Technical Analysis of STOCKS & COMMODITIES
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Article Archive For Matt Blackman
DownloadDo ESG Funds Rate A Place In Your Portfolio?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The category of "environmental, social, and governance funds" have become a mainstay in fund offerings. Do they offer a compelling investment choice? Here's a lo...
Berkshire - A Safe Port in a Storm?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks were rocking in 2021. So what changed?...
Media Tempest In A Teapot?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Joe Rogan and Spotify battle a media storm. So what's next?...
Recession Watch 2.0
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The S&P 500 Index has entered bear market territory. So what does it mean?...
Rivian Automotive - Another EV Tale Of Woe?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Being first to market isn't all it's cranked up to be....
Buffett Indicator Takes a Pause - Should we be concerned?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...A quick look at the market in charts...
2022 Off To A Rough Start
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Right out of the gate, the going got tough for stocks this year. But where do they go from here?...
Do ESG Stocks Rate A Place in Your Portfolio?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Environmental, Social and Governance funds have changed the trading game. But do they really offer a compelling investment case?...
Timing The Trade: Knowing When To Switch Horses
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Careful analysis is one essential component of making successful trades. Admitting you were wrong is another...
Promising Signs That Stocks Have Put In A Major Bottom
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been a tough year so far, but a number of factors are lining up to say there's a light at the end of the tunnel....
Amazon - Still A Big Mover But Which Way?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Amazon has, for the most part, been a big mover, but determining where it and the market will go next is the $64 million question....
Moderna - A Vaccine Growth Story
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Vaccine sales have exploded but will they keep growing?...
Costco - Steady Eddy Consumer Defense Stock
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Fall is coming when corrections and bear markets are known to occur. Is your portfolio ready?...
Timing The Trade - Knowing When To Switch Horses
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Careful analysis is one essential component of making successful trades. Admitting you were wrong is another....
It's Topping Season - But Is the Worst Over?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As another Halloween approaches and with it a rising number of bearish market forecasts, is now the time to hunker down with your portfolios?...
Bubblenomics - A Textbook Example?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ..."For as long as markets have existed, bubbles have formed. And whenever one of those bubbles begins to leak, it typically needs years to deflate, causing enormous economic damage as it does." David Leonhardt, NY Times September 2008....
Enphase Breaking Out
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...More signs that there are sunny days ahead for solar stocks. Enphase is back in the lead....
Green Rush Continues Undaunted
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As February wound down and March began, a lot of air had come out of tech stocks. But the EV IPO train is still rolling down the track...
First Solar - A Time To Buy?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Solar headwinds have hit the sector. Have they blown themselves out?...
Buffett's Indicator
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...How High Is Too High?...
Gold Stocks On The Move
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Inflation is alive and well, and gold is responding...
Market Cycle Trifecta - What Are The Three Asset Classes Telling Us?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The business cycle can be a valuable indicator for those who know how and when to use it....
What Is Driving Stock Prices Into The Stratosphere?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The bigger question is what can we expect going forward?...
Lightspeed POS - Point Of Sale Software Company On The Move
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Tech stocks were in big demand as 2020 came to a close. So what's next?...
Shoals Technologies - The New Solar Kid In Town
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Company goes public facing strong industry headwinds....
Hyliion Holdings Corp - A Laggard On The Move
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Is it finally catch-up time for this clean energy truck manufacturer?...
Making Sense Of A Schizophrenic Market
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...There are key differences between a bubble and a bull market. The challenge is recognizing the difference...
Solar Rising Star?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The solar sector is on the rebound but finding winners is still a challenge....
After Moon Shot Lumber Falls Back To Earth
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ..."Oh how the mighty have fallen"...
Solar Stocks - Time To Start Shopping Again?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Markets have been volatile but is the worst over for solar stocks? And which ones are best positioned to perform once the correction has run its course?...
Array Solar - Another New Solar Company Hits The Market
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been a busy year for new solar entrants. How many will survive and thrive remains to be seen....
Fossil Fuels Vs Green Technology - What A Difference Two Years Makes!
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Articles about divesting out of fossil fuels and into clean technology are everywhere. But what are stocks telling us?...
KraneShares Electric Vehicles & Future Mobility ETF - The Future Of Mobility?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks in the electric vehicle space have been quite volatile. Here's a way to play the sector while smoothing your equity curve....
Renewable Energy Group Revisited
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The stock has gone parabolic. So what's next?...
NextEra - Utility Of The Future?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Clean tech companies have weathered the financial downturn splendidly. This candidate also has an impressive long-term track record to boot!...
Solar Stocks Shining.... Again!
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The sector has been very strong. But how long this will continue is anyone's guess....
XPeng - Chinese EV Maker In Orbit?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been touted as the Chinese 'Tesla' but can it deliver?...
Hyliion Holding Corp - Another Low Emissions Truck Manufacturer Starts Trading
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The company entered an increasingly crowded space using different technology. Can it survive?...
Clean Technology Growth And Yield
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As investors increasingly search for sustainable Environmental Social Governance (ESG) companies, here's one that fits the bill, has great growth prospects and pays a dividend....
On The Rebound Train
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...With covid-19 restrictions being lifted, betting on stocks that will run has become a favorite past time. This stock is flying....
Fun And Frustration With Fed Charts
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Trying to determine what is going using publicly available data can be frustrating at the best of times. But data shortfalls become glaringly obvious when the picture is rapidly unraveling like it is now....
Is There A Recession In The Cards For 2020?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...What is the outlook for a recession? What indicators can be watched to continually weigh the likelihoods?...
What's Up With These Big Rallies?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The March 24 rally made history. But does it or others like it, mean the worst is over?...
Citrix Systems - Surviving the Mayhem
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Covid-19 has been a wakeup call. But not all stocks took a beating....
Costco - A Solid Stock in a Storm?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As we learn every time there is panic in markets, correlation for most, if not all asset classes, goes to one. But there are a few survivors in the fray. Here is one stock....
Recession Watch - Yield Curve Turns Negative Again
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since first inverting in March 2019, the 10-Year minus 3-Month has inverted yet again. What does it mean?...
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners - Safety And Return.
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Looking for a company that has good appreciation and portfolio defensive potential?...
BlackRock - New Financial Sector Leader?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been a tough year for financial stocks, especially banks — the sector dropped 48% between January and the third week in March....
Five Key Differences Between Bull And Bear Rallies
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Some traders treat all rallies equally. Find out why that can be a very costly mistake...
SolarWindow - Will Their Power-Generating Technology Translate To Real Profits?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been a long road to get their products to market but the potential is exciting if they can deliver....
Ballard Power - Hydrogen Fuel Poster Child?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This company has a 41 year history developing hydrogen power. Its stock chart speaks volumes....
Nicola Corp - Where To Next?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This takeover is helping spur a surge in alternative energy vehicle stocks, but is the trend sustainable?...
Arcimoto - Three-Wheeled Stock Phenom
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The stock recently launched into space, but how long will it take for revenues to follow suit?...
Workhorse Breakout
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Electric and alternative energy vehicles got a huge lift in June, and here is one that caught the wave....
Recession Watch 2020 - A Technical View Of Some Economic Data
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In my last article on economic indicators, I looked at the yield curve. In this article I update that chart as well as examine two more key metrics....
Can Shopify Continue Defying Gravity?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been an impressive run for Canadian Internet company Shopify, Inc. But can the stock continue its frenetic pace?...
Ormat Technologies - Clean Energy Leader
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since December 2018, Independent Power Producer Utility stock Ormat has gained more than 50%. Can it keep up the pace?...
Brookfield Renewable Partners LP - Trending Against The Odds
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This renewable energy stock has been fighting market headwinds. But can it keep up the pace?...
Renewable Energy Group on a Tear
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The stock suffered a big drop in 2019 but looks to be reaching for new highs....
In Search of Fossil Free Returns
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...2019 will be remembered as the year that climate awareness moved to front of mind amid calls to reduce our collective carbon foot prints....
Fossil Fuels Vs. Clean Energy: Time To Shift Your Money?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...There's a lot of talk these days of "clean energy" companies as revenues slowly begin to rise in this sector. Want to get in on this upcoming arena? Here's a look at some of the newer technologies and how returns are stacking up against more traditionally based compani...
Clean Edge U.S. Liquid Series ETF - This Thoroughbred Has Left The Gate
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The clean technology economy is on fire....
FuelCell Energy - Will This Time Be Different?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This stock has experienced numerous booms and busts. Another boom looks underway....
Cranking Up The Money Tree
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Covid changed the world forever. Can we print enough money to fix it? And what does it mean for stocks?...
Clean Consolidation - What Does The Brookfield Purchase Of Terraform Power Mean?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Move aims to create "one of the world's largest integrated pure-play renewable energy companies"...
Evoqua Water Technologies ̶ Coming On Strong
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks have been recovering after the drubbing they took in March and some clean technology companies are leading the pack. Here is one....
Brookfield Asset Management - Another Good Green Tech Bet?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...March was a tough month in the markets, but some companies have come through the bear better than others. Here are two sustainable technology examples....
