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Futures
Stocks Make a 3rd Monthly Record as Buyers Rotate Away from Growth

Stocks Make a 3rd Monthly Record as Buyers Rotate Away from Growth

Stocks hit a new record for the third straight month in March, but there was significant rotation away from growth names and technology The S&P 500 rose 3.1 percent, outpacing the Nasdaq-100 by 1.9 percentage points. It was the biggest underperformance in the...

Is Inflation Making a Comeback as the Fed Looks to Cut Interest Rates?

Is Inflation Making a Comeback as the Fed Looks to Cut Interest Rates?

The stock market has been optimistic about inflation since late 2023, but price pressures may be returning as the Federal Reserve considers interest-rate cuts. The price of energy, shelter and materials have quietly risen in the last month. The increases follow months...

Chart of the Day: Gold is Pushing $2,000

Chart of the Day: Gold is Pushing $2,000

Gold has consolidated for more than two years, and now it may be inching toward a breakout. The first pattern on today’s weekly chart is the rally in October between roughly $1,812 and $2,000. That move broke a falling trendline from the summer when bond yields were...

Oil’s Fundamentals Could Be Weakening After a Big Surge

Oil’s Fundamentals Could Be Weakening After a Big Surge

Energy stocks and crude oil were among the market's best performers in the third quarter, but fundamentals may be weakening. The sector started climbing in late June as Energy Department data showed crude-oil inventories remaining near long-term lows. The Strategic...

Chart of the Day: Will Crude Oil Run Again?

Chart of the Day: Will Crude Oil Run Again?

Crude-oil futures are having their worst week since March, but some traders might think about buying the pullback. The first pattern on today’s chart is the price area around 83.50. It represented the peak in December and April. It’s also near the spot where ... For...

What Are the Top Contracts for Futures Traders?

What Are the Top Contracts for Futures Traders?

(This post was updated March 20, 2023.) Futures are derivatives that track products like the S&P 500, crude oil, Treasury bonds and gold. Traders use futures to position for rallies and drops, with the ability to place orders most times of the day. These extended...

Futures 101: The Difference Between Trading Stocks and Futures

Futures 101: The Difference Between Trading Stocks and Futures

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...