It was yet another positive session for U.S. stocks, as traders focused on the beginning of the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) September meeting. The central bank isn't expected to lift interest rates until December, but could detail plans to unwind its massive balance sheet. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) enjoyed a sixth straight record close, and ended higher for the eighth da...Read More
U.S. stocks are trading higher this afternoon, with the Dow set to extend its winning streak to eight sessions -- the longest since early August. Among the names in the spotlight today are telecom stock Sprint Corp (NYSE:S), electronics retailer Best Buy Co Inc (NYSE:BBY), and clothing company Gap Inc (NYSE:GPS). Here's a quick look at what is moving shares of S, BBY, and GPS.Sprint Stock So...Read More
Retailer Kohl's Corporation (NYSE:KSS) found itself in the news today, after announcing it would offer free returns on Amazon products at 85 of its stores starting next month. This is the second time Kohl's and Amazon have teamed up. Earlier this month, Kohl's agreed to sell Amazon's smart-home products in 10 of its stores. Below, we will take a look at how Kohl's stock has performed lately, a...Read More
T-Mobile US Inc (NASDAQ:TMUS) is trading up 5.3% at $65.08, after CNBC reported the wireless carrier has resumed merger talks with Sprint. Options traders have been quick to react, too, with 32,265 calls and 15,915 puts on the tape -- six times what's typically seen and total options volume pacing in the 99th annual percentile. This heavy attention to calls is just more of the same in TMUS' optio...Read More
The Fed is expected to emerge from its two-day policy meeting tomorrow without announcing a rate hike, with most traders expecting the central bank to lift rates again in December. However, some are expecting Janet Yellen & Co to detail plans on how the Federal Reserve will unwind its massive balance sheet. With Fed Fever in the air, we decided to take another look at the historically best and wor...Read More
Toy stocks Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) and Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) came under pressure on Monday due to speculation -- which has since been confirmed -- that Toys R Us was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Options traders quickly jumped in, targeting near-term puts amid the shares' weakness. Below we'll take a quick look at how speculators are trading HAS and MAT. Put Options Unusually Pop...Read More
Call open interest levels have been steadily rising on Momo Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ:MOMO) throughout 2017, along with the stock's price. While MOMO shares have nearly doubled in value year-to-date, call open interest is currently docked in the 89th annual percentile. It looks to be a prime time for call buyers to continue to target the stock, considering short-term options premiums are attractively pric...Read More
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is higher at midday, set to extend its winning streak to eight sessions -- the longest since early August -- while already setting another intraday record. The Dow is on track for its sixth straight record close, as the two-day Fed meeting gets underway. The central bank isn't expected to lift interest rates until December, but could detail plans to unwind i...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on technology powerhouse Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), chip stock Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU), and luxury retailer Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (NYSE:KORS). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on shares of AAPL, MU, and KORS. Morgan Stanley Lifts AAPL Target Amid iPhone X HypeMorgan Stanley raised its price target on Apple stock to $194 from $182, w...Read More
Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR) has added 27% year-to-date, and tacked on over 52% year-over-year. The stock recently broke out above a trendline connecting a series of lower highs dating back to its June 2 record high around $110, suggesting MAR is ready to embark on the next leg of its longer-term uptrend. MAR's short interest increased by 15% during the last reporting period, and now...Read More
Options traders have been ramping up their bearish exposure on Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG), as the stock trades near multi-year lows. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), CMG's 10-day put/call volume ratio has risen to 0.90 from 0.76 since the start of the month, and now ranks in the elevated 76th annual perc...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on electric car company Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), as well as athletic apparel stocks Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) and Under Armour Inc (NYSE:UAA). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on shares of TSLA, NKE, and UAA.Jefferies Starts Tesla Stock at 'Underperform'Tesla stock is down 0.9% to trade at $381.38, after Jefferies initiated coverage on the electric c...Read More
U.S. stocks are eyeing a higher open ahead of today's Fed meeting. Among specific stocks in focus today are auto parts retailer AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO), cloud concern Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNCR), and credit agency Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX). Here's a closer look at what's moving shares of AZO, SNCR, and EFX. AutoZone Bounces After EarningsAutoZone stock is up 1.2% this morning...Read More
After posting its fifth straight record close and its seventh consecutive win, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is pointed higher before the open, as the highly anticipated two-day Federal Reserve monetary-policy meeting kicks offtoday. The central bank isn't expected to lift interest rates until December, but could detail plans to unwind its massive balance sheet. Traders are also diges...Read More
As the major stock indexes assailed record highs, the number of self-identified bears in the weekly American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) survey plummeted by 13.8 percentage points in the week ended Wednesday, Sept. 13 -- the largest one-week drop since July 2010. In fact, it's the first time in over a year that the number of AAII bears fell by 10 percentage points or more, with the...Read More
U.S. stocks continued to rise today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average grabbing a fifth straight record close and its seventh consecutive win overall. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (COMP) both hit record highs as well, with the former ending another day atop the 2,500 level. Bank stocks led the charge ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) September meeting, w...Read More
While earnings season has mostly wrapped up, package delivery giant FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) will report its fiscal first-quarter results tomorrow night. FedEx has a history of making upward moves following its earnings reports. Below, we will take a look at how FedEx stock typically reacts after earnings, and how options traders are preparing for the big event.At last check, FDX stock is up...Read More
Gold prices will be in focus this week, with the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) latest policy decision due on Wednesday afternoon and a press conference from Fed Chair Janet Yellen to follow. Though no rate hike is expected this time around, the VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) is trading down 1.6% at $23.74 -- paring its year-to-date lead to 13.5% -- as U.S. stocks climb to new record...Read More
U.S. stocks are trading higher this afternoon, with the Dow eyeing its fifth straight record close. Among the names in the spotlight today are tech stock Ubiquiti Networks Inc (NASDAQ:UBNT), semiconductor stock Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT), and telehealth company Teladoc Inc (NYSE:TDOC). Here's a quick look at what is moving shares of UBNT, AMAT, and TDOC.Citron Research: Ubiquiti...Read More
The biotech sector has generated some keen interest lately, driven in no small part by the recent FDA approval of the first CAR T-cell therapy for cancer treatment. This development has been the focus of an L.A. Times front-page story, as well as the current "Closing in on cancer" Economist cover.Against this backdrop, the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) wrapped up the month of August by br...Read More