Market Insights
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Stocks Set a New Record as Pharma Comes to Life
by David Russell | Oct 6, 2025
Stocks keep setting records as new sectors come to life. Last week, healthcare and pharmaceuticals led the charge.
Remembering the Pandemic: How the Market Went Crazy 3 Years Ago
by David Russell | Jan 25, 2023
It's been exactly three years since the coronavirus pandemic started impacting financial markets. Today, as conditions show signs of returning to normal, Market Insights takes a look back at key moments that defined the crisis and recovery. One Bearish Story After...
Good-Bye Bear Market? We Could Find Out This Week
by David Russell | Jan 23, 2023
After a small pullback, stocks could be trying to end the bear market that started a year ago. The S&P 500 declined the first three sessions of the holiday-shortened week between Friday, January 13, and Friday, January 20. It was down as much as 2.8 percent at...
Complex Options Strategy Targets More Upside in Banking Giant
by David Russell | Jan 19, 2023
Citi has been fighting higher since Christmas, and one big investor seems to think the move will continue. Check out this unusual options activity in the banking giant yesterday: 22,000 January 45 calls traded for $5.25.22,000 January 45 puts changed hands for $0.01....
Quadruple Witching Dates for 2023: How Can They Impact Stock and Futures Trading?
by David Russell | Jan 18, 2023
What Is Quad Witching? Quadruple witching is an event in financial markets when four different sets of futures and options expire on the same day. Futures and options are derivatives, linked to underlying stock prices. When derivatives expire, traders must close...
This Year Could Be Starting to Look Like the Mirror Image of 2022
by David Russell | Jan 17, 2023
Stocks just rose for the second straight week, potentially raising an important question: Will 2023 be a mirror image of last year? The S&P 500 advanced 2.7 percent between Friday, January 6, and Friday, January 13. It's gained the first two weeks of 2023. Last...
Futures 101: The Difference Between Trading Stocks and Futures
by David Russell | Jan 17, 2023
Not well-versed in the futures market? Scared about a new kind of advanced product? Here are some basic points to get started. Futures are different from traditional stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) because they track an index. You don't own anything. You...
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication
AI Boom Fades as Fundamentals Weaken: Earnings Recap
by David Russell | Apr 30, 2024
Most of the big earnings reports have now occurred, and so far they've done little to boost the market. Companies like Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Netflix (NFLX), Caterpillar (CAT) and Intel (INTC) reported profits above Wall Street estimates. However...
No More Growth? Triple Downgrade Rocks Software Space
by David Russell | Oct 17, 2019
Software stocks have been growth darlings for years, but doubts are growing on Wall Street. Yesterday three different investment banks made bearish calls on three different companies: Citi downgraded Adobe Systems (ADBE) to "neutral." The analyst thinks recurring...
FireEye Rallies from Lows, Just in Time for Cybersecurity Month
by David Russell | Oct 16, 2019
October is cybersecurity month, and a pioneering stock in the industry has come to life. FireEye (FEYE) has rallied 15 percent in the last two weeks and is having its best month in more than two years. A combination of takeover speculation, improved results and...
Emotions Flip Away From Safe Havens as Earnings Season Begins
by David Russell | Oct 15, 2019
Emotions seem to be flipping away from caution as earnings season begins. Safe-haven sectors including utilities, consumer staples, bonds and precious metals are all lagging this week. Meanwhile "risk-on" groups like financials, semiconductors and industrials are...
Why Apple Is Sailing to New Highs Two Weeks Before Earnings
by David Russell | Oct 15, 2019
The world's biggest company keeps getting more valuable as investors look for a mix of positive forces to keep it moving upward. Apple (AAPL) hit new all-time highs the last two sessions and has risen for seven of the last eight weeks. That's established it firmly...





