A “January Comeback” Trade for Solar Stocks

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on December 31, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) The concern for some solar investors going into December was that solar stocks were being unfairly sold off in sympathy with plunging oil prices. {snip} Source: FreeStockCharts.com In early December, I … Read more

A Dramatic Change in Sentiment for Apple

Just ahead of the start of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), I wrote that I was preparing for a change in Apple’s trading patterns that would impact the Apple Trading Model (ATM). My main interest was in the coming 7-to-1 stock split and the potential for retail traders leaving options alone to trade directly … Read more

Dan Loeb Exit Redux Caps A Rough Eight Days for Herbalife that Bears Well-Anticipated

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on January 26, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) It has been eight months since I exited my long position in Herbalife (HLF), but the story continues to fascinate me. This time around, bad news came in rapid sequence for … Read more

Chart Review: Apple Turns Bullish As Earnings Approach

In previous Apple chart reviews and updates, I have noted the apparent influence of the open interest put/call ratio on the overall bull/bear tone of Apple (AAPL). When the stock last bottomed – between September 16th and 17th – the open interest put/call ratio dropped to a level last seen since, you guessed it, AAPL’s … Read more

Icahn Secures Apple’s Bottom

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on August 14, 2013. Click here to read the entire piece.) For a little over three months I have made the case for an Apple (AAPL) bottom (see for example “An Apple Bottom As Sentiment Finally Turns Southward (Put Buying Soars)” and/or … Read more

Chart Review: J.C. Penney Bouncing Off 200DMA Support Ahead Of Earnings

A little over a week ago, I pointed out that shorts are increasing along with a drop in the put/call ratio on J.C. Penney Company (JCP). At the time, I said that I was done buying puts on JCP. Since then, I decided to buy calls. The stock is now bouncing off 200DMA support. It … Read more

As Earnings Near, J.C. Penney Put/Call Ratio Plummets And Shorts Increase

I last wrote about J.C. Penney (JCP) in March right after an ominous breakdown below its 50-day moving average (DMA) (see “Put Buyers Rush Into J.C. Penney As The Stock Breaks Down“). I soon joined the surge of put volume that occurred around that time, and the trade ended well. JCP eventually erased all its … Read more