Market Insights
Opportunity knocks for those with trading in their DNA.
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Memory Tricks for Options Greeks Like Delta, Gamma and Vega
Options are complex instruments that can swing sharply in value. Traders may find the moves confusing, so this article will help explain key "Greeks" -- some of the most important factors impacting the price of options. Greeks are Greek letters used in complicated...
S&P 500 Crosses 5,600 as Pre-April Bullishness Returns: Market Trends
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500 crosses 5,600 for first time Index up 6 straight sessions, longest since 11/6 Patterns similar to pre-April: Relative Strength...
Chart of the Day: Make or Break Time for the Russell?
The Russell 2000 has gone nowhere since December, but some traders may think the small cap index is poised for a move. The main pattern on today’s chart is the pair of converging lines along the lows since April and the highs since May. Will there be a breakout from...
Bulls in the China Shop? Options Surge Before Big Events
Options traders are getting active in Chinese technology companies like Baidu before two potentially important events. The first catalyst is at 8:30 a.m. ET tomorrow, when the U.S. Labor Department releases the consumer price index (CPI). It's the first reading of...
Stocks Keep Climbing as Lower Rates Push Growth Names Higher
Large growth stocks are leading the market to new highs again as investors anticipate lower interest rates. The S&P 500 rose almost 2 percent in the holiday-shortened week between Friday, June 28, and Friday, July 5. The index closed above 5,500 for the first time...
Key Points About Selling Credit Spreads
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...
Measuring the Summer Calm With TradeStation’s Custom Functionality
Stocks have enjoyed a calm drift higher since the beginning of May. But just how smooth has the ride been? Today we'll answer that question using TradeStation's award-winning platform. One approach is to measure the amount of time since the S&P 500 last had a...
Technology & Communication
Nvidia Calls Get Active as AI Goes Mainstream
Options traders flocked to Nvidia yesterday ahead of a potentially key week for the AI giant. Volume surged in short-dated weekly calls expiring this Friday, which suggests investors are looking for a quick move. Here were some of the busiest contracts: More than...
Options Activity Is Rising in ‘Meme’ Stocks Like AMC and GameStop
Heavily shorted stocks like AMC exploded higher in January. Now they may be moving again, with options traders jumping on board. The theater chain rallied 19 percent yesterday, following a 20 percent gain on Tuesday. AMC is up 62 percent since last Friday, its biggest...
Golden Crosses in Wireless Tower Stocks: Chart of the Day
Wireless-tower stocks have been in long-term uptrends as mobile devices and usage proliferate. American Tower is the largest of the three, followed by Crown Castle International and SBA Communications . AMT has moved sideways for the last year. It hit an all-time high...
Options Activity Alert: Bullish Activity Detected in Square
Square (SQ) has gone nowhere for months, but options traders seem to be keeping the faith. Unusual call volume was detected yesterday in the fintech company run by Jack Dorsey, with two distinct transactions occurring. First, investors amassed more than 15,000 28-May...
From Apple to Twitter, Several Major Tech Stocks Are Bouncing at This Key Line
Growth stocks have lagged for months as investors focus on "value" trades like energy and financials. But now some major names like Apple and Twitter are bouncing at a key level. The table below lists 15 prominent technology companies that have recently tested their...