Code REC - False Alarm Or Early Warning?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...There have been a number of recession calls made of late. But does the recent reverting of the yield curve mean that our worries were overblown or could there be more clouds on the horizon?...
Gathering Signs of Trouble?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...There have been a number of signs that markets are weakening. Here are some new ones....
Workhorse Wonder?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Unlike many Original Equipment Manufacturers in the electric vehicle space, this company has been around for a while, has real revenues AND looks to be building a compelling chart pattern....
Countdown to Lyft-Off?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since its IPO debut open of $87.24 on March 29, ride-share company Lyft stock has struggled. Could the stock finally be getting ready to launch?...
Amazon Under Pressure
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Amazon has seen better days, but is its reputation as a market leader behind it forever, or on temporary hiatus?...
Measuring The Strength Of A Rally
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Before entering a trade, it pays to measure one indicator that says much about a market....
Enphase Energy - New Economy Shiner?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This solar components company has been a star performer this year. But can it keep it up?...
SNAP - Snapback Recovery Or New Market Leader?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...SNAP was hit hard in the wake of its celebrated IPO in 2017 but has shown an incredible recovery since then. Is the worst over for this new tech darling or is it simply experiencing a snap-back move?...
Hannon Armstrong Profiting From The New Economy
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In my never-ending search for companies that will prosper in the new renewable energy and technology economy, I came across this momentum stock. And it looks to be breaking out to new all-time highs on above average volume again....
Electric Vehicles Sales are Accelerating. Check Out This Up and Comer
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As electric vehicle options and sales ramp up, here is one inexpensive stock to consider....
The Chartists' Fundamental Helper
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...To many market pundits and traders, technical and fundamental analyses mix about as well as oil and vinegar. But here is one match-up that works nicely for those who know the recipe....
Trading Seasons
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Many stocks show impressive periods of seasonal strength and weakness. However, as we shall see, it's imperative to give any cyclical pattern a closer look before trading it....
Tesla After The Cybertruck Reveal - Where To From here?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Tesla stock took a hit after the Cybertruck reveal and window demo fail but there are some powerful reasons why this reaction might just be temporary....
Diamondback Under Pressure
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Fossil fuel stocks have been under pressure of late but Diamondback has successfully fought this trend. But are its days as outperformer coming to an end?...
Seasons In The Sun
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...New energy technology companies are propelling economies and job growth around the world. So how do traders find and trade stocks that are leading this charge...
The Treasury Yield Curve Inverted Again - Should We Be Worried?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since the 1960s, recessions have followed every time 10-year Treasury yields have dropped below 3-month yields and stayed there. This ratio turned negative in May. In this article we explore how to track this indicator using free, publicly available data....
Treasury Yield Curve Warning. Should We Pay Attention?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...When the yield curve, defined by short-term rates dropping below long term, inverts, it generally indicates economic weakness. It has now been inverted for the most part since May....
TerraForm Power - A Short-Term Trade Or One For The Long Haul?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This new economy stock is rallying. But can it keep up this performance?...
Assessing the Fall FAANG Bite
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stormy seas tossed stock markets this fall, and were especially rough on market-leading tech stocks. And there are signs that the worst might not yet be over....
Market Diagnostic - The Yield Curve
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...During a rally, short-term interest rates (yields) on three-month bonds tend to remain well below 20-30 year bond yields. But when that relationship gets upended, it usually spells trouble....
Amazon - A Harbinger of the Bear?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Amazon has been a high-flyer over the last twelve years but is it now telling us that the worst is over for it and tech stocks?...
Five Big Dan Zanger Money-Making Patterns
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Chart patterns and volume--that's all well-known stock trader Dan Zanger uses. Here are five bullish chart patterns he uses to recognize potential home runs...
Using Intermarket Analysis With Exchange Traded Funds
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Previously, Matt Blackman explained how using intermarket analysis can help traders survive the rocky waters of today's market. This time, he suggests using intermarket analysis with exchange traded funds and gain another advantage....
The Market Thrivor's Secret Weapon
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...There comes a time in every novice trader's life when he or she makes a fateful realization....
Recognizing Price Action
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Here's a look at the anatomy of one trader's winning trade...
Product review: VectorVest 7
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...VectorVest 7 (US version) is a subscription-based stock analysis and portfolio management system. It's delivered via software that provides the active trader or investor with a wide array of powerful tools...
FANG Stocks are Faltering - Should we be worried?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Four stocks have effectively powered the Nasdaq Composite higher since this rally began. They have struggled of late. Is the rally finally over?...
The Yield Curve and What It Can Tell Us About Markets
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In every major correction, rumors surface that a recession is in the wings. These same rumors have been circulating of late. If we are indeed in a true bear market and headed for recession, the yield curve will provide valuable warning....
Book Review: Momentum Trader's Ticket to Ride
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Imagine that you're on a train seated at a table for five - just you and four of the world's best stock traders....
Is Sotheby's BID-ding The Markets Lower?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Market pundit and author Vikram Mansharamani first introduced auction house Sotheby's as an advance market indicator. Here's what that indicator is saying now....
A Tale Of Two Macro Market Valuation Indicators
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks have continued to rally despite the calls for a correction from pundits. But how much more room have they got to run?...
What Does The Stock-Commodity Disconnect Mean For Markets?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Intermarket analysis tells us that stocks, bonds, and commodities generally move together in trends. Was does it mean when they don't?...
The Crude-Natural Gas Disconnect
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Oil prices took a big dive in late 2014. But any recovery probably won't benefit natural gas or LNG prices much....
Is The Slippery Slide Over For Oil?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Between the middle of June 2014 and the end of January 2015, the price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate dropped from $107 to a low of $43.55, a decline of 60%. Is there more downside to come or is the worst over for Texas Tea?...
Dissecting Buffett's Macro Buy-Sell Indicator
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...When it comes to investing, the Oracle of Omaha usually plays his cards close to his chest. But here is one favorite indicator that he's been willing to share....
Oracle Chart Flashes Warning
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...On Friday, September 19 investors learned that Larry Ellison would be stepping down as the long-time CEO but the chart is warning us that this news may be just the tip of the bearish iceberg....
Market Internals Showing Signs Of Strain
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...For any rally to keep going there has to be a steady price growth by strong stocks to lead the market higher. Here are two metrics that are saying that just isn't happening....
3D Industry Update
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Last year's darling stocks became this year's pariahs. But the charts are telling us that the 3D industry is still alive and well....
GoPro Flashes The Bear
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...From the time it first started trading back in June 2014, GoPro Inc (GPRO) seemed like it was on a course to the moon. But then this high-flier hit the ceiling. So what's next?...
Plumbing For A Bottom In Stocks
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The beginning of October 2014 was a tough one for traders and investors. So what happens next?...
What Does The Junk Bond Sell-Off Mean For Stocks Going Forward?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...While large-cap stocks have continued their merry march higher, the same can't be said for other sectors, especially the high-yield bond market. What implications does this have for the stock rally?...
Virgin America Airlines Shares Take To The Air
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been flying passengers since 2007 but on November 14, 2014 the company, founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, began trading on the NASDAQ....
Golf Stocks Mired In The Sand
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Golf stocks have been forced into the trees lately. Is this weakness due to an industry on a secular downswing or just the result of seasonal weakness?...
Google - Another Bullish Reversal?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This is the second stock in recent days to post this pattern. What does it mean?...
NetFlix Sell Reversal - Is It Time to Buy Again?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In early May, NFLX was looking like it was about to put in a bearish reversal. Now, not so much....
GM Chart Shows More Trouble Ahead
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As an overall indicator, General Motors stock has much to say about the health of the market....
GasLog - Unassuming Earnings & Revenue Star
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...If earnings and revenue growth do indeed power stock prices, this stock could still have a long way to run....
Market Watch: Beware the Hydra
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As the second week of May began, a number of patterns became increasingly evident that should give the bulls pause and cause the bears to lick their chops....
Spectra Energy - Flying Below The Radar
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Periodically new stock plays come along that have yet to be recognized by the wider investing public. Here's one that you probably haven't heard of yet....
Adobe - Is The Acrobat Tiring?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...After bottoming in 2009 Adobe soared more than 400% to its March 2014 peak just shy of $70. But its best days may be behind it based on what the technicals and fundamentals are saying....
LinkedIn: Hope And Reality Finally Collide
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This Internet darling IPOed on high hopes for the future but the stock just confirmed a bearish chart pattern that is telling us that those hopes were far from realistic....
Amazon - Investors Not Lovin' It
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...What happens when earnings are in line with expectations but spending plans displease?...
Netflix - Negative Reaction To Positive Earnings A Bad Sign
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Dark clouds are gathering. My last article about the stock entitled a href="http://technical.traders.com/tradersonline/display.asp?art=7676""What's Next For Netflix?"/a, marked the beginning of some bearish action....
Product review: VectorVest 7.0
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...VectorVest 7 (US version) is a subscription-based stock analysis and portfolio-management software program that provides the active trader or investor with a wide array of powerful tools to analyze, sort, rank, and graph stocks from a database of more than 8,000 stocks with more than 16 years of data....
