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How to Trade SPY Options
by David Russell | Aug 15, 2025
SPDR S&P 500 ETF isn’t just the most active product in the stock market – it’s also the most traded in the options market. Learn more here.
Options Alert: Trader Looks for More Upside in Chinese Tech Stock
by David Russell | Jan 5, 2023
Chinese technology stocks have been jumping, and one options trader is positioning for the move to continue. Check out this unusual activity this afternoon in e-commerce company JD.com (JD): Some 5,000 February 70 calls were purchased for $4.01.At the same time, the...
Chart of the Day: Is Oracle Attempting a Breakout?
by David Russell | Jan 4, 2023
Oracle has performed better than most technology and software companies, and now it may be attempting a breakout. The first pattern on today’s chart is the triangle that took shape in December. Prices ended 2022 slightly above the top, and buyers jumped in yesterday....
Worries About the Fed and Earnings Grew as 2022 Ended: December Recap
by David Russell | Jan 3, 2023
Stocks begin the New Year under a cloud of pessimism as investors brace for higher interest rates and lower earnings. The S&P 500 slid 5.9 percent in December, resulting in a 19 percent drop for all of 2022. It was the stock market's worst year since the 2008...
Rolling Options: Key Things for Traders to Know
by David Russell | Dec 31, 2022
Editor's note: This post was originally published on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. "Rolling options" is a common transaction for options traders, but there are several ways to do it. This article will explain the different ways and reasons why traders might roll...
Key Points About Selling Credit Spreads
by David Russell | Dec 31, 2022
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 Credit Spread...
Greek of the Week: Delta
by David Russell | Dec 31, 2022
Editor's note: This post, part of a four-part series about options Greeks, was originally published on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. Some traders may be confused by options, especially their use of Greek letters. Delta, gamma, theta, and vega. How to remember what they...
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication
Stocks Pause Near Record Highs Before Inflation, Earnings
by David Russell | Jan 8, 2024
Stocks are pulling back as traders wait for key inflation data and the start of earnings season. The S&P 500 fell 1.5 percent in the holiday-shortened period between Friday, December 29, and Friday, January 5. It was the first drop in 10 weeks, ending the index's...
The Fed, Apple, Facebook and GDP: Today’s a Super Busy Day
by David Russell | Oct 30, 2019
Today's one of the biggest sessions of the year, with a Federal Reserve meeting and major technology earnings. Just to get started, here's a blow-by-blow sequence of what traders can expect on Wednesday, October 30. All times eastern standard: In the premarket: 7 a.m....
Tesla Takes Off as Other Major Technology Names Drift: Earnings This Week
by David Russell | Oct 24, 2019
Some big technology stocks have reported earnings in the last week, but investors mostly shrugged so far. The big gainer is Tesla (TSLA), which ripped 17 percent after showing a big turnaround in profitability. The improvement in its margins and cash flow give the...
Podcast: Looking Beyond Tech for 2020
by David Russell | Oct 23, 2019
Software makers and semiconductors have come under pressure recently as investors question their multiples. But unlike a year ago, new sectors like financials and industrials may be coming into favor.
Big Banks and Netflix Surprise to the Upside: Earnings This Week
by David Russell | Oct 17, 2019
Earnings season started on a strong foot as major banks reported surprising growth in their core businesses. JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), Morgan Stanley (MS), U.S. Bancorp (USB) and PNC Financial (PNC) all beat estimates in the last...




