The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rallied sharply out of the gate this morning, thanks to strong earnings from components Caterpillar (CAT), 3M (MMM), and McDonald's (MCD). But while the Dow pushed deeper into record-high territory, upside was relatively muted for the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC), as weakness in biotech stocks (like Biogen) offset earnings-driven gains. And in the final hour of...Read More
Next Wednesday, the Fed will conclude a two-day policy meeting. The Fed isn't expected to do anything with interest rates, but markets can still move based on what Fed Chair Janet Yellen has to say afterward. Below, I show you how stocks have performed around these closely watched Fed days.Fed Days & Rest of the Week Fed days haven't had much effect on stocks recently. Since 2015, the S&P 500 Inde...Read More
It's been a strong year for the biotech sector, with the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) and Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) boasting year-to-date gains of 42% and 20%, respectively. Against this backdrop, Guggenheim initiated coverage on a number of biotech stocks with an upbeat "buy" rating, including Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG), Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB), and Ocular Therapeutix Inc (N...Read More
Shares of Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) are flying high today, thanks to a strong earnings report from sector peer General Motors (GM). And while GM stock is fresh off a new record high, Ford stock is up 1.3% at $12.20. Ahead of Ford Motor's own turn in the earnings confessional Thursday morning, put volume is running at an accelerated pace -- with a number of speculators bracing for a quick retreat...Read More
Stocks are significantly higher this afternoon, with the Dow hitting a fresh record high. Healthcare company Centene Corp (NYSE:CNC) is down, while Jeep parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (NYSE:FCAU) and biotech stock Pain Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTIE) are enjoying breakout sessions. Here's a quick look at what is moving shares of CNC, FCAU, and PTIE.CNC Stock Plummets Over Federal Subsi...Read More
One of the notable constants in the stock market's post-election march to new highs has been the prolonged hibernation of the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), with scores of seasoned volatility pros having prematurely called for an end to the "low VIX regime" over this period. But as the VIX stubbornly refuses, for now, to revert to anything resembling its historical mean, 2017 has continued to be a b...Read More
Shares of Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE:PII) are soaring today, thanks to the company's impressive earnings report. PII stock was last seen 15.5% higher -- making it the top S&P MidCap 400 Index (MID) percentage gainer today -- and earlier hit a two-year high of $126.85. The shares are now up 50% year-to-date, and are pacing for their first close above their 36-month moving average in over two yea...Read More
Earnings season is hitting high gear, with a number of stocks already delivering earnings wins. Looking ahead, online restaurant delivery service GrubHub Inc (NYSE:GRUB) is slated to unveil its quarterly results before tomorrow's open. Here's a closer look at how GRUB stock has been performing ahead of earnings, and how traders both in and out of the options pits have been positioning themselves....Read More
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) touched another fresh record high today, and was last seen flirting with a gain of nearly 200 points, thanks to another load of respectable earnings reports. Most notably, 3M (MMM) and Caterpillar (CAT) stocks are leading the charge, with McDonald's (MCD) also in the black after earnings. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are both trading...Read More
Blue-chip earnings continue to impress, with Dow stocks Caterpillar, 3M, and McDonald's guiding the index to record highs this morning. Now it's Boeing Co's (NYSE:BA) turn, with the aerospace giant scheduled to report earnings tomorrow morning. BA stock -- which just yesterday hit a record high of $265.98 -- is trading up 0.8% at $264.38, and considering its post-earnings history, it wouldn't be s...Read More
Put volume was accelerated on Under Armour Inc (NYSE:UAA), with roughly 12,000 contracts traded -- more than two times what's typically seen in a typical trading session. Short-term contracts were being bought to open, and with UAA shares staging a sharp late-afternoon selloff, one of these bearish traders in particular placed a well-timed bet.Diving deeper, the weekly 10/27 17.50-strike and weekl...Read More
U.S. stocks are trading higher this morning after a slew of positive third-quarter earnings were released before the bell. Among the stocks making moves this morning are construction and mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT), automobile designer and producer General Motors Company (NYSE:GM), and technology powerhouse Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). Here's a closer look at what's movi...Read More
The S&P 500 Index (SPX) just did something so rare it's happened only 13 other times in history. Specifically, the index yesterday not only made a bearish engulfing pattern, but also hit an all-time high. Below, we'lltake a look at how the S&P tends to perform after this unique double occurrence.A bearish engulfing pattern happens when the index "engulfs" the previous day's candle. Specifically, i...Read More
It appears to be an opportune time to take a long position on blue chip American Express (NYSE:AXP). The company just topped earnings expectations and raised its full-year outlook, and although its long-time CEO is stepping down, he'll be replaced by a 30-year veteran of the firm. On top of these promising fundamental developments, the stock's technical prospects also appear bullish. For insta...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on biotech Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALXN), TV streaming service Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX), and online retail giant Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on shares of ALXN, NFLX, and AMZN.Alexion Pharmaceuticals Stock Pops on FDA Drug ApprovalAlexion Pharmaceuticals stock is up 4.5% to trade at $141.27, aft...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on home appliance stock Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR), office furniture specialist HNI Corp (NYSE:HNI), and Hasbro rival Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on shares of WHR, HNI, and MAT.Whirlpool Stock Gets Downgraded After Earnings, Sears ShakeupWhirlpool stock is bracing for a 10% drop out of the gate, after the comp...Read More
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are higher this morning, up triple digits as earnings season ramps up. Better-than-expected reports from Caterpillar (CAT) and 3M (MMM) are lifting the blue-chip index toward record highs, with McDonald's (MCD) stock also pointed higher after earnings. Futures on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are also higher, boosted by earnings vic...Read More
Well, it's official.Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has finally inked a deal to build a new manufacturing plant in China.And while there are plenty of naysayers who will question the company's decision, there's only one thing you need to know about why CEO Elon Musk made this happen...There will be just as many electric vehicles sold in China this year as were sold across the entire globe in 2016.This year,...Read More
Ted Butler says the ScotiaBank news may be on par with the JP Morgan take-over of Bear Stearns in 2008. Here's why...by Theodore Butler of Butler ResearchNews reports this week indicated that the Bank of Nova Scotia (ScotiaBank), Canada's third largest bank, had put its precious metals operation, ScotiaMocatta, up for sale. Various sources said the unit had been for sale for a year or so and it wa...Read More