ONE-TWENTY TWO: Trading Financial Markets
Exploring the poetry in financial markets for students of money and economy since the year 2000.
Google (GOOG) fourth quarter earnings last night were largely as expected: “Google reported revenues of $6.67 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, an increase of 17% compared to the fourth quarter of 2008…GAAP EPS in the fourth quarter of 2009 was $6.13…compared to $1.21 in the fourth quarter of 2008…Non-GAAP EPS in the … Read more
At this point, everyone should be used to looking at charts of stocks and indices that look like they are topping out, many in climactic fashion (click here for a review of Caterpillar; click here for a review of Intel). Add healthcare stocks to the growing list. Specifically, the Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF, … Read more
I did not think I would consider (this soon) whether the dollar’s short-term downtrend is ending. I thought this month’s unemployment report put an end to the dollar’s relief rally, but the dollar has surged in the past 3 days to recover all its losses since the most recent peak in mid-December. Even the Australian … Read more
The market delivered another tepid response to another stellar earnings report from Intel (INTC). After October’s earnings report, I argued that INTC was hitting peak performance. Trading following that report seemed to support my expectation. Trading after Thursday night’s earnings looks like an exclamation point on what is a potential climactic top in INTC. Prior … Read more
Last week produced some ominous chart patterns in important individual stocks. I already covered Google (GOOG) and its rare retest of support at the 50-day moving average (DMA). While I still think GOOG will succeed in its retest in the near-term, I am not so sanguine about other ominous charts. Caterpillar (CAT) survived potential climactic … Read more
Google (GOOG) is now down 5% for the year, under-performing the NASDAQ which is essentially flat for 2010. The sudden surge in volume in GOOG suggests that a large group of traders and investors are selling on the news of the Nexus One release. This volume represents the most active trading in GOOG since its … Read more
The stock for SunPower Corporation (SWPRa) has remained in a holding pattern, directly under resistance from the 50-day moving average (DMA), in the two weeks since SPWRa provided an empty update on its on-going audit committee investigation. I took this opportunity to dump my current position at break-even. I feel fortunate to do so after … Read more
Over the past three days, the S&P 500 finally broke upward out of a five-week trading range (the NASDAQ has had a much more aggressive breakout). Well before this latest bullish move, many stocks and whole sectors soared higher in a “stealth” rally. Steel companies U.S. Steel (X) and Nucor (NUE) are two stocks in … Read more
I am always on the hunt for trading opportunities in solar stocks. For a third time, ReneSola (SOL) appears to be a long opportunity. My previous two attempts failed as I bought calls instead of shares. Purchasing shares instead of calls would have left me flat at this point. I am looking for a charmed … Read more
By now, everyone has noticed that the inverse relationship between the stock market and the U.S. dollar has broken. For December, the U.S. dollar index is up a healthy 4.7% while the S&P 500 is up 2.1%. I created two charts to demonstrate the dramatic nature of the change relative to trading before December. The … Read more