Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are cautiously higher this morning, after the index touched a record high yesterday. S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) futures are also pointed higher, with the indexes hoping to extend their recent journey into uncharted territory. Traders are digesting data on Cyber Monday sales, which are estimated around $6.6 billion -- the largest eve...Read More

The U.S. stock market started the day trading in positive territory, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), S&P 500 Index (SPX), and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) all carving out new highs. Retail stocks were one of the driving forces behind the early action, as traders reacted to record-setting Black Friday online sales -- and upbeat expectations for Cyber Monday sales -- while strong housing da...Read More

While most of the bigger names have come and gone for the quarter, some companieshave yet to take their turn in the earnings confessional. Software developer Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) is due up this week, reporting third-quarter earnings after the market closes this Tuesday, Nov. 28. Here's a closer look at ADSK's performance lately, and how options traders are playing the software name ahea...Read More

The 20 stocks listed in the table below have attracted the highest total weekly options volume during the past 10 trading days. Stocks highlighted in yellow are new entries to the list. Data is courtesy of Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White. Two names to note coming off Black Friday are Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT), as retail stocks carry the m...Read More

Stocks are trading mixed this afternoon, despite a robust start to the holiday shopping season for many retailers. Among the names making big movesare e-commerce platform Square Inc (NYSE:SQ), cybersecurity company Barracuda Networks Inc (NYSE:CUDA), and drug concern Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:INO). Here's a quick look at what's moving shares of SQ, CUDA, and INO.SQGaps Lower After BTIG D...Read More

Stocks shot higher out of the gate this morning, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), S&P 500 Index (SPX), and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) all hitting record highs. However, these gains quickly evaporated, with the SPX now struggling to hold the 2,600 level. Traders were taking a risk-on approach following a number of positive Black Friday and Cyber Monday headlines, andretail stocks are outp...Read More

Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) received an analyst upgrade today, with BofA-Merrill Lynch raising its rating to "buy" from "neutral." The brokerage firm also reiterated its $28 price target -- representing expected upside of 31.6% to current trading levels -- and called CIEN stock "a clear share gainer" within the optical sector. Ahead of Ciena's Dec. 7 earnings report, the stock has been on the m...Read More

Retail stocks are in focus today, as traders digest a strong start to the holiday sales season, including record-breaking online sales numbers for Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Additionally, Adobe Analytics is projecting $6.6 billion in Cyber Monday internet sales, which would mark the biggest online shopping day ever in the U.S. Several retailers are making big moves in early trading, too, inclu...Read More

U.S. stocks are trading cautiously higher this morning, with retail stocks as the main focus amid the Cyber Monday chaos. Three stocks making moves today are patent acquisition company Marathon Patent Group Inc (NASDAQ:MARA), media and content concern Time Inc (NYSE:TIME), and technology powerhouse Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). Here's a closer look at what's moving shares of MARA, TIME, and AAPL.MAR...Read More

Analysts are weighing in on online retail platform Shopify Inc (NYSE:SHOP), toymaker Funko Inc (NASDAQ:FNKO), and chip stock Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU). Here's what's moving shares of SHOP, FNKO, and MU. Shopify Stock Gains are Good News for Options TradersShopify stock is up 2.6% this morning at $114.66, after the company announced record-breaking Black Friday numbers. Plus, KeyBanc thi...Read More

Analysts are weighing in tech stock Western Digital Corp (NASDAQ:WDC), real estate investment trust (REIT) Kimco Realty Corp (NYSE:KIM), and video game retailer GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on shares of WDC, KIM, and GME.Western Digital Stock Sees a Rare DowngradeWestern Digital is down 6.9% to trade at $86.33, after Morgan Stanley downgrad...Read More

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are just barely north of fair value this morning, after closing out Thanksgiving week in the black. S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) futures are also muted, despite both benchmarks settling at record closing highs on Friday. Retail stocks continue to be in focus, as Black Friday online sales reportedly reached a record $5 billion -- and th...Read More

"...the SPX closed at 2,579.36 on Nov. 1 after the Fed's decision to hold interest rates steady, and a rally immediately followed -- but the round 2,600 century mark held the post-FOMC rally in check. After a decline near the 2,550 mark, the SPX comes into this week trading back around its Nov. 1 close of 2,579."Headlines and rumors related to tax cuts may move the market one way or the other on a...Read More

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) both managed record highs today, even though trading action was muted in the shortened session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) also had a strong day, as Wall Street digested mostly upbeat headlines about Black Friday shopping. A number of retail stocks outperformed as a result -- including Amazon (AMZN), which hit record highs thanks to...Read More

Shares of JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) could be in for a volatile week of trading in the wake of sector peer Alibaba's (BABA) Singles Day extravaganza. The world's largest shopping day of the year is currently underway, with Alibaba saying sales hit $5 billion in the first 15 minutes of this year's event. Plus, the Chinese e-commerce issue is scheduled to report third-quarter earnings before the marke...Read More

With Black Friday retail sales events in full swing, mega-retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT) is attracting attention from options traders. Today's call volume of 24,000 contracts represents about 150% of the stock's intraday norm, and a decent portion of the day's action consists of short-term call spreads.Not long after the opening bell, data from the International Securities Exchange (ISE)...Read More

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) is making headlines today, after reports surfaced late Wednesday the shipping giant had acquired a manufacturing pharmacy license in the state of Georgia. UPS was trading down 0.2% at $113.52 at last check. Below, we will take a look atthe sentiment surrounding United Parcel stock both in and out of the options pits.Taking a quick look at the charts, UPS stoc...Read More

Hologic, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOLX) said it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Quantra 2.2 breast density assessment software -- used in breast cancer screenings. Despite an initial uptick at the open, HOLX stock is failing to capitalize on the news, last seen fractionally lower at $40.87. As the shares continue to struggle at a key technical juncture, s...Read More

Dow stock Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) made headlines before the holiday break, after Saudi Arabia agreed to buy $7 billion worth of military equipment and weaponry from multiple U.S. contractors, including Boeing. Below, we will check in with BA to see how the aerospace stock has been faring, and how options traders have reacted to the news.Boeing stock is currently up 0.3% to trade at $265.91, flirti...Read More

There were lower-than-normal trading volumes across Wall Street this week due to Thanksgiving, but stocks pushed to record highs nonetheless. Many of the gains came on Tuesday, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Nasdaq Composite (IXIC), and S&P 500 Index (SPX) all soared to record highs thanks to a strong round of corporate earnings. The Dow is now set to avoid a rare third-straight wee...Read More