Is CAT A Reliable Barometer?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Here’s one stock that can help you determine the strength of the market....
Are 3D Printers On The Ropes?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Even though the overall market has been relatively strong, the same can't be said for 3D printers....
What's (Not) Up With Biotechs?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In Q1-2104, biotech companies are up nearly 15% YTD. But they were up nearly 35%. What happened?...
The Hewlett Packard Rally - Is It Sustainable?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Hewlett Packard had a tough time from 2010 through early 2013 but since then it has shown steady gains. It's recently flashed an impressive bullish chart pattern that's worth examining....
Checking In On The 1929 Dow Jones Analog Debate
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In October 2013 a financial media debate began about how the Dow Jones Industrial Average has been behaving in a strangely familiar manner to 1929. Stocks have yet to repeat the massive collapse....
Finding the Next Great Stock to Trade
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...One sign of a healthy stock market is the appearance of a number of up-and-coming stocks with a relatively low number of shares and market caps that are making new all-time highs. It's also a great way of finding the next big stocks to add to your trading portfolio....
The Copper Road To China And Impact On Markets
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Copper, a powerful indicator of global manufacturing demand, has been falling and not by just a little. Why and what does it mean for markets?...
3D Printers Flashing Top Warning
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In February, I wrote that 3D printing stocks looked to have resumed rally mode again after a sizable correction. But now with the appearance of bearish topping patterns, that rally looks to be in jeopardy....
Can The VIX Be Used To Help Identify Pending Stock Reversals?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The CBOE Market Volatility Index or VIX is popular with traders as a measure of fear in the market. But given just how volatile it is, how can it be used as a stock market indicator?...
Silver's Going Up But What's The Best Way To Play It?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Following its $48 high in April 2011, silver got hammered, dropping to a low of $18.51 in June 2013. Now that it's rising again, where is the best place to be?...
A Fundamental Lesson For The Technically Minded
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...For decades, there have been two major schools of thought when it comes to stocks. First came the fundamental analysts, who believe that stock prices are a product of revenues and earnings. Then came the technicians, who believe that all they need to know is contained in stock charts. Here, we look at how the two methodologies come together....
Google Feeling The Heat
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As a market leader, what GOOG does has a major influence on stocks. Recent action suggests that the recent rally may be under threat....
Twitter - On The Comeback Trail But For How Long?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since its launch in 2013, Twitter (TWTR) has had its ups and downs. But could the worst now be over for this newest Internet poster child?...
Two New Fliers To Watch
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In every market, there are almost always new strong stock performers rising through the ranks. Here are two worth watching....
Apple - Looking Technically Strong But...
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since peaking in September 2012, Apple has been working to mount a comeback. But the stock chart is facing some challenges....
Market Breadth - Divergence Key In Picking The Next Top
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stock indexes can't continue to soar higher without the support of an increasing number of new highs in stocks. But how will breadth tell you when the music is about to stop?...
NetFlix Has Broken Through Major Resistance... Again
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been a volatile journey for this stock but traders who have been able to hang on have been generously rewarded as it hits a new all-time high....
An Interesting Macro Market Risk Indicator
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As a number of macro indicators have hit extremes of late, here is another interesting signal to consider....
Is A Google Reversal At Hand?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been a great run for GOOG since it went public nearly ten years ago. In November 2013, it officially became a 10-bagger. Is there a big correction in the cards for the stock?...
Apple Cup & Handle Update
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Apple has made an enviable recovery since its breakdown in September 2012. But what impact has January weakness had on the stock?...
Apple Building Bullish Chart Pattern
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since bottoming around $390 range in mid-2013, Apple Inc. has posted an admirable rally. Look what the stock is doing now....
The Election Cycle Meets Mean Reversion
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It has been called the most powerful stock market cycle. So what is it telling us about where stocks are headed?...
Facebook Hits Key Resistance
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since hitting a low of $17.55 on September 4, 2012, Facebook has been on a tear. But it's now at a key resistance level that could form a top....
Is It Time To Buy Silver?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since peaking above $48 in April 2011, silver and other precious metals have been in correction mode. After hitting bottom for the second time in January, is now the time to buy 'poor-man's gold'?...
What's Up With Canadian Natural Resources?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...January wasn't a great month for US stocks but this resource company has strongly outperformed since the beginning of 2014. In this article we examine what's behind this strength....
3D Printers - Is The Game Back On?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ..."Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated." Mark Twain...
Warren's Best Valuation Measure
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...When the Oracle of Omaha speaks, people listen, especially when it's about stock values....
As Goes January... Part 2
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In my last article, we looked at the January Barometer which says that stock performance in the first month is important in determining what stocks will do for the remainder of the year. As it turns out, this indicator is even more accurate following longer-term rallies....
As Goes January...
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ..."Every down January on the S&P500 since 1950 without exception has preceded a new or extended bear market, a flat market or 10% correction." 2014 Stock Trader's Almanac...
Amazon Also Looking Toppy...
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...With January market weakness, a number of leading stocks look to be exhibiting topping chart patterns. Here's another one. What does it mean?...
Oily Slope Near An End?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Crude oil prices have dropped 50% since June. Is the worst over or is there more downside to come?...
Edward Life Sciences: Pumping Into The Stratosphere?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This stock is probably not on your radar screen yet. Maybe it should be....
What's Up With EVC?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It isn't often that a $6 stock exhibits a combination of a bullish chart pattern and strong fundamentals. Here's one that has both....
Is Two Harbors Investment Corp Headed For The Rocks?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been rough seas from some residential REITs and Two Harbors is no exception. And although the stock price has been rising since early October 2014, a chart pattern that has been building indicates possible trouble ahead....
Seeing The Patterns With Dan Zanger
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Dan Zanger of Chartpattern.com is a swing trader and technical analyst focused on stocks Ń and a force in stock trading. He is the world record holder, independently audited, for the largest percent change in a personal portfolio for a 12-month period (a...
Top Spotting: Knowing What You Need To Stay Out Of Trouble
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since April 2013, the S&P 500 index has put in a series of higher highs. So how high is too high? The end of the rally may be closer than you think....
Another Long-Term Stock Indicator Stuck On The Ceiling
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...There has been a debate raging over the last year about whether stock prices are getting too expensive. Here is another indicator that says they are....
The Election Cycle: Bad News - Good News Story
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The Election Cycle has been called the most powerful short-term stock market cycle and it's saying stocks are headed lower. But there is some light at the end of this tunnel if history is any guide....
Starbucks: Making The Short Case
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Love it or hate it, Starbucks has been a star stock performer since it went public more than 20 years ago. But there are growing signs that the stock's future may not be so bright....
Rice Energy: An Interesting New Energy Play
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Energy stocks have been on a tear since early February. Here's a new energy play that looks ready to soar....
Key Sectors Are Flashing Warnings
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...A major stock reversal is often presaged by negative divergences in important supporting sectors. Here are three that are sending warning signals....
Warren's Best Valuation Measure And Other Charts Updated
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As markets continue higher some historic market indicators, including one of Mr. Buffett's favorites, get even more stretched....
BID Bubble Meter Says Animal Spirits Are Falling
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...When auctioneer Sotheby's stock is rising, it means the auction business is growing and folks are feeling bullish about the future. When it falls, it usually signals that a risk-off trade should be considered....
General Motors Chart Speaks Volumes
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...GM used to be a stock market bellwether and what it's saying now has decidedly bearish implications....
Is It Time to Sell Netflix?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...At the beginning of 2013, Netflix was selling for $92/share. By September it had surged through $300. But the stock has generated a bearish pattern. Is it time to sell?...
BID Bubble Indicator Update
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...According to the 2011 book "Boombustology" by Vikram Mansharaman, auctioneer Sotheby's has proven to be a valuable market bubble indicator. So what has the stock been saying lately?...
What's Up With The Intermarket Disconnect?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks continued to ignore the usual September perils to mid-month. But here is another indication that not all is going swimmingly in global markets....
Is It Time To Buy Cirrus Logic?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As the most recent rally has gathered steam, a number of sectors have put in strong performances including semiconductors. This semi looks particularly interesting....
Is It Time To Buy Banks?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Although not good for many stocks, rising interest rates are having a positive impact on one sector....
Is Tesla Set To Go Into Reverse?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Year-to-date to October 29, 2013, Tesla stock is up around 400%. But is the stock red-lining?...
Is CAT The New GM Market Proxy?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As the world's largest maker of construction and mining equipment, where Caterpillar stock goes tells us much about the state of the market. So what is CAT telling us now?...
What's Next For Netflix?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In my article a href="http://technical.traders.com/tradersonline/display.asp?art=7638""Is It Time To Sell Netflix?"/a I made the case for selling Netflix. The trade didn't work out as the stock defied a sky-high valuation, falling earnings in the past year, and a bearish chart pattern to power higher. How much more room is there for this stock to run?...
Is Oil Headed For The Dumps?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Recently oil has shown signs of a top. But perhaps the larger question traders should be asking is what do falling oil prices mean for stocks?...
Is October The Season For 3-D Printers?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Like much of the market, 3D stocks took a hit leading up to the budget feud on Capital Hill. But, for traders, there is an interesting seasonal pattern that could present itself when the feud ends....
