The VIX is an indicator that measures market volatility, and it has had its fair share of ups and downs since 2013. As we see from the chart below, the range has been very wide, moving from the 10’s up to the low 50’s. But what is interesting on this daily chart is the similarities…
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After finishing the first full week of trading in 2016, there was nothing to be happy about. This was the worst start ever in the history of the stock market, and it all points to some more bad activity on the horizon. With earnings season around the corner, there is nary a stock that is…
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Options Trading Webinar: Marc Chaikin On Trading in 2016 We are starting 2016 off with one of our favorite guests, Marc Chaikin, who always has incredible insights to share. If his name rings a bell, you are likely familiar with Chaikin Analytics, his platform that puts the power of proven stock research tools and revolutionary…
DetailsDollar Tree is looking primed and ready to rise. As you can see in the stock chart below, it’s currently sitting near old highs – even with the dreadful action we experienced on Monday. The stock has historically been an exceptional performer when markets are weak, so while others were being hammered lower, Dollar Tree…
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With the beginning of a new year upon us, it is the perfect time to reflect on your trading over the past year, dig in to see what worked and fix what didn’t work, and look at how to improve your trading in the new year. As we all know, last year was a very…
DetailsTrading and investing can be a tough and lonely business, witness the challenges presented in the year 2015. Markets were mostly down, commodities like oil and gold were hammered but some stocks rose sharply, like Netflix and Amazon (the two best performers in the SPX 500). If you were bearish commodities during the year you…
DetailsMicrosoft is one of those “old” tech names that many traders consider boring. Well, sometimes boring is profitable and a worthwhile investment. The stock is up strong for 2015, and it even reached a multi-year high a week ago. Volume trends are strong as institutions accumulate the stock, and relative strength is impressive – the…
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Trading and investing is a tricky business. If you’re on your game, you’ll get far more trades right than wrong. Sometimes the ego gets in the way of a clear mind and you end up holding trades longer than you should. There will be losses; it’s just part of the game. However, unlike gambling in…
DetailsBiotechs have been some of the most volatile stocks in 2015, and Illumina has definitely been one of those. After dropping precipitously in September, it has made its way back toward the 200 ma for the third time. The time, though, Illumina may push through heavy resistance. (It’s worth keeping in mind that this name is barely…
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The first thing the market did following the first Fed rate hike in nine years was breathe a sigh of relief – and then react. In a perverse way, the market seemed to be applauding a tightened policy, which is counter to what we have seen for years. Sure, the near-zero interest rate policy (ZIRP)…
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