Market Insights
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This New S&P 500 Member Leading in 2025. Why?
Palantir Technologies has been soaring as investors come to appreciate its fast-growing data-crunching software products.
The S&P 500 Has Gone a Long Time Without Doing This. Will It Bring a Historic Buying Opportunity?
Most investors know the stock market has enjoyed a powerful rally since mid-2020. But they may not realize it's nearing some historic milestones. The S&P 500 has been above its 200-day moving average for 392 sessions, according to TradeStation data. That's the...
Stocks Teeter Again as Investors Nervously Eye Rising Bond Yields
Stocks tumbled again last week as investors brace for a potentially major increase in bond yields. The S&P 500 slid 0.3 percent between Friday, January 7, and Friday, January 14. It was the index's second straight weekly decline after failing to hold new highs...
Tired of Tech Stocks? These Five Value Names Have Broken Out as the Nasdaq Sputters
The Nasdaq-100 is sputtering as investors shed growth stocks, but a handful of value names are breaking out. The iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) is down about 7 percent so far in January, while the iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) is little changed. The 7...
Options Alert: Massive Call Volume Detected in Global Mining Giant
Metal stocks have jumped lately, and one options trader is apparently looking for upside in a key global producer. Check out this unusual activity in Vale (VALE), the Rio de Janeiro-based mining giant: 26,000 January 14 calls traded for $1.52.26,000 January 17 calls...
The Dollar Is Dropping Sharply, Lifting Global Stocks and Commodity Plays
All of a sudden, weak-dollar trades are working. At least 26 foreign-country exchange-traded funds are outperforming the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 so far this year, according to TradeStation data. Producers of commodities like oil and metals, which tend to track the...
Energy Stocks Look Like Technology Did Five Years Ago: Technical Analysis
2022 has begun with another sharp rotation from growth to value stocks. The SPDR Technology ETF had its biggest weekly drop in over a year, while the SPDR Energy ETF had its biggest gain in even longer. The SPDR Financial ETF (XLF) also jumped. Price action in the two...
Technology & Communication
Call Volume Spikes in Nikola Before Shareholder Vote
After a big slide, one big options trader is looking for a rebound in Nikola. Large blocks of calls changed hands yesterday in the electric-truck developer. A block of 40,000 July 5.50 calls were bought for $0.22. The investor sold a matching number of July 6.50 calls...
Basics of Hedging, Part 3: Buying Vs. Selling Options
We recently outlined protective puts and covered calls as common hedging techniques. This brings us to the important question of selling options versus buying options. To understand the these two basic kinds of transactions, traders need to recognize the difference...
Nasdaq Gets Slammed as Rates Shoot Higher
Stocks began the fourth quarter in the red as interest rates spiked and money streamed out of the technology sector. The S&P 500 slid 1 percent between Friday, September 28, and Friday, October 5. But that was nothing compared with the Nasdaq-100's 3 percent drop...
The Message Behind Yesterday’s Volatility Spike
Yesterday was a reminder for traders who forgot what volatility feels like. The S&P 500 had its biggest drop since June 25, and Cboe's Volatility Index ($VIX.X) had its biggest spike over the same period. Even more impressive, TradeStation data showed 23.6 million...
Cannabis Craze Drives Activity: September at TradeStation
The cannabis craze swept markets in September, with TradeStation clients riding the wave. Canadian marijuana firm Tilray (TLRY) was the third-busiest stock on our platforms this month, catapulting from No. 24 in August. Related companies Canopy Growth (CGC) and Cronos...