It's Time To Sell Yield And Buy Bonds
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Over the last five months, the yield on longer-term bonds and mortgages has gone ballistic. But recent action suggests the run is done....
Bearish Pattern Setting Up on Facebook
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Less than four months after its IPO, Facebook bottomed at $22.67 before rallying 140% to hit a peak of $54.83 on October 18, 2013. But now the stock looks set to post a pattern that should concern anyone who thinks the stock is a hold....
Canadian Solar Energy Is On the Move
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In the last year, CSIQ jumped more than 4000%. To paraphrase the great Winston Churchill, is this the end, the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning for this solar powerhouse?...
Tesla H&S Trade Update
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In my October 2013 Traders.com Advantage article, a href="http://technical.traders.com/tradersonline/display.asp?art=7689""Is Tesla Set to Go Into Reverse?"/a I made the case that a bearish Head & Shoulders pattern warned of a top in the electric car maker. It hit its minimum projected target. So what's next?...
Three Fundamental Metrics That Matter
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...A trader's job is to find the best indicators for entering and exiting trades. Here are three fundamental metrics that you can't afford to ignore....
Can Options Data Help You Trade Stocks?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...There is a big difference between trading options and stocks. With options, you first need to understand the Greeks and then you need a good options chain data provider just for starters. But how about using complicated options data to trade stocks?...
Is Trading Volatility A Worthwhile Plan?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...We've all heard of the VIX which measures market volatility. When it's falling, stocks go up and vice-versa when stocks drop. And now thanks to a host of exchange traded funds (ETFs) and exchange traded notes (ETNs) trading volatility is (almost) easy....
Four Market Leaders Under Pressure But For How Long?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since bottoming in late 2008 a few tech giants have for the most part led the market. But this leadership began to break down in 2013. Does it signal a changing of the guard?...
Decker Outdoor On Track For Its Best Annual Performance Ever
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The year 2012 was the toughest year ever for DECK, even worse than 2008. But lately, the chart is looking downright bullish. Could this be the company's best year ever?...
Are Railroads Still On The Fast Track?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It may have been a challenging year for the economy but you would never know it by looking at railroad stocks....
Two Charts That Matter
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As stocks continue to set new highs, there are some signs emerging to keep traders on their toes....
What's Up With Apple?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...AAPL stock looked like it was ready to bottom in early March 2013, but then the picture changed. So what's next for this troubled tech?...
A 2B Top Or Continuation?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...On March 5, 2013, the DJIA registered a new all-time high. But before we celebrate, let's determine if it's sustainable and what the trading opportunities are if it is not sustainable....
Is Apple Near A Bottom?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...I've written four bearish articles about AAPL since November 2012. But lately the chart has been looking a lot less gloomy....
Tesla - Is the Parabolic Run Done?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Between the first trading day of 2013 and the end of May, Tesla Motors Inc. enjoyed a three-bag run -- the stock was up more than 300%. But as the spring stock rally began to unravel, TSLA looked increasingly vulnerable....
The Latest Rally - So Where's The Beef?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...After a short correction, US stocks began to rebound as the Dow experienced a number of impressive triple digit days. But not all is well in stock land....
What's Up With Amazon?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...AMZN stock has been on fire since bottoming in November 2008. But the same can't be said for revenues and earnings. So why has the stock soared?...
Homebuilders: The First Rising Rate Casualties?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Builders have been a major beneficiary of the Federal Reserve's Zero Interest Rate Policy (ZIRP) since 2008 but there are signs that they will also be early victims as easy money programs wind down....
Bearish On Microsoft - Is An Industry Shake-Up At Hand?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Earnings for companies in the personal computer space have been under pressure lately. But is this a temporary setback or lasting trend?...
More Stock Market Topping Signs (Continued)
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In February 2013 I wrote an article about the US stock markets exhibiting four conditions that warned of a market top. According to the signals, stock market risk had increased to the highest one percentile of all historical observations by the end of January 2013. This signal is still flashing....
Intermarket Wrap - What Are Other Markets And Asset Classes Telling Us?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks (and bonds) have been the biggest beneficiaries of Quantitative Easing efforts but lately, stocks have been struggling. So what's next?...
Apple, From Soft To Sour
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Two weeks ago, I made the case for more downside on Apple. After mounting a weak rally, it resumed its downtrend with a vengeance....
Facebook Now Looks Promising
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...By all accounts, the Facebook initial public offering was a poor showing. But now that the bloodletting appears to be over, can this stock join the ranks of Internet high-fliers?...
Apple Falling Farther From The Tree?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...There has been much ado, primarily fundamentally driven, that the drop in Apple from its September 2012 highs is overdone. Technically speaking, however, here is a case that the correction still has a way to go....
Two Market Forecasting Tools For 2013
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Traders are constantly on the lookout for indicators that give them a leg-up on everyone else. Here are two indicators that should help....
Silver Buying Season Is Here
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Over the past 20 years, the best time to own silver has been the first eight weeks of the year. Will the trade work out again this year?...
Building A Profitable Home Construction Portfolio
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...After the real estate bubble burst, homebuilding stocks suffered a multiyear drubbing. But the landscape has changed and things are looking up, especially for the industry leaders....
Intermarket Checkup
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Where the heck are we, anyway? Knowing where we are now and what economic forces are in play in the broader scheme of things can be useful in anticipating where we're headed....
Are High Yield Corporate Bonds An Asset Class Worth Considering?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...High yield corporate bonds, better known as junk bonds, are under appreciated which may have something to do with their popular handle. But have they been given a bum rap?...
Will The Golden Triangle Pan Out?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...With the race by central banks around the globe to see who can devalue their currencies the fastest since the financial crisis, gold has been on fire. And now there is a pattern forming that could propel the yellow metal even higher....
More Stock Market Topping Signs
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In my Traders.com Advantage article "Four Stock Topping Signs," I discussed four conditions that warned of a potential top in stocks. Here are some more concerning signs from two other independent sources....
3D Printing Stocks: What Does this Parabolic Blowoff Mean?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...3D printing has taken the world by storm, and lately stocks in this space have been on fire. But even the best things must come to an end. Does the recent parabolic blowoff mean the industry's best days are over?...
Four Stock Topping Signs
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks have registered impressive gains since the beginning of the year, but the rally is showing definite signs of strain....
What Happened To The Golden Season?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Year-end has historically been a good time to own gold thanks to seasonal jewelry demand. So what happened in 2013?...
Whither The Santa Claus Rally?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...There have been a host of calls from both bull and bear camps as to where stocks are headed. The S&P500 and SPY are now at a critical point, the resolution of which could signal a major move from here....
That's One Way To Bet On A Falling Market Without Having To Sell Short!
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Borrowing stock to sell short has limited upside if you get it right but unlimited downside if you're wrong. Here is a way to bet on a correction while limiting risk....
Tesla Buy Signal
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Barely six weeks after flashing a Head & Shoulders top sell signal, TSLA has issued the reverse buy signal on an inverse H&S breakout....
The Prussian Helmet
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Most traders are familiar with double and triple tops, head and shoulder tops and a host of other topping patterns, but a Prussian Helmet? What is it and how does it work?...
What's The Best Way To Play The Gold Rally?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since hitting bottom in late June, gold and precious metal prices have posted impressive gains. But the best way to play this rally may be to not buy the metals themselves....
Is EGO Glittering Again?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since peaking in September 2011, gold and gold stocks have taken it on the chin. But here is some compelling evidence that the worst could be over for the industry....
The Blue Sky Index - Another Market Top Warning Signal
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...If you suspected that markets might be getting frothy a few months ago, this should interest you....
How To Trade A Bubble
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks continue to gain ground in a rally that has been going since March 2009. In February 2013, a combination of factors converged to generate a secular sell signal that paralleled the biggest peaks in modern history. Does that means that it's time to head for the hills?...
A Fundamental Lesson For The Technically Minded
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...For decades, there have been two major schools of thought when it comes to stocks. First came the fundamentalists who believe that stock prices are a product of revenues and earnings. Then came the technicians who believe that all they need to know is contained in the stock charts. Here, we look at how the two methodologies come together....
Two Fundamental Metrics That Matter
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Traders have a habit of discounting fundamental data. But here are two that should not be ignored....
Short Squeeze Alert - Is It Time To Buy Silver?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Precious metals have struggled of late and many are calling for a bear market. But here is some compelling evidence to the contrary....
Negative Divergences In Stocks - Another Warning Sign?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been one heck of a year so far. But there are signs that stocks are due for a rest at the very least. But could a more serious correction be just around the corner?...
Getting Real On US Stock Market Gains
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since the US program of quantitative easing began in earnest in October 2008, stocks and gold are up -- that's no surprise. But how have your stocks performed if we measure them against gold instead of the usual dollar terms?...
Using Pattern Failures To Trade
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Chart patterns aren't infallible. But when they do fail, what should you do?...
Market Leaders Tell A Tale Of Woe
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...These previous market darlings pulled the market higher in good times. But now they are doing the opposite....
