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Popular Chip Stock Holds Key Level Into G20

Popular Chip Stock Holds Key Level Into G20

One of the most heavily traded names in the chip space is holding a potentially key level. Micron Technology (MU) dropped 38 percent from the start of June through yesterday. But now the giant producer of memory circuits is holding its ground above $36.50, an old peak...

Bullish Chart Patterns Across Big Pharma

Bullish Chart Patterns Across Big Pharma

Everyone's been focused on the selloff in tech, but something more bullish may be happening in a forgotten corner of the market. Large pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer (PFE), Merck (MRK) and Amgen (AMGN) have formed triangles in recent weeks. The...

This Forgotten Industry Is Quietly Shining

This Forgotten Industry Is Quietly Shining

Remember solar stocks? They're quietly screaming higher. PowerShares Solar Energy exchange-traded fund (TAN) is up 14 percent since the end of October. That outpaces every other major portfolio on our Market Action dashboard and puts the industry on pace for its best...

Options Trader Sees No Happy New Year for Ailing Blue Chip

Options Trader Sees No Happy New Year for Ailing Blue Chip

Someone seems to think this year's worst-performing S&P 500 member won't have a happy New Year. Here's a breakdown of a large options trade in General Electric (GE): A block of 12,500 December 8 puts was sold for $0.79 and an equal number of December 7s was bought...

Options Trader Braves Volatility in Media Giant

Options Trader Braves Volatility in Media Giant

Damn the volatility -- full speed ahead. That seemed to be the message from one big options trader in Comcast (CMCSA) yesterday: A block of 5,669 23-November 35 puts was bought in the middle of the afternoon for just $0.02. Volume was below open interest, which...

Showdowns in Tech: Battle for the Cloud

Showdowns in Tech: Battle for the Cloud

The world of technology is all about disruption, and now a fight is brewing in the cloud. Microsoft (MSFT) is making serious efforts to enter the world of "cloud computing," the business of large companies using third-party servers and software instead of running...

Volatility Spreads to Retail as Bears Multiply

Volatility Spreads to Retail as Bears Multiply

Extreme gloom is spreading from technology to retailers. Target (TGT), Lowe's (LOW), TJX (TJX), Kohl's (KSS) and L Brands (LB) are all dropping today. Some missed earnings, others missed on same-store sales. Regardless, investors refused to give any the benefit of the...

This Chart Shows Just How Bearish Tech Has Gotten

This Chart Shows Just How Bearish Tech Has Gotten

Most clients know technology stocks are getting hammered. But just how bad is the selling? Pretty bad, it turns out, according to TradeStation's award-winning platform. This chart compares the Select Technology Index ($XLK.IV) to the Select Consumer Staples Index...

Brazil Bull Looks for Carnival Rally: Options Recap

Brazil Bull Looks for Carnival Rally: Options Recap

Someone's looking for a Carnival rally in Brazil's top bank, with the help of an unusual options strategy. Shortly after lunch on Friday, a trader sold 10,180 June 17 puts in Itau Unibanco (ITUB) for $3.58. At the same second, he or she bought exactly the same number...