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Is Inflation Making a Comeback as the Fed Looks to Cut Interest Rates?
by David Russell | Mar 19, 2024
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...
Investors Survive a Turbulent October, Shifting to New Stocks as Interest Rates Climb
by David Russell | Nov 1, 2022
Stocks held their ground during a turbulent October as investors focused on new areas that could lead in the market's next cycle. The S&P 500 rose 8 percent, advancing for the first time in three months. The move came after a higher-than-expected inflation report...
Stocks Keep Climbing Before the Fed: Will Jerome Powell Finally Slow Down?
by David Russell | Oct 31, 2022
Will Jerome Powell finally hit the brakes? Stocks could be moving like the Federal Reserve is near the end of its rate-hiking cycle. The S&P 500 rose 4 percent between Friday, October 21, and Friday, October 28. It was the second weekly gain of at least 4 percent,...
Options Traders Look for Marathon Oil to Keep Running
by David Russell | Oct 25, 2022
Marathon Oil is the third-best performer in the S&P 500 this year, and options traders seem to think it will keep running. Check out this large complex trade in the Houston-based energy driller: 15,423 January 24 calls were sold for $6.70.15,423 January 21 puts...
Stocks Try to Bounce Before a Huge Week of Earnings
by David Russell | Oct 24, 2022
Stocks are trying to bounce as investors await key earnings and hope for slower rate hikes. The S&P 500 rose 4.7 percent between Friday, October 14, and Friday, October 21. It was the biggest weekly gain since June, with every major sector advancing. More than...
Chart of the Day: Is Walmart Squeezing Toward a Breakout?
by David Russell | Oct 19, 2022
Walmart has squeezed into a tight range after a big drop in the spring. Now some traders may be looking for a potential breakout. The main pattern on today’s chart is the falling trendline along the highs of April, August and September. WMT remained consistently below...
Stocks Keep Sliding as Inflation Spreads and Earnings Fail to Impress
by David Russell | Oct 17, 2022
Stocks keep falling as inflation remains high and earnings disappoint. The S&P 500 fell 1.6 percent between Friday, October 7, and Friday, October 14. It was the fourth negative week in the last five as the index flirts with its lowest levels since late 2020....
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication
Technical Analysis: What If Apple Holds This Price Level?
by David Russell | Dec 11, 2022
Megacap technology stocks like Apple have dragged on the market amid disruptions in China. But what if the iPhone giant manages to bounce? Could it give the bigger indexes a boost? The main pattern on today’s chart is the $140 level. This price first had importance on...
Technical Alert: Death Cross in Netflix
by David Russell | Jun 3, 2021
The economy is reopening. People are going back to work. It's great news for a lot of stocks, but Netflix isn't one of them. Today, the streaming-video giant's 50-day simple moving average (SMA) closed at $513.97, or $0.53 below its 200-day SMA. That "death cross" may...
Junior Nasdaq Beating QQQ Again as Low Volatility Draws Risk Takers Away From Apple
by David Russell | May 28, 2021
Big-cap technology stocks like Apple are lagging again, even as investors start buying smaller companies on the Nasdaq. The chart below compares the Invesco Nasdaq Next Gen ETF (QQQJ) with the Invesco QQQ (QQQ). It shows percentage change, with hourly bars, since the...
Options Activity Is Rising in ‘Meme’ Stocks Like AMC and GameStop
by David Russell | May 27, 2021
Heavily shorted stocks like AMC exploded higher in January. Now they may be moving again, with options traders jumping on board. The theater chain rallied 19 percent yesterday, following a 20 percent gain on Tuesday. AMC is up 62 percent since last Friday, its biggest...
Golden Crosses in Wireless Tower Stocks: Chart of the Day
by David Russell | May 26, 2021
Wireless-tower stocks have been in long-term uptrends as mobile devices and usage proliferate. American Tower is the largest of the three, followed by Crown Castle International and SBA Communications . AMT has moved sideways for the last year. It hit an all-time high...