Bond Spreads Signal Possible
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...I have written articles about bearish intermarket and chart pattern omens that have been flashing in markets. Here is another one....
Another Bearish Omen With AUS/USD?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Markets have been giving mixed signals, but there have been some signs that a correction may be in the offing. Here is another....
Point & Figure For The Computerized Trader
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Point & figure charting evolved as a way to quickly chart stocks, bonds, and commodities by hand long before the day of the computer. But does this technique offer value to the computerized trader today?...
In A Topping Market, Small Caps Have Diverged From Industrials
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In my last article, "Another Sign Of A Market Top?," we saw how the transports had diverged from the industrials, which is a Dow theory warning sign that a reversal may be in the offing. A falling Russell 2000 small-cap index adds more weight to this call....
Another Sign Of A Market Top?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...On February 15, my Traders.com Advantage article discussed the soaring S&P 500 and a falling VIX, which together with eurodollar futures and some other indicators pointed to a top in US stocks. Here is another reason for concern....
NetFlix Outlook Looking More Negative
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...After putting in what looked like a strong base, Netflix has broken trend. But how far will it drop from here?...
Is Facebook On The Comeback Trail?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Most would agree that the Facebook IPO was nothing short of a disaster, especially for those who bought shares right at the beginning. But if the pattern taking shape is any indication, those who waited to buy in early June could be in for a handsome reward....
Has Housing Hit The Wall?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Housing stocks have seen some big moves since October 2011. Recently the index flashed a sell signal. Is the move over?...
Is Facebook Disaster Or Opportunity?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The Facebook (FB) initial public offering (IPO) was launched with a broad range of opinions. Some (mostly the underwriters and promoters) loved it and analysts for the most part hated it. After a disastrous two weeks, where is the stock headed from here?...
Is The Tiger Losing Its Stripes?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Not long ago, Chinese growth dominated the financial news. What happened?...
More Bearish Omens?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stock markets around the globe have been looking increasingly unhealthy in July. Here are some chart patterns that will interest the technical savvy searching for confirmation....
Market Challenges Are Not Limited To Politicos In Europe
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As the situation in Europe continues to deteriorate, there are signs that stock market challenges are not limited to bumbling politicians in that area alone....
The Fundamental Disconnect
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The technical versus fundamental argument has been around almost as long as the stock markets. But here is a reality that fundamental efficient market hypothesis devotees will be hard pressed to explain....
Is The Worst Finally Over For Netflix?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Netflix has been pummeled in the last few months but as 2011 ended and 2012 began, the stock began to show some signs of life....
Time For A NetFlix Pit Stop?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In my January 10th article when the stock was trading around $86 ("Is The Worst Finally Over For Netflix?"), I presented an argument about why it might be time to buy the stock. Now with the stock and market looking a little toppy, it may be time to consider taking some profits off the table....
Stocks Getting Toppy?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...There is an adage in the stock market that says the market is near a top when everybody is bullish. It is assumed that the bulls have already gone long, leaving very few buyers on the sidelines to do so later. So is this the case now with the S&P 500?...
Apple Getting Cooked?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...How many times have we seen a high-flying stock drop even though the fundamentals looked strong, only to learn much later that there were problems?...
Facebook Comeback Continues -- Or Does It?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Facebook, which plummeted right out of the IPO gate when it was launched in June, became the most public example on record of how not to price a new stock. Lately, though, the stock has been making a comeback. Is now the time to buy?...
It's The Season For Homebuilders
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Homebuilders have had a tough slog since 2007, but lately, things have been looking up. Here's a stock that's still riding the wave....
Underdog Of The Three Amigos
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As other market leaders have recovered, Apple is struggling....
Is Apple Set To Fall?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Apple has seen a massive runup and correction in the stock. Are its best days behind it?...
10 Signs That Tell You When To Stop Trading
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Everybody is hunting for the best buy signals, but this focus ignores a major trading reality: You don't earn a penny until you sell. And you won't keep it if you don't know when to sit on your hands....
Intermarket Checkup
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Where the heck are we, anyway? Knowing where we are now and what economic forces are in play in the broader scheme of things can be useful in anticipating where we're headed....
The Recent Potential 2B Top And What It Means For Stocks
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ..."Trader Vic" Sperandeo wrote about a pattern that he said had been a big money maker for him over the years. It recently appeared on a number of indexes. What does it mean?...
Is Uranium One Hot To Trot?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since the nuclear power plant disaster in Japan, uranium stocks have taken a beating. But here is one stock that looks poised to run, especially if the seasonal lift comes into play....
What Is Intermarket Analysis Saying About Markets?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As many traders and investors were forced to relearn in the last financial crisis, no asset class is an island onto itself. Where one goes, the others are sure to take notice. Intermarket analysis says that stocks, bonds, commodities, and currencies all exert pressure on one another. So what are commodities and bonds telling us about where stocks are headed?...
Bearish Omen For US Stocks?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Since peaking in early April, the S&P 500 has struggled. But if the pattern now forming on the index is confirmed, look for more downside action through the summer....
Trading Credentials
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...James Bond may have a license to kill, but regular folks need a license to do just about everything else from driving a car, flying a plane, managing money, and practicing law to doing someone's taxes. Is there something along those lines for trading?...
Could One Stock Provide A Reliable Bubble Meter?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In 1989, one stock provided an accurate warning that something was amiss with the Nikkei 225 index. It did so again in 1999, months before the peak in US stocks. Is the most recent peak a warning that should not be ignored?...
Driving A Wedge Into The Bull?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Bad news/good stock action is a good omen. Good news/bad action usually spells trouble....
Is Oracle Trying to Tell Us Something?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...While "The Oracle of Omaha" has been in the headliines, the other Oracle has been gaining ground....
BID On A Bullish Head & Shoulders?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This is a first, certainly for Sotheby's....
Let's Play Devil's Advocate
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...When you put on a trade, it pays to see the opposite trade and become your own devil's advocate....
International Indexes Under Pressure
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Around the globe, stock indexes are reeling. Here are the ones to watch....
Is This "Make It Or Break It" Time?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...There's a pattern unfolding that could be trying to tell us where stocks are headed. What happens from here will say a lot....
Take A Top Trader To Dinner?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Have you ever wanted to sit down with one of the rock stars of the trading world? Here's your chance....
Are Market Challenges Rising?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This market has been a little tougher than usual to trade. Bulls are claiming the bottom has been put in, while bears say there is worse to come. Based on these next indicators, the bears have probability on their side....
Is This What A Capitulation Bottom Feels Like?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This has been a tough market no matter which way you slice it, with signals to confuse even the most stalwart traders. But here is one pattern that looks promising....
BID-ding Down The Market?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Sotheby's has proven to be a reliable proxy of a bubble in markets, and it's just taken another hit....
Light At The End Of The Tunnel For BAC?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...These have been tough times for the banking sector. But there may be some light at the end of the tunnel....
10 Signs That Tell You When To Stop Trading
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Everybody is hunting for the best buy signals, but this focus ignores a major trading reality: You don't earn a penny until you sell. And you won't keep it if you don't know when to sit on your hands....
Could One Stock Provide A Reliable Bubble Meter?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In 1989, one stock gave an accurate warning that something was amiss with the Nikkei 225 index. It did so again in 1999, months before the peak in US stocks. Is the most recent peak a warning that should not be ignored?...
The Sonar Trio Bottom Sounder
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Many trading programs offer tools that promise to help you pick bottoms. The problem is, a single indicator may work well sometimes but poorly at others. Here is a set of indicators that do a respectable job consistently....
Quantitative Easing And Commodities
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Previously, I discussed the impact that quantitative easing was having on stocks. Now let's look at how the stimulus programs have affected commodities....
Asking The Trillion-Dollar Question: Will There Be A QE3?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...According to economist David Rosenberg, there is an 86% correlation between the size of the Federal Reserve balance sheet (read: stimulus programs) and the S&P 500. Quantitative Easing 2 ends in June. So what then?...
Is Sotheby's A Bubble Proxy?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...What if there was a stock that provided a reliable warning of a bubble about to break?...
Sonar Trio Signals Potential Bottom
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As stocks gain momentum, traders are wondering whether the bottom is in. Here is a set of indicators to help you decide....
Getting Real On Inflation
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...On March 17, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland reported its 10-year expected inflation rate of 1.88%. What does that mean? The bank expects that the consumer price inflation rate will average less than 2% over the next decade. What if they're wrong?...
Can Financials Provide Warning Of A Market Top?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In past market tops, the financial sector has turned down first. It happened in the October 1987 meltdown and again at the 2000 top. So how has the financial sector been doing lately?...
Three Fundamental Market Monsters
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Whatever US lawmakers decide to do to prop up the markets, there will be consequences....
The Trillion-Dollar Correlation Chart
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Want to know where gold and precious metals prices are going? Look to Washington for the answer....
What Happened To TZOO?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...On July 19, I wrote about TZOO, which Dan Zanger discussed in his newsletter as a potential buy. On July 20, it put in an engulfing bear candlestick pattern and then on July 21, it dropped off a cliff. What happened?...
