Market Insights
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Bearish Option Strategy: Call Credit Spread
Traders sell a call option near the money and buy another at a higher strike. This strategy generates a credit, while limiting potential losses if prices increase. Learn more
Oil and Gas Are Back in Focus as Winter Approaches and Demand Rebounds
Bullish catalysts seem to be increasing in the oil and natural-gas markets as demand rebounds and winter-heating season approaches. OPEC surprised investors on Monday by forecasting that global oil demand will hit new all-time highs in 2021, above pre-pandemic levels....
Here Are 3 Key Hedging Strategies If You’re Worried About a Pullback in the Stock Market
Stocks have been sliding since Labor Day. This post will consider some potential hedging techniques if you're worried about a deeper pullback. The strategies use options, which give investors the right to buy and sell shares at given prices. Because they're...
Stocks Retreat as Data Weakens. Is Stagflation Coming?
Stocks had their worst week in almost three months as the economy slows and the Federal Reserves prepares to tighten monetary policy. The S&P 500 slid 1.7 percent in the holiday-shortened period between September 3 and September 10. It was the biggest drop since...
This Tech-Savvy Restaurant Chain Took Off During the Pandemic. Can You Guess September’s Mystery Stock?
The coronavirus pandemic transformed the nature of in-person businesses like retail and restaurants. This month's mystery stock was ready for the change, and has thrived amid the crisis. It started 28 years ago when a sous chef noticed the popularity of tacos and...
Is the S&P 500 Rolling Over? Check Out Today’s Technical Analysis
The S&P 500 has climbed for seven straight months. But it may face some near-term challenges as September gets underway. The main pattern on today’s chart is the resistance line running along the highs since mid-April. Notice how prices have stalled once again at...
Options Alert: Call Buyers Target Breakout in Up-and-Coming Cloud Stock
Datadog, an 11-year old cloud-computing firm, broke out to new highs last month. Today, options traders looked for the rally to continue. More than 20,000 call options changed hands at the 140 strike, plus another 5,000 at the 142 strike. Four contracts accounted for...
Technology & Communication
AMD Was the Busiest Symbol at TradeStation for the Fifth Straight Month
Advanced Micro Devices made new lows in June, but it remained the most actively traded symbol at TradeStation Securities for the fifth straight month. AMD declined as investors shunned economically sensitive semiconductor stocks. It's lost more than half its value...
Don’s Notebook May 1, 2018
The Institute for Supply Management (ISM report) came in lower than Street consensus at 57.3 (vs. estimates of 57.5-60.) This survey asks purchasing managers about the general direction of production, new orders, order backlogs, their own inventories, customer...
Bulls Return to Gaming Space: Options Recap
Two weeks ago, a options traders were bullish in a slot-machine maker. Yesterday, a similar transaction lit up a race-track and casino operator. Traders bought 6,000 June 31 calls in Penn National Gaming (PENN) for $1.25 in the middle of the afternoon. A block of...
IPOs come roaring to life
April is shaping up to the best month for initial public offerings in years. Data from ClickIPO shows over $10 billion of new equity entered the market in April. That's the most since September 2014. Combined volume in the first four months of the year also stands at...
Suddenly the Bears are in Retreat
Stocks recovered from early losses last week as interest rates stabilized and money streamed into tech. A Friday-afternoon surge landed the S&P 500 back above its 50-day moving average, resulting in a 0.55 percent gain for the holiday-shortened span. The...