Market Insights
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Large Options Trade Appears in Coinbase as Bitcoin Rallies
by David Russell | Oct 30, 2024
Bitcoin is flirting with record highs and the options are getting active in Coinbase before its quarterly results. Check out this large transaction yesterday in the cryptocurrency exchange: Some 35,215 December 190 calls traded for an average price of $44.87. Matching...
Remembering the Pandemic: How the Market Went Crazy 3 Years Ago
by David Russell | Jan 25, 2023
It's been exactly three years since the coronavirus pandemic started impacting financial markets. Today, as conditions show signs of returning to normal, Market Insights takes a look back at key moments that defined the crisis and recovery. One Bearish Story After...
Good-Bye Bear Market? We Could Find Out This Week
by David Russell | Jan 23, 2023
After a small pullback, stocks could be trying to end the bear market that started a year ago. The S&P 500 declined the first three sessions of the holiday-shortened week between Friday, January 13, and Friday, January 20. It was down as much as 2.8 percent at...
Complex Options Strategy Targets More Upside in Banking Giant
by David Russell | Jan 19, 2023
Citi has been fighting higher since Christmas, and one big investor seems to think the move will continue. Check out this unusual options activity in the banking giant yesterday: 22,000 January 45 calls traded for $5.25.22,000 January 45 puts changed hands for $0.01....
Quadruple Witching Dates for 2023: How Can They Impact Stock and Futures Trading?
by David Russell | Jan 18, 2023
What Is Quad Witching? Quadruple witching is an event in financial markets when four different sets of futures and options expire on the same day. Futures and options are derivatives, linked to underlying stock prices. When derivatives expire, traders must close...
This Year Could Be Starting to Look Like the Mirror Image of 2022
by David Russell | Jan 17, 2023
Stocks just rose for the second straight week, potentially raising an important question: Will 2023 be a mirror image of last year? The S&P 500 advanced 2.7 percent between Friday, January 6, and Friday, January 13. It's gained the first two weeks of 2023. Last...
Futures 101: The Difference Between Trading Stocks and Futures
by David Russell | Jan 17, 2023
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...
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication
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Technical Analysis: Have Chipmakers Already Bottomed?
by David Russell | Jan 13, 2023
Most people know that technology stocks ended 2022 on a weak note. But they may not realize one group started to outperform: chipmakers. The first pattern on today’s chart of the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index is the falling trendline along the highs of last year....
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These Were the Top Stocks on TradeStation in August
by David Russell | Sep 1, 2020
Tesla dominated activity on TradeStation's platform last month, and no other stock even came close. The electric-car maker held the No. 1 spot on our monthly ranking, outpacing runner-up Apple (AAPL) by a huge margin. Other major technology stocks remained highly...
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Tesla and Apple Leap After Stock Splits. Will Amazon.com Follow?
by David Russell | Aug 31, 2020
Apple and Tesla jumped to new highs today after splitting their stocks. Will other big Nasdaq companies like Amazon.com follow? AAPL rose more than 3 percent and TSLA spiked over 13 percent. Their gains helped lift the the Nasdaq-100 to its ninth record level in the...
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Apple and Tesla Are Splitting Their Shares. Here Are Key Details for Stock and Options Traders
by David Russell | Aug 28, 2020
Apple and Tesla are about the split their shares. Here are the key details you need to know. Both operations take effect using the official closing price on Friday, August 28. (The cutoff is technically 8 p.m. ET.) Investors with positions in the stock or options will...
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Stocks Reclaim Old Highs, Led by Breakouts in Apple and Tesla
by David Russell | Aug 24, 2020
Stocks pushed back above their pre-Covid highs last week, with big technology companies like Apple and Tesla leading the charge. The S&P 500 rose 0.7 percent between Friday, August 14, and Friday, August 21. It was the index's fourth straight positive week,...