Indexes Look Weak, But Leaders Aren't Paying Attention
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Indexes like the Russell 2000, S&P 500, and DJIA have encountered strong selling pressure again, but the market leaders are acting downright frisky....
Bubble Proxy Update
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In May, I discussed the value of Sotheby's as a bubble proxy. Here is a quick update....
Is First Solar A Buy?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This former stock market high-flier has had some hard times lately. But with Warren Buffett now on board, has the picture changed?...
Rhyming Markets Tell A Troubling Tale
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Every once in a while you see a chart that really jumps out at you....
Transports Driving Market Lower
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Transports often lead stocks at a bottom since they are quicker out of the starting gate when the economy starts to shows signs of picking up. When they weaken ahead of the industrials, it shows that the economy is encountering growing headwinds....
Head & Shoulder Warnings Should Not Be Ignored
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...On August 2, I warned that head & shoulders top patterns were popping up on a number of major indexes and ETFs. So what does that mean?...
Sounding For A Bottom?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...With the recent maelstrom in stocks, it is tempting to declare bottom with the first or second big rally. Here is why it pays to wait for confirmation....
The Inflation Story: Separating Fact From Fiction
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Policy makers would have us believe that inflation is contained and that deflation is the greater threat to our economy. Remembering the fate suffered by those who trusted policymakers' statistics and advice on the housing market in 2005 and 2006, is buying the official line now wise? This is a continuation of Matt Blackman's a href='http://technical.traders.com/tradersonline/home.asp'Traders.com Advantage/a article, "Getting Real On Inflation."...
Carry Trade On The Comeback Trail?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Back in the good old days before the financial crisis hit head-on, the financial media was rife with stories of how international players were winning big in the carry-trade game. That all changed when the meltdown came, but there are signs that the much-maligned strategy is back. Here is a brief carry-trade history....
Is Silver Bubbling Or Just Doing What It's Supposed To?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Given the meteoric rise of silver over the last year, many pundits have proclaimed the gray metal in bubble territory. But there is interesting evidence to indicate this is probably not the case....
SPY Head & Shoulder Failure
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...On April 18, SPY exhibited a bearish head & shoulders top pattern on the hourly chart. It's been invalidated since then. What does this mean?...
Another Bearish Sign On SPY?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Last week it was market leader Google. This week, the S&P 500 ETF SPY put in a bearish head & shoulders top pattern. Another bearish omen for US stocks?...
Is Google On The Firing Line?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Not long after its launch in 2004, Google became a market leader. That trend remained intact through good times and bad. In 2010, it flashed a bearish head & shoulders top pattern that failed to hit the target, but it was a good trade nonetheless. It's just flashed another H&S sell signal, and this one looks more promising....
Working Money: Bubblenomics 101 by Matt Blackman
Is China Set To Bounce?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...China and India still enjoy respectable growth rates even as their industrialized counterparts in the US and Europe enter recession. Is now the time to jump across the bamboo curtain?...
Is The Market Building A Bottom?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...One good overall measure of the market is the Vanguard Total Market ETF. What is it telling us about the market?...
In Search Of The Next Big Game
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks go up when there are more buyers than sellers, down when the opposite occurs and short-sellers are a big part of the picture. But when a heavily shorted stock rallies, it can provide those in the know with a powerful trading strategy that works well in both good markets and bad. Here's how it works....
Is Tanger Factory Outlets Another Short Squeeze Candidate?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been a rough ride for markets and there will undoubtedly be more turbulence ahead. But here is a stock with excellent potential to rally when the inevitable bounce comes....
WM: Elections As The Most Powerful Short-Term Cycle by Matt Blackman
Bubblenomics 101
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Can government intervention in markets work?...
In Search Of The Next Big Game
Elections As The Most Powerful Short-Term Cycle
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...What you don't know about politics could cost you plenty....
Is Hillenbrand Industries A Compelling Defensive Play?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This stock has a history of doing well when the market cops a bad attitude....
Fuelcell Is Supercharged, But What Else Is Going On?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Oil is heading higher, and it is pulling a whole array of stocks with it. Here is one stock that also has some compelling technicals in its favor....
Builders, Lenders: Next In The Falling Knife Saga
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Previously, we looked at home builders to see if calls that the industry had bottomed might have some merit. We concluded that the worst was not over. This time, we take another look at the industry but include lenders to see what the charts are saying....
Property Sector Yin And Yang
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...How can the performance of two industries in the same sector be worlds apart?...
Working Money: Mining For Maximum Shine by Matt Blackman
Is Newell Rubbermaid Set To Bounce?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks have turned more bearish of late, but one thing is clear. No matter what else is happening in markets, the probability for a rally is higher as Christmas approaches. Here is one stock that has the potential to move ahead of the pack should Santa make a Wall Street stop this year....
Is Force Protection A Textbook Short Squeeze In Action?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This is a clear example of how shorts, both legal and naked, can decimate the value of a stock. It is also an example of the explosive short squeeze rally that a heavily shorted stock can experience when positive news is combined with compelling technicals....
Supercharged FCEL Makes A Break For It
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Here's a textbook case of a short squeeze in action. In this case, powerful technicals and compelling corporate news helped....
Working Money: Property Sector Yin And Yang by Matt Blackman
Working Money: To Catch A Falling Knife... by Matt Blackman
The Manic Marriage Between Bonds And Stocks
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Can this long-term intermarket match survive the strain?...
Working Money: Builders, Lenders: Next In The Falling Knife Saga by Matt Blackman
Mining For Maximum Shine
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...When it comes to metals, there's a time to buy and a time to sell. Here's a way your computer can help you find the sweet spots....
Forex Focus by Matt Blackman
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks & Commodities V. 24:3 (16-20): Forex Focus by Matt Blackman Access to foreign exchange trading has opened up exciting trading options for the retail trader. You can now trade alongside corporations and institutions in a highly liquid market that is global, traded around the clock, and highly leveraged. Before jumping into this market, however, we must understand the factors that affect the forex market. With that in mind, STOCKS & COMMODITIES has introduced Forex Focus to better prepare the retail trader to participate in the currency market. THE CURRENCY COMBO Integrating strategies...
Working Money: Using Intermarket Analysis With Exchange Traded Funds by M. Blackman
Forex Focus by Matt Blackman
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks & Commodities V. 24:2 (10-12): Forex Focus by Matt Blackman Access to foreign exchange trading has opened up exciting trading options for the retail trader. You can now trade alongside corporations and institutions in a highly liquid market that is global, traded around the clock, and highly leveraged. Before jumping into this market, however, we must understand the factors that affect the forex market. With that in mind, STOCKS & COMMODITIES has introduced Forex Focus to better prepare the retail trader to participate in the currency market. Is inflation a threat? Find the answer by ...
To Catch A Falling Knife
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Are homebuilders a buy yet?...
Volatility, Bollinger Bands, And The Yen by Matt Blackman
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Stocks & Commodities V. 24:4 (38-41): Volatility, Bollinger Bands, And The Yen by Matt Blackman Combine volatility with your favorite trading signal, and your trade will become a whole lot easier. Here's an example using the yen. Traders are taught from the beginning that acting on a single signal to generate a trade is risky, regardless of the asset class or time frame: Which signal will you use to do so? Not only that, relying on different indicators that use the same datapoints may seem sufficient to the uninitiated, but that provides a false sense of security. Relying on two indicators ...
Product Review: NASDAQ TotalView by Matt Blackman
Working Money: The Market Thrivor's Secret Weapon by Matt Blackman
Working Money: What Are Insiders Telling Us? by Matt Blackman
A View Of 2004 From The Inside
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It was another great year for corporate insiders to cash in their company's stock, and they did so in a big way. It is important that the trader understand how insider signals work and under what conditions they generate the best results. Here's our insider perspective on 2004....
Insider Sell/Buy Ratio Hits All-Time High
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The all-important sell/buy ratio hit a new all-time high in January, but is that an accurate indication of what insiders are doing?...
August Insider Update
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Insider selling increased in August but so did buying. In fact, August buying was the second highest in two years....
September Insider Update
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Insider buying dropped to half of what it was in August for the lowest monthly buying level since October 2003, while insider selling remained strong. What does it mean?...
Interview: Understanding Intermarket Analysis With John J. Murphy by Matt Blackman
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Interview: Understanding Intermarket Analysis With John J. Murphy by Matt Blackman John Murphy has become a household name in the technical analysis community. And how could he not? He was the technical analyst for CNBC for seven years, and is the cofounder and president of MurphyMorris.com. His book Technical Analysis Of The Financial Markets, first written in the late 1980s, has become a classic, and its latest edition is required reading for those studying for the Market Technicians Association's Chartered Market Technicians (CMT) designation. He is also the author of The Visual Investor a...
Island Trader
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...What's it like to trade from your own piece of paradise? Just ask Larry Williams....
Hello Ruby Tuesday
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This stock has been marching steadily higher since before this bull began. It has also been showing a regular cycle for those who know what to look for....
Where Technicals And Fundamentals Sing The Same Tune
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Technical signals are good and can often be used to anticipate future price movement. But when technicals and fundamentals agree, your probability for success goes up....
