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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.
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
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...
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...
What Recession? Chip Stocks Had Another Strong Quarter
by David Russell | Oct 1, 2019
Two strange things happened last quarter: Chip makers went up and health-care stocks went down. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index ($SOX) rose almost 7 percent between June 28 and September 30. Meanwhile the SPDR Health Care ETF (XLV) slid about 3 percent. This is...
Stocks Down as Range Tightens Before a Huge News Month
by David Russell | Sep 30, 2019
Stocks fell again last week but remain trapped in a range as investors wait for some huge news events next month. The S&P 500 slid 1 percent between Friday, September 20, and Friday, September 27. Still, the index held some key levels and remained within striking...




