links for 2009-10-19

Fears rise of prolonged weakness (UK) Fears that the UK could be facing a prolonged period of economic weakness have risen after a survey of manufacturers showed few companies believe a recovery has started, while many continue to be frustrated by the reluctance of the banks to release credit. (tags: United Kingdom,economy,recession,recovery) A Change Has … Read more

links for 2009-10-16

Playing With Pins in Today's Market The non-nefarious reason stocks pin is that options owners on a strike price bracket the stock with ever-tightening orders on both sides so as to offset the options going to intrinsic value (or zero). The greater the open interest relative to typical volume, the more likely a stock will … Read more

links for 2009-10-15

U.S. solar firms' 3Q accounting may get hard look | Reuters Solar companies are likely to report their brightest earnings in a year as the industry emerges from a brutal downturn, but analysts warn aggressive accounting may cast a shadow on the sector's outlook. (tags: solar companies are likely to report their brightest earnings in … Read more

links for 2009-10-14

Solar Stocks Slide On Worries Over German Subsidies – Tech Trader Daily – Barrons.com (tags: solar energy,Germany,subsidies) Triffin’s Dilemma, Reserve Currencies, and Gold (tags: U.S dollar,Triffin's Dilemma,gold) US Dollar Doom Video from CNBC Jim Rickards, director of market intelligence for scientific consulting firm Omnis, shares his outlook for the dollar. USD to lose up to … Read more

What Is the Deal with Steel Production and Prices?

Last week, I noticed media headlines screaming the horrible news that “Crude steel output in 2009 to hit lowest level in 40 years.” As I searched for the direct source of this quote from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), I stumbled upon its “Preliminary Report on Iron and Steel, Non-ferrous metal, and … Read more

Strangle Options Play in WYNN

Casino stocks have soared since the July market lows. September in particular has featured some near parabolic moves as shorts get squeezed and risk-seeking behavior has accelerated. Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) has caught my attention the past two months because its large swings in stock price have made option strangles quite profitable. In a strangle, … Read more

Coventry Health Succumbs to Heavy Selling Pressure

Every now and then, high options volume does precede unique stock activity (my own analysis concluded that high options volume is at best a signal to trade with the prevailing trend). Yesterday, Coventry Health (CVH) (a managed healthcare company) succumbed to heavy selling pressure and dropped 7% one day after briefing.com reported unusual options activity … Read more

Welcome!

I have FINALLY transferred my blog “One-Twenty” to a true blogging platform. I have dubbed this new location “One-Twenty Two” and preserved the old posts under the original site. Please make the appropriate changes to your feeds and/or bookmarks. I hope you find the new format more appealing. I look forward to your feedback and … Read more