Stocks have closed out the first week of 2018 with a bang, with the Dow adding 2.33% in the first four trading sessions -- the best start to a year since 2003. In addition, the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) enjoyed their best start to a year since 2006, with all three indexes touching another round of record highs. Tech stocks like Apple (AAPL) and Cisco Systems (CSCO) were amon...Read More

Although this year's Santa Claus rally was smaller than normal, stocks still made plenty of noise, with major U.S. equity benchmarks surging to record levels despite President Trump going nuclear on Twitter. In fact, this domestic strength helped fuel a global stock market rally. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are both pacing for their best weekly performances in over a year,...Read More

The stock market's whirlwind start to 2018 is continuing today, putting the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) on track for their biggest weekly gains since December 2016. And while chip stock Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ:XLNX) is riding the tailwinds higher, book retailer Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS) and Kala Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:KALA) aren't so resilient. Here's a closer look at w...Read More

Subscribers who followed our Top Stocks for 2017 predictions racked up some big winners last year, as half of our 10 trades generated returns in excess of the S&P's 20% move. Among the short positions we recommended was Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG), which wound up losing 23.4% after our bearish recommendation. Here's a closer look at what initially drew us to CMG stock for a short trade...Read More

The Dow has kicked off 2018 with an epic rally, touching record highs for a third straight day. A round of bullish analyst attention for several blue-chip stocks is helping the index shrug off lackluster December jobs data, with Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) leading the 30 Dow stocks higher. In addition, analysts are calling for record highs for fellow blue chips Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT) and UnitedHea...Read More

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) stock has been on a hot streak to start the new year, notching a win in six out of the last eight sessions. There could be even more tailwinds in the coming weeks, with the Dow stock sending up a buy signal to short-term options traders right now.At last check, Pfizer stock was down 0.2% at $36.72, but remains a chip-shot from the annual high of $37.35 it touched on Dec. 18....Read More

Like a number of names in the semiconductor sector, auto stocks are having a monster start to 2018 -- after data on Wednesday showed 2017 sales held near record levels, despite the industry's first annual decline since 2009. Among the names pacing for impressive weekly gains are Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (NYSE:FCAU) and Navistar International Corp (NYSE:NAV). And if history is any guide, it cou...Read More

Stocks seemingly can't be stopped, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), S&P 500 Index (SPX), and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) scale fresh record highs. Today's gains comes despite this morning's mixed December jobs report and heavy selling on energy stocks, with the tech sector again leading -- evidenced by strong moves from Dow stocks Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Apple (AAPL). Meanwhile, the ISM non...Read More

The shares of NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) have started 2018 with a bang, on pace for their best week since September, as chip stocks have rallied in the face of Intel's (INTC) recent security issues. Specifically, NVDA stock is set to notch a weekly gain of 9.6%, and is trading within a chip-shot of November's all-time highs. Nevertheless, Nvidia options are practically on sale right now.The...Read More

Like many retail stocks, auto parts suppliers AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO), Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP), and O'Reilly Automotive Inc (NASDAQ:ORLY) disappointed in 2017, with all three stocks touching multi-year lows. But more recently this group has outperformed. In fact, AZO, AAP, and ORLY have each beat out the performance of the S&P 500 Index (SPX) over the past two months -- and quite ea...Read More

The extent of the damage due to security flaws in Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) chips took a drastic turn last night when Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) confirmed that all of its Mac and iOS devices -- including the iPhone and iPad -- were impacted by the Meltdown and Spectre bugs. However, Apple said that there were currently "no known exploits" and that it has already issued software updates for MacOS, iOS, and...Read More

Echoing the Dow's hot start to 2018, two blue-chip tech stocks are buzzingafter receiving some bullish analyst attention. This morning, Dow components Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) and United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX) both received upgrades and price-target hikes, and have already notched fresh multi-year highs. Further, both CSCO and UTX stocks are set for their best week in month...Read More

Drug stock Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (NYSE:VRX) is continuing its climb higher, after brokerage firm TD Securities raised its price target to $27 from $20 earlier. The firm is in the minority with its "buy" rating on VRX; currently, the stock sports just four "buy" or better ratings, compared to 10 "holds" and five "sells." VRX shares are up 1.3% at $23.36 in electronic tradi...Read More

Jobs data will be in focus today, after the Labor Department said the U.S. economy added 148,000 jobs in December. Although this marked the slowest pace of job growth in three months -- and missed the consensus forecast for 198,000 new jobs -- stock futures are holding onto early gains, as wages increased slightlyand the unemployment rate held at 4.1%. Another positive session would have the Dow J...Read More

Subscribers to Schaeffer's Weekly Options Countdown service doubled their money earlier this week on our FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) weekly 1/5 245-strike call recommendation. Here's a closer look at what put FDX stock on our bullish radar for the first week of 2018, and how the options trade we recommended last Sunday, Dec. 31, unfolded.On Tuesday, Dec. 19, FedEx reported blowout fiscal second-q...Read More

U.S. stocks had another stellar day, with the Dow topping the 25,000 mark for the first time in history. A solid day for financial stocks helped the blue-chip index higher, overshadowing losses from Intel (INTC). Likewise, the S&P and Nasdaq also touched fresh record highs, as Wall Street applauded encouraging data on private-sector payrolls ahead of tomorrow's monthly jobs report. Commodities al...Read More

The stock market rally is showing little signs of slowing down today, with the major benchmarks hitting record highs and the Dow toppling 25,000 for the first time ever. Among specific names making big moves are chip stock Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD), stem cell specialist Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (NASDAQ:APOP), and Chinese internet advertising stock ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (...Read More

Shares of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) have been under pressure in recent days, after researchers found security flaws in many of the company's microprocessors. INTC stock fell 3.4% yesterday on the news -- while AMD stock rallied -- and is down another 2.4% today to trade at $44.17, even though the company said it is "rapidly issuing updates" that will be "mitigated over time." But while put o...Read More

The major U.S. stock indexes closed out 2017 with impressive gains, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) notching 71 record closes for the first time ever, and the S&P 500 Index (SPX) stringing together its longest monthly win streak in 30 years. And while stocks took a breather in the last week of trading, market players adjusted their trading positions for the new year, based on the U.S....Read More

U.S. stocks have kicked off 2018 with a bang, with the major market indexes assailing record heights out of the gate. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) just topped 25,000 for the first time ever, and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) is trading above the 7,000 level. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) is also trading at all-time highs, and is pacing for its best week in over a year. While this puts stocks on...Read More