When Technicals And Fundamentals Tangle
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...How many times have you seen a great technical pattern form only to watch it fall apart later? Often the reason is simple and knowing it can keep the savvy trader safe from harm....
Insiders Aren't Buying The Bull...
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Insider selling hit another extreme level in February. If we are in a long-term bull market, insiders aren't buying it....
Squeeze, Pop Goes The S&P
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...For those who have been following volatility using Bollinger Bands, an interesting thing happened to the S&P500. . ....
Enzon Pharmaceuticals Bottoming Out?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...From the slow but steady build in stock price, it appears that something is in the wind. Whether it is the potential launch of a new product or other positive corporate news, this could be an interesting technical play....
Brocade Breakout?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This one-time Internet high flyer is making a comeback. This round, it appears to be taking the slow but steady route....
Working Money: "The Best And The Brightest" Go To Washington by Matt Blackman
Playing The Presidential Cycle
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Incumbent presidents have shown an incredible propensity for shamelessly pumping up the economy in election years. Knowing when is the essential first step to profiting from it....
Insider Buying On The Rise
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Insider selling greatly outstripped buying for the six-month period from September 2003 to February 2004 but it looks like the trend is changing. Could insiders now be telling us that it's time to buy?...
Working Money: Island Trader by Matt Blackman
The Presidential Leap
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Every four years, we get an extra day to do with as we please. It's the same year when incumbent US Presidents throw open the floodgates on spending and print money like there's no tomorrow. Here's what it all means for the market....
June Insider Update
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Insider buying increased in March, April and May. In June, it reversed direction again. Does it signal tougher times ahead?...
Working Money: Do P/E Ratios Really Matter? by Matt Blackman
RJR Tobacco Holders - Is That Smoke?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...They say where there is smoke, there is fire and this one could be getting out of hand....
American Eagle Outfitters Ready For Another Summit?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's had its ups and downs in the last few years but from a technical point, this stock could be getting ready for a summit attempt....
The LookSmart Squeeze
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...During its heyday in March 2000, this stock hit a high of $69.50. By September 2001, it had plummeted to a meager $0.31. Slowly but surely, it has been making a comeback in both price and respectability....
COT Indicator Says Market Still A Buy
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As non-priced based indicators go, the Commitment of Traders' positions are as good as some, better than most. The indicator gave a buy signal on the S&P 500 in early October that was confirmed to still be in force by this week's data....
Tibco Bullish Flag 'A Hoisting!'
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...On December 22, I wrote about a diamond bottom pattern that had formed on this software company's chart. It hasn't broken out yet but is threatening to do so....
The Four-Month Rule
Are Stocks And Bonds Recoupling?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...If so, it may be a sign the deflation risk is over....
MEMC Electronics' Complex Head & Shoulders Top
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Insiders have sold a whopping 170 million shares in this company in the last three months and their chart is forming a complex head & shoulders top signal. Coincidence?...
Hollinger International Near Top Of Trajectory?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The stock of the newspaper empire led by ex-CEO Conrad Black, has done very well since March and recent speculation of a sale has driven it higher. With legal troubles looming and Black on the hot seat, could it be time to sell?...
First Health Back In The Pink?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The stock took a dive around Halloween but it appears that investors may have overreacted to a make-believe ghost. Those with stronger nerve have been slowly but surely picking this one up and now the word's getting out....
Diamond Offshore Getting Ready To Blow?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...With a number of factors in its favor, not the least of which is upward pressure on oil prices, is this stock getting ready to break out?...
Insider Update
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Insiders continue to unload in January....
GM Giving Early Market Warning?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The four-month rule relies on the premise that what is good for GM is good for America. It also says that GM leads the market down at market tops. Are we at one now?...
Insider Year-End Wrap
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Insider buying provides a great signal to follow when market conditions are right. Insider selling is less reliable. Here is the insider transaction year in review. It was very different than 2002. What does it mean?...
Insider Trading Hits Four-Year High
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Insider selling soared in November to the highest level since August 2000, which coincided with the last major peak in the S&P 500 index before the recession. Are corporate insiders trying to tell us something?...
What Are Insiders Telling Us?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...What corporate insiders do in the stock market can tell us a lot about where they believe the market is going. When corporate executives are buying their company's stock in greater than average amounts, it often means a market bottom of sorts. When they are selling like never before, it can warn of a market top. Lately insider buying has been flat but then so has selling. What does it mean?...
'Twas The Week Before Christmas...
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Apologies to Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863), author of the original "A Visit From St. Nicholas."...
July Insider Update
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...For the month of July, insider selling fell to the lowest level in more than a year. It was the largest July decline in seven years. What does it mean?...
Do P/E Ratios Really Matter?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Everyone has an opinion about price to earnings ratios. When are they too low, too high, or just right? Would a P/E ratio indicator help the trader outprofit the buy-and-hold investor over the long haul?...
2K Market Deja Vu - Good News, Bad Action
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...How markets interpret news tells much about underlying investor sentiment. Bull markets ignore bad news. Bear markets ignore good news. It appears that of late, we may have fallen back into the latter category once again. For those in the bull camp, this is a troubling sign....
Yahoo!? Now Hold On Just A Minute
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Yahoo gapped up 14% from $48.35 to close at $56.21 in the wake of better than expected earnings. But this looks like a better short than long candidate and proof that markets are more emotional than efficient....
Insiders Continue To Trade Shares For Dollars
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Insiders continued to sell while the selling was good, unloading $3.5 billion worth of shares in March. While it was down from the extreme reading in February of $5.1 billion, selling outstripped buying by nearly 30:1 in dollar terms....
Product Review: HotComm Trader by Matt Blackman
The Best And The Brightest Of Technical Analysis
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Traders are a lonely breed. Most of their days are spent alone, their eyes glued to an array of computer screens, fingers poised over the keyboard and "Do not disturb" signs hanging over their desks. Continually enhancing your trading skill is essential to success but in this task, at least, there is strength in numbers. Here's one organization that can help and some benefits of belonging....
Insider Stock Sales Continue To Soar
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The ratio of insider share sales to purchases jumped threefold from August to the first week in September. It more than doubled again in the second week of the month....
SPY Flag -- Still Awaiting Confirmation
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...On September 2, the chart pattern on the SPY broke out on higher volume giving a bullish signal. But the 102-support line was broken a week later. Until we see higher volumes and a sustained move above 105, we remain in no-man's land....
Insider Sales Figures Tell A Troubling Tale
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The ratio of insider sales to purchases remained relatively steady in May and June. They started to creep up in August. In early September they went ballistic. What does it mean?...
Break Out The Cigars - It's A Flag!
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...August was a period of consolidation for the market. Two patterns were in the process of forming, one bullish and one bearish. Score one for the bulls!...
The Four-Month Rule
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...What is good for General Motors (GM) is good for America, or so the old saying goes. There is even an indicator that uses GM as an early warning of market changes. Here's a look at the "Big Three" US automakers and what they could be trying to tell us about the industry, the market, and the economy....
Insider Selling Remains Brisk
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...After hitting a peak of 415 shares sold or planned to be sold for every one purchased in September, insider sales reentered the atmosphere. But the ratio remains high....
Rest Time Again For The S&P 500
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Every rally has its cycles. In a bull, prices move up for a period, take a rest and then continue to move higher. Its rest time again for the S&P 500 and traders are watching to see if it will be a brief catnap or deep slumber....
Working Money: In Search Of The Trendilator by Matt Blackman
Fun With Numbers - The Joys Of Compounding
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Ever wondered how much you would make in a year if you were able to sustain an average daily return?...
Insiders Continue To Unload
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...In our continuing coverage of insider transactions, there is little sign that selling is waning. In fact, insiders continue selling shares like there's no tomorrow....
Insider Sales Update
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...We had another spike last week in the ratio of insider shares sold to purchased. In this continuing story, I examine what these spikes may mean and whether this ratio be taken as a warning of a price change....
Debunking The Random Walk Myth
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Any technical analyst familiar with the random walk theory can tell you it has flaws. Yet the theory persists....
Markets Looking Overbought
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Across the board, indexes have moved up handily since March 10, much of it fueled by war relief. Where they go from here will be a good indicator of underlying market strength....
Rounding Bottoms Excite Young Bulls
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Rounding or saucer bottoms are relatively rare but when they show up in any number, the bulls get excited....
Progress Software Looking Solid
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...While the market gives mixed signals on whether this is just another bear rally or a real bottom, a number of technology companies are looking downright impressive. Could the techs be trying to lead markets out of the woods?...
Playing The Gold Game
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...After years of relative obscurity as an investment and trading vehicle, gold has made a dramatic comeback. Here's what you should watch out for when trading gold or gold stocks....
SPY - A Market Proxy
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It has now been eight days since markets began their upward march, but the run is showing signs of strain....
Working Money: 10 Challenges Facing A Market Rebound by Matt Blackman
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Working Money: 10 Challenges Facing A Market Rebound by Matt Blackman Can technical traders safely ignore these 10 fundamental obstacles? Most traders agree that fundamental investors would be well advised to use charts to help make better decisions, especially in times of volatility. But can traders afford to ignore the fundamental economic challenges facing the markets? THE MARKET CANARY Many traders say there is a real and visible disconnect between US financial markets and the economy. Interest rates are at historic lows, the housing sector is flourishing, and consumer spending (which ...
