Market Insights
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Is Bitcoin Starting to Move Before the U.S. Election?
by David Russell | Oct 16, 2024
Bitcoin could be coming to life as the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates and the U.S. election approaches. The cryptocurrency began 2024 with a sharp rally followed by a long pullback and consolidation. However some traders could see the potential for prices to...
Bearish Option Strategy: Long Puts
by David Russell | Dec 30, 2023
Traders buy a single put option on a stock or ETF. This strategy can benefit from a price drop while risking more capital than a spread. Learn more
Bearish Option Strategy: Call Credit Spread
by David Russell | Dec 30, 2023
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
These Were Some of the Biggest Stories on Market Insights in 2023
by David Russell | Dec 28, 2023
We hope everyone's having a great holiday season. Activity is quiet in this week between Christmas and New Year's Day. So it's a good time to review the dramatic events of 2023. Keep reading Market Insights and following TradeStation on social media in the new year to...
The Other Shoe Never Dropped: 2023 In Review
by David Russell | Dec 26, 2023
The stock market is riding big gains as Wall Street enters the final week of 2023. If there's any way to explain the year, it might be that the "other shoe never dropped." After all, 2023 began on a grim note as investors worried higher interest rates would cause a...
Chart of the Day: Tight Price Action in Microsoft
by David Russell | Dec 22, 2023
Microsoft has paused this month as the Nasdaq-100 climbs to new highs. However, some chart watchers could look for the software giant to come off the sidelines. The first pattern on today’s chart is the December 1 close of $374.51, which became resistance. A daily...
‘Inflation Has Eased.’ Stocks Near Highs as Fed Signals Rate Cuts
by David Russell | Dec 18, 2023
Stocks are clawing toward record levels after the Federal Reserve confirmed hopes of a soft landing. The S&P 500 rose 2.5 percent between Friday, December 8, and Friday, December 15. The index has advanced for seven straight weeks and is just 2 percent below its...
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication
Troubled Trio? Why These Megacaps Are Faltering in 2024
by David Russell | Mar 5, 2024
The stock market is off to a roaring start in 2024, but three former leaders might be left behind. Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA) and Alphabet (GOOGL) have dropped in recent weeks as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 rallied to new highs. They're now below chart levels that...
Cybersecurity, Business Apps, Medical Software: Recent IPOs Are Pulling Back With the Market
by David Russell | Sep 21, 2021
Initial public offerings (IPOs) have been active lately as new technology companies come to market. Several names are pulling back along with the S&P 500 yesterday, which may create opportunities for investors. Many of these companies are in fast-growing corners...
Options Alert: Call Buyers Target Breakout in Up-and-Coming Cloud Stock
by David Russell | Sep 8, 2021
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...
IPOs, iPhones and Fed Tapering: Stocks Enter the Home Stretch for 2021
by David Russell | Sep 7, 2021
The U.S. economy took a hit last month, but investors may find new opportunities as they come back from the summer. A wave of initial public offerings (IPOs), changes in Federal Reserve policy and technology news could prove catalysts in coming weeks. We'll consider...
E-Commerce Giant Struggles After Bearish Price Gap: Chart of the Day
by David Russell | Aug 11, 2021
Amazon.com rallied into its last earnings report, and crashed on a very weak outlook. Now traders may need to mind the price gap that resulted. So far, AMZN hasn't even tried to fill that chasm, which creates the risk that it will become a longer-lasting scar on the...