocks, But Is the Pullback a Buying Opportunity?
Stocks crashed last week as the omicron variant of coronavirus appeared, overshadowing a wave positive economic news. The S&P 500 closed little changed on Wednesday as investors thought they would settle into a quiet Thanksgiving, but reports of the new pathogen...
Olaplex and On: Recent IPOs Pull Back After Their Debut Quarterly Reports
The IPO market is setting new records as 2021 nears and end. Today we'll review some recent deals, including three companies that issued results for the first time. On Holding (ONON) is one of the biggest movers in recent weeks. The Zurich-based sneaker company went...
Nasdaq Leads Stocks to New Highs as ‘Goldilocks’ Returns
Stocks rebounded last week, led by the Nasdaq-100, as "Goldilocks" conditions return. The S&P 500 rose 0.7 percent between Friday, November 12, and Friday, November 19. However the big move came from the Nasdaq-100, which gained 2.5 percent as semiconductors and...
Holiday Shopping? Check Out These Key Facts About the Retail Sector
Retail stocks are jumping this week as stores rebound from last year's shutdowns. The industry has been overlooked for years as investors focused on technology stocks and e-commerce. However some of the headwinds are potentially fading as the country reopens. Below...