Market Insights
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Key Points About Selling Credit Spreads
by David Russell | Nov 10, 2025
A previous post covered debit spreads, when you pay a debit looking for a stock or ETF to move in a certain direction. Credit spreads are just the opposite, with traders collecting premium up front in hope that the stock won’t move a certain way. What a Credit Spread...
Is Tesla Driving Stocks Toward a Breakout Before the Fed?
by David Russell | Jan 30, 2023
Tesla could be driving the stock market toward a breakout as a flood of major catalysts hit. The electric car maker jumped 33 percent last week after reporting strong orders and saying production could reach 2 million vehicles this year. The news lifted sentiment in...
Technical Analysis: Pullback in Yum Brands
by David Russell | Jan 25, 2023
Yum Brands had a strong rally in late 2022. Now after a pause, the restaurant company may interest pullback buyers. The first pattern on today's chart is $125.70, a daily closing high from last April. YUM hesitated below that level in November and then began the New...
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...
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication
Stocks Keep Running as Inflation Fades and Apple Breaks Out
by David Russell | Jun 17, 2024
Stocks are hitting new highs as inflation eases and Apple breaks out. The S&P 500 rose 1.6 percent between Friday, June 7, and Friday, June 14. It was the second consecutive positive week, and the second straight record weekly closing high. The technology-heavy...
Stocks Follow Expected Script as Trump Approaches Trade Deal With China
by David Russell | Oct 11, 2019
Investors had a plan going into today's big meeting with China, and they stuck to it. Economically sensitive stocks like banks, materials and industrials led the rally on Friday. Semiconductors and Chinese Internet stocks also had some of their bigger gains in recent...
Trade War Drama Continues as Chinese Delegation Visits White House
by David Russell | Oct 10, 2019
Key talks with China begin today, and things are already off to a crazy start. Last night, reports from Asia said the meetings had pretty much failed before they even started. Stock futures crashed immediately, then roared back after the White House denied the story....
Stocks Just Had a Roller Coaster Week of Fear, Hope and Volatility
by David Russell | Oct 7, 2019
Stocks ended last week barely changed, but it was a wild ride of hope, fear and volatility. The S&P 500 crashed early on economic worries, and one point was down 3.6 percent. It quickly bounced as investors remembered some potential positives and ended just 0.3...
Streaming Wars Dominate Activity: September at TradeStation
by David Russell | Oct 1, 2019
The streaming wars came to TradeStation last month, with two of the biggest stocks in the industry dominating activity on our platform. Roku (ROKU) was the second-busiest symbol among our clients in September. The provider of media players lost one-third of its value...





