Market Insights
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Trade War Hits Stocks Before Earnings Reports
by David Russell | Oct 13, 2025
Stocks tumbled last week as the trade war against China resumed, but the tune could change as earnings arrive.
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...
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....
Top Stocks for Options Trading
Technology & Communication
Chart of the Day: Oracle May Have Found Support
by David Russell | May 7, 2024
Oracle jumped to new highs almost two months ago. Now, after a pullback, the software giant may have found support. The first pattern on today’s chart is the gap higher on March 12 after earnings surprised to the upside. ORCL retraced the move and is starting to...
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...
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....




