The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) wrapped up its best week of 2017, extending its win streak to six days and notching a record close for a fourth straight session. Not to be outdone, the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (COMP) tagged record highs of their own, as a tech rally overshadowed lackluster economic data, and as traders seemed to take North Korea's latest missile strike wit...Read More
With the major stock market indexes hitting record highs, demand for "safe havens" like gold have dipped this week. However, one gold stock is flashing a "buy" signal that hasn't been wrong the last four times: Barrick Gold Corp (USA) (NYSE:ABX). Below, we'll discuss why ABX stock looks like a bargain right now.ABX stock has been in an upward channel since early July. The stock has pulled back sin...Read More
Hurricane Irma has come and gone, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. While insurance and restaurant stocks were on Wall Street's radar last week, homebuilding stocks are now focus as the cleanup effort gets underway. While options bulls have blasted home improvement giant Home Depot of late, AV Homes Inc (NASDAQ:AVHI) is an under-the-radar Florida homebuilder that could be be puttin...Read More
Shares of Automatic Data Processing (NASDAQ:ADP) gapped higher in late July, on rumors Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management was buying a stake in the payrolls specialist. ADP stock went on to hit a record high of $121.77 on July 31. And while the security has since retreated alongside a significant drop in short interest, ADP options traders have been raising the bearish stakes.Since t...Read More
It was a banner week for U.S. stocks -- not to mention oil prices -- with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) currently pacing for a sixth straight win and a fourth straight record close. In fact, the blue-chip index is set for its best week of 2017, while the S&P 500 Index (SPX) is aiming for its best week since April. Stock markets this week seemingly shrugged off escalating tensions with No...Read More
Open interest levels on Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) have been trending higher throughout the year, alongside the FAANG stock's price. Currently, there are 143,461 calls and 143,209 puts open on GOOGL -- in the 97th annual percentile. What's more, now is an attractive time to buy short-term options on the Google parent, which will host a smartphone event in less than three weeks.Open interest level...Read More
U.S. stocks are trading higher this afternoon, with the Dow setting a new intraday record out of the gate. Among the names in the spotlight today are biopharmaceutical company Abeona Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ABEO), cruise line Carnival Corp (NYSE:CCL), and semiconductor stock Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD). Here's a quick look at what is moving shares of ABEO, CCL, and AMD.RBC Thin...Read More
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is higher at midday, after setting a fresh intraday record out of the gate this morning. The Dow is on track for its fourth straight record close, as well as its biggest weekly gain since December. The market is seemingly shrugging off subpar retail sales and North Korea's latest missile strike, as well as the first monthly decline in industrial output since...Read More
Shares of NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) are surging today, after Evercore ISI raised its price target to $250 from $180 -- the highest on Wall Street, and nearly 42% above current levels. The brokerage firm waxed optimistic on potential growth in the artificial intelligence (AI) market, saying, "We are only at the cusp of AI's growth potential and NVIDIA is creating THE AI computing industry st...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on airline company Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV), alternative energy concern First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR), and healthcare product provider Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSIC). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on shares of LUV, FSLR, and HSIC. LUV Struggles to Capitalize on J.P. Morgan UpgradeJ.P. Morgan Securities upgraded Southwest Airlines st...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on airline stocks American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ:AAL), United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL), and Spirit Airlines Incorporated (NASDAQ:SAVE). J.P. Morgan Securities downgraded all three airline stocksover concerns about domestic airline pricing andfuel prices. Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on shares of AAL, UAL, and SAVE.Downgrade Gr...Read More
U.S. stock futures are pointing to a negative start, as traders weigh North Korea's latest missile strike against a fresh round of economic data. Among specific stocks in focus today are software firm Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL), cancer treatment specialist Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRTX), and embattled credit reporting agency Equifax Inc. (NSYE:EFX). Here's a closer look at what's m...Read More
After closing higher for a fifth straight session yesterday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is signaling a modestly higher open again today, with futures trading slightly above fair value. However, futures on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are pointing lower this morning, on news that North Korea fired another missile over Japan for the second time in less than...Read More
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed higher for a fifth straight day, hitting fresh record highs in the process. However, the broader stock market struggled for gains, with the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) both retreating from yesterday's record closes -- though the latter index did manage another intraday peak early in the day. For the most part, investors consi...Read More
While earnings season is over, it won't be long before it comes around again. During this break in the action, it's a good time to review some basics about how implied volatility (IV) impacts option prices. IV plays a key role in determining the price you pay to buy an option, so it's critical to keep entry costs at a minimum in order to take full advantage of the leverage provided by options. To...Read More
U.S. stocks are mixed this afternoon, with the Dow outperforming its fellow equity indexes after this morning's inflation data.Among the names in the spotlight today are aerospace concern (and Dow stock) Boeing Co (NYSE:BA), Chinese online retailer Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA), and credit bureau TransUnion (NYSE:TRU). Here's a quick look at what is moving shares of BA, BABA, and TRU.Boei...Read More
As the Dow trades near record highs, the Nasdaq is trading lower amid pressure from biotechs. One drug stock in the red is cystic fibrosis specialist Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX). This retreat could create a compelling opportunity for options traders, though, as VRTX tests a key trendline with historically bullish implications.Volatility Expectations Are Low on VRTX StockVRT...Read More
Economic data continues to dominate the news, with the September Fed meeting kicking off on Tuesday. Policymakers are expected to leave the benchmark interest rate untouched, but market participants will be awaiting details on the Fed's plans to unwind its $4.5 trillion balance sheet. Earnings are relatively light, but traders should watch out for reports from some big names like Adobe Systems (AD...Read More
Biotech stock bluebird bio Inc (NASDAQ:BLUE) continues to be a major winner for shareholders and options traders alike. The equity just hit a two-year high of $136.85, and was last seen 5.3% higher at $133, bringing its one-year gain to more than 111%. Not surprisingly, bullish options traders continue to target BLUE, betting the shares will rise even further in the weeks ahead. Starting with da...Read More
Options activity on GrubHub Inc (NYSE:GRUB) has been on the upswing over the past year. Currently, there are 126,283 options open on GRUB stock -- 100,436 calls and 25,847 puts -- in the 93rd annual percentile, and fewer than 22,100 contracts shy of the 12-month peak of 148,356 contracts hit on Aug. 4. As a point of comparison, total open interest fell to a 52-week low of 19,448 contracts on Sept....Read More