The S&P 500 flew to new highs last week, and its technical patterns strongly resemble an earlier breakout. First, consider this TradeStation chart study of the index in late 2012 and early 2013. Notice how the S&P 500 consolidated for several months near its...
The S&P 500 just closed at a new record high, but is this breakout for real? Let's consider the bigger picture. First, chart watchers may notice that the index has formed an "ascending triangle." That's when its top is mostly flat for a period of time, during...
There are thousands of stocks in the market, and dozens -- if not hundreds -- of industries. You can study them everyday in search of trades, and still miss plenty. That's why many traders use relative strength to focus on potential opportunities. Relative Strength...
Earnings season can be tricky because so many companies have news and are moving. Fortunately, you can stay on top of everything with TradeStation. The screenshot below shows a work space that can help. It contains three apps available to all clients: RadarScreen®: A...
Gold miners rallied hard over the summer, but now face a potentially big test. The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) rose more than 50 percent between late May and early September. The main reasons were rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and worries about the global...
Averaging is one of the most basic things we all do with math. It smooths out big sets of numbers and helps us grasp bigger patterns. Technical analysts use the same approach with the stock market, often finding opportunities to buy and sell in the process. Moving...
A potentially bullish reversal pattern is appearing across the market: inverted heads and shoulders. This chart formation involves two higher lows on either side of a lower low. It's the opposite of a bearish head and shoulders, and is sometimes viewed as a sign that...
Most investors like finding stocks they think will move. And most are eager to place trades. But they often overlook risk management because it's less fun. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make when starting in the market. Survival Matters More Than Anything...
Last weekend, TradeStation's education team hosted a knowledge-packed training event on options. It was a great opportunity for someone like me, a perennial stock trader, to learn more about calls and puts. In case you missed it, I took notes. Here are some of the key...