Market Insights
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Small Caps vs Emerging Markets
by David Russell | Oct 2, 2025
Emerging markets are outpacing U.S. small caps by a wide margin.
Technical Analysis: Have Chipmakers Already Bottomed?
by David Russell | Jan 13, 2023
Most people know that technology stocks ended 2022 on a weak note. But they may not realize one group started to outperform: chipmakers. The first pattern on today’s chart of the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index is the falling trendline along the highs of last year....
Fear Could Be Evaporating After Another Cool Inflation Report
by David Russell | Jan 12, 2023
Inflation was lower than feared for the third straight month, and investors loved it. December's consumer price index (CPI) shrank 0.1 percent, compared with estimates for an unchanged reading. It followed cooler-than-expected readings for November and October,...
A Soft Landing? Why Stocks May Be Attempting a Turn as 2023 Begins
by David Russell | Jan 9, 2023
Stocks began the New Year with gains as investors see the potential for inflation to ease without a recession. The S&P 500 broke a four-week losing streak, rising 1.5 percent in the holiday-shortened period between Friday, December 30. Every major sector advanced,...
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...
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication
Nasdaq Surges as Traders Buy the Dip Before Fed Meeting
by David Russell | Apr 29, 2024
Stocks are rebounding as key earnings beat estimates and investors get comfortable with fewer rate cuts. The S&P 500 rose 2.7 percent between Friday, April 19, and Friday, April 26. The Nasdaq-100 jumped 4 percent. Those were the biggest weekly gains for both...
Stocks Follow Expected Script as Trump Approaches Trade Deal With China
by David Russell | Oct 11, 2019
Investors had a plan going into today's big meeting with China, and they stuck to it. Economically sensitive stocks like banks, materials and industrials led the rally on Friday. Semiconductors and Chinese Internet stocks also had some of their bigger gains in recent...
Trade War Drama Continues as Chinese Delegation Visits White House
by David Russell | Oct 10, 2019
Key talks with China begin today, and things are already off to a crazy start. Last night, reports from Asia said the meetings had pretty much failed before they even started. Stock futures crashed immediately, then roared back after the White House denied the story....
Stocks Just Had a Roller Coaster Week of Fear, Hope and Volatility
by David Russell | Oct 7, 2019
Stocks ended last week barely changed, but it was a wild ride of hope, fear and volatility. The S&P 500 crashed early on economic worries, and one point was down 3.6 percent. It quickly bounced as investors remembered some potential positives and ended just 0.3...
Streaming Wars Dominate Activity: September at TradeStation
by David Russell | Oct 1, 2019
The streaming wars came to TradeStation last month, with two of the biggest stocks in the industry dominating activity on our platform. Roku (ROKU) was the second-busiest symbol among our clients in September. The provider of media players lost one-third of its value...