How High Can a Bumblebee Fly?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Both the fundamentals and technicals seem to agree. We are in rarely charted overbought territory. The question is where do we go from here and when?...
Complex Candlestick Patterns Scream 'Sell'
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Much of technical analysis is subjective so that often the value of the signal is in the eye of the beholder. However, when multiple indicators are saying the same thing on a weekly or monthly chart, the signal is much harder to ignore....
Market Showing Strong Divergence
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The market has been ignoring bad news and celebrating the good. But how long can the good times last without a hangover?...
What Do Sector Rankings Tell Us About the Economy?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The jury may still be out among analysts regarding whether this rally will be sustained or not but a look at the sectors tells a revealing tale about the state of the economy....
Working Money: Playing The Gold Game by Matt Blackman
In Search Of The Trendilator
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...When equities are trending, one group of indicators works best. When prices are stuck in a trading range, other indicators are more successful. Wouldn't it be nice to find one indicator that worked well in both types of markets?...
Topping Out or Just Taking a Break?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The market is showing strong negative divergence again. Is it a pause or the end of another bear rally?...
What Can Fibonacci and Candlesticks Tell Us About This Rally?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been a good run since March 11 for the major indexes. They recently moved from overbought into oversold on the daily charts without the serious meltdown that many were expecting. Here is what two popular analytic tools can tell us and why this time it just might be the real thing....
Five Steps To A Winning Trading System by Matt Blackman
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Five Steps To A Winning Trading System by Matt Blackman Whether you use your own system or someone else's, a big part of the development of any trading strategy is testing to see how well it works. Here we go through the step-by-step process of how to test a system that uses Martin Pring's Know Sure Thing (KST) indicator. As part of a continuing education in technical analysis, there are two books that should not be overlooked by serious traders. They are Technical Analysis Of The Financial Markets by John J. Murphy and Technical Analysis Explained by Martin J. Pring. Both are, in fact, req...
Dow Update
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...A Dow head & shoulder top pattern that began forming in 1998 is approaching completion. If it follows through, the prognosis for a near-term recovery in markets looks bleak. I also discuss an interesting tool for MetaStock users to help identify possible reversal points....
Nortel on the Move All Right!
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Scottish poet, Robbie Burns once said, "the best laid plans of mice and men come oft t'glay." It is something traders can never forget. As we see from my last alert on Nortel, it is imperative to have a 'plan B' close at hand and when conditions change, so should your plan....
Dow Deja Vu
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...One confirmed and one potential head & shoulders top pattern provide some guidance as to where markets may be headed in January-February....
Nortel in a Trend - But Will It Hold?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Nortel (NT-NYSE and NT-TSX) is anything but dull. And now it appears to be headed lower. Is this a predictable trend or will it fool investors again?...
Cabot to Head Lower?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Like many stocks, Cabot (CBT) enjoyed a nice run off October lows. It now looks like it is getting set to resume its long-term downtrend....
Most Of What You Need To Know About Technical Analysis
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS .... . . You learned in elementary school....
Is the FTSE Trying to Tell Us Something?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The study of intermarket analysis tells us that global indexes tend to follow one another. At times they diverge but eventually they align. With that in mind, there are a few things that the FTSE may be trying to tell us about the Dow....
Working Money: Learning The Technimental Three-Step by Matt Blackman
The Best And The Brightest Go To Washington
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Technicians and traders from around the world met in Washington, DC, during the first week of November 2003 to discuss the latest techniques and markets. For those serious about the practice and application of technical analysis, it was an event not to be missed....
Tibco Software Diamond Bottom
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...This stock was a high flyer in 2000 but if this pattern is any indication, there are better days on the horizon again for the company....
More Signs Of A Market Top
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Insider selling continued at a brisk pace in November. The ratio of shares sold to purchased dropped slightly but overall sales were up significantly. There are other signs that the market may be at, or at least very near, a top....
Meridian Golden Cup With Handle
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Gold has been moving higher and along with it most of the gold producers. While the price of the metal frolics around $400/oz., Meridian Gold is forming an interesting cup with handle pattern....
Goodyear Tire On the Road Again?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It's been a tough four years for the tire company but the chart is showing signs that the worst may be over....
WM: The Best And The Brightest Of Technical Analysis by Matt Blackman
Trading In The Forex Trenches by Matt Blackman
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Trading In The Forex Trenches by Matt Blackman Foreign exchange markets offer great liquidity, are less prone to being pushed around by major market players, and adhere to technical trading rules more closely than equity markets. So why aren't they more popular with traders? A seasoned forex trader provides us with a view from the inside, including some of his favorite trading strategies. Experienced traders often remark that the foreign exchange markets are a technician's delight, as they adhere more closely to the technical indicators than other securities. There is less random noise (that...
Working Money: The Critical Head & Shoulders Test by Matt Blackman
Are You Trading On Borrowed Time?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The market party peaked at midnight and it's now 4:00 am. Someone has just arrived with a fresh round of drinks. But here are some sobering thoughts for those getting their second wind....
Triple Top Or Flag?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...No matter which way you believe it is headed, from both a fundamental and technical perspective, the market is at a critical juncture....
Clue Hunting Through Commitment Of Traders' Data
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Like any indicator, Commitment of Traders (COT) data has its followers. For those who know how to read between the lines, there is always an interesting story to be had....
Boston Communications Stock 40% Off Sale
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...After a Jeffries & Co. analyst issued a buy recommendation on Boston Communications in mid-July, news came out that the company was in danger of losing a major client. It plummeted 40% on the news and continued down in the following three weeks, losing more than 50% of its value. Now on the comeback trail, it appears that the stock may have been unfairly punished....
Interview: Chart Patterns, Trading, and Dan Zanger by Matt Blackman
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Interview: Chart Patterns, Trading, and Dan Zanger by Matt Blackman Trader Dan Zanger of Chartpattern.com first hit the media spotlight in December 2000 when he was featured in a Fortune article. The article, entitled "My Stocks Are Up 10,000%!" discussed how he had turned $11,000 into $18 million in 18 months (with a return of 164,000%), an unofficial world record for trading stocks (with the tax receipts to prove it). Not mentioned in the article was that in 23 months, the total grew to $42 million. Also not mentioned except in passing was much detail about Zanger's trading techniques, ind...
The Continuous Curse of the Rising Wedge
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The SPY has produced at least five bearish rising wedges since the meltdown began in late 2000. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it looks like number six may be nearing completion....
Another Chance for the S&P 500?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...A major bearish head & shoulders top pattern that began forming in 1998 is still alive and well, but a smaller version of its bullish twin is taking shape. Could it be sign that this bear market is about to turn or just another false alarm?...
A Reversal Day for United Foods?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Call it a buying climax or top reversal day, but whatever term you use to identify this move, it has 'sell' written all over it....
CRAY - Getting Ready to Crash?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Cray Inc. has moved up almost continuously since January 2002. But the stock is giving signals that could portend a change in direction....
Where Are The Markets Headed From Here?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Divergence analysis using momentum indicators can assist traders in spotting potential trend changes weeks before they occur. Here, we examine what the Chaikin money flow indicator may be trying to tell us....
Learning The Technimental Three-Step
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Technicals and fundamentals: together at last....
The Critical Head & Shoulders Test
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...One of the most reliable chart patterns is the venerable head and shoulders. The markets are set to put this technical mainstay to the test once more. If it passes, the bears will roar. If it fails, get ready for a stampede of the bulls. Either way, is it something you can afford to ignore?...
Rally Showing Signs of Fatigue
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...As this rally moves into the third month, it is beginning to show its age. Is it simply taking a breather, or is it running out of gas?...
Nasdaq Composite Index - Is It Finally Shaking Off the Bears?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Is the Nasdaq Composite Index (COMPQ) -and the tech sector- finally out of the woods or is it just another bear rally?...
Agilent Showing Signs of a Bottom
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Agilent (A - NYSE) is on the move again but this time it looks to be heading upward....
Nortel on the Move - Time to Snag this Bottom Fish?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...There are both fundamental and technical clues that Nortel's worst trading days may be behind it. It would be a gutsy move but one that could reap handsome rewards if the telecom dog days are finally over....
How Far Will Microsoft Move? The $64 Question
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...A double bottom reversal pattern on the price chart for Microsoft [MSFT] may provide some technical clues for future price targets....
10 Challenges Facing A Market Rebound
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...Can technical traders safely ignore these 10 fundamental obstacles?...
Is PETsMART Becoming Shark Bait?
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...It has been a good time for shareholders but there are signs that enthusiasm for the stock may be waning....
Bearish Rising Wedges Abound
ARTICLE SYNOPSIS ...The markets are caught in a holding pattern at current levels and evidence is growing that they will head lower. The question is how far could they drop?...
Quick Scans: Floor Trader's Tools 8.0 by Matt Blackman
Quick-Scan: Intermarket Analysis by Matt Blackman
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