Market Insights
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Bullish and Bearish: Key Points About Vertical Option Spreads
Vertical spreads are one of the most common strategies in the options market because they can generate leverage with limited risk. This article will consider key points about bullish and bearish spreads. Vertical spreads involve two "legs" on the same underlier to...
Could This Week’s Events Get Walmart Moving Again?
Walmart has been stuck in a tight range, and some events this week could trigger a move. The retail giant broke out to new record highs on February 20 before settling into a range between about $58.50 and $61. Prices have recently moved above the convergence of the...
Stock Gains Widen as Investors Hope for Lower Inflation
Money is flowing back into stocks as investors hope for a better inflation report this week. The S&P 500 rose 1.9 percent between Friday, May 3, and Friday, May 10. It was the third straight positive week. More than four-fifths of the index's members advanced,...
The Basics of Options
Options are an important tool for many retail investors. They can either replace trading shares, or make it easier to position oneself in stocks. Let’s consider the first things options traders need to know. An Option’s Price Is Usually Called ‘Premium’ There are some...
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...
Bullish, Neutral, Even Bearish: 3 Ways Options Traders Can Use Covered Calls
Covered calls are one of the most common strategies for options traders. While many investors have heard of them, they may not realize that covered calls are highly versatile. This article will cover how the method can be bullish, neutral and even bearish. First,...
Calm Returns as Rate Fears Subside: Market Trends This Week
Downloads are available here. TradeStation’s ideas on TradingView are available here. Register for Market Trends here. Sizing Up the S&P 500 S&P 500 back above 50-day MA. MACD turns higher More index members above 20-day MA than above...
Technology & Communication
Options Alert: Call Volume Spikes in Social Media Stock
Social-media company Snap has been trying to rebound from a summer selloff, and options traders may expect further gains. Heavy volume was detected yesterday in the 6-December 12.50 calls, with early blocks fetching for $0.24 to $0.30. Premiums more than doubled to...
Bearish Triangle and Death Cross in Zoom Video: Technical Analysis
As Zoom Video Communications continues to struggle, more bearish patterns have appeared on the chart. First, the recent price action has resulted in a descending triangle , with support around $309. This is a classic continuation pattern, pointing to potentially more...
Chinese Stocks Are Crashing. Here’s Why It Could Be Good Luck for U.S. Investors
Most investors know that big Nasdaq stocks have struggled lately. They may be less aware of the carnage in Chinese markets. The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) has dropped 8 percent so far in March. That puts it on pace for the worst month in the last year. It also...
Sports Betting Is Back in Focus with NCAA Finals and MLB Weeks Away
NCAA basketball is reaching its finale with the baseball season about to start. It's a great time revisit companies with exposure to sports betting. Led by stocks like Penn National Gaming (PENN) and DraftKings (DKNG), sports-betting is a new industry. It was made...
Is the Nasdaq Ready to Bounce? Key Things to Know after Last Week’s Pullback
Stocks pulled back last week, but there are signs that the bulls remain in control. The S&P 500 fell 0.8 percent, while the Nasdaq-100 slid just 0.5 percent. It was the first time in five weeks that the technology-heavy Nasdaq outperformed the S&P 500. It...