SchaeffersResearch.com Market Observations

All 3 major market indices drop more than 15% on the week

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:16:00 GMT

If you are prone to travel sickness, I hope you took your Dramamine today, because once the opening bell sounded, the volatile market was off and running...(Read More)

Despite skepticism, the shares of PNC Financial Services (PNC) defy broad-market woes

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:40:00 GMT

In last week's edition of Trading Tools, I examined discount retailer BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ), as it appeared on the Zacks Put/Call Ratio Greater than 1.0 filter...(Read More)

Examining technical and sentiment indicators for Visa Inc. (V)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Visa Inc. (V: sentiment, chart, options) had a bit of a rocky morning, as the company was hit with 2 different price-target reductions...(Read More)

Options activity on General Motors (GM) reveals a straddle play

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:45:00 GMT

It took a full week of price-target cuts, downgrades, and credit-watch negative statements, but options players have finally decided to dive into General Motors (GM: sentiment, chart, options)...(Read More)

Bullish speculation surrounds RIMM shares as they tumble to a new annual low

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:34:00 GMT

Research In Motion Limited (RIMM: sentiment, chart, options) today fell to a new annual low of %2450.22, its lowest price since May 2007...(Read More)

Near-term options speculators remain hopeful toward Ford Motor Company (F)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:15:00 GMT

Not surprisingly, put activity on Ford Motor Company (F: sentiment, chart, options) heated up yesterday, with nearly 11,350 contracts crossing the tape on the International Securities Exchange (ISE) and Chicago Board Option Exchange (CBOE)...(Read More)

Shoe maker runs higher on strong third-quarter sales outlook

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:53:00 GMT

Positive sales results from Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK: sentiment, chart, options) have lifted the security more than 6% this afternoon...(Read More)

Examining the technical and sentiment backdrop for Aflac (AFL), MetLife (MET), and Assurant (AIZ)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:00:00 GMT

At first, the overriding school of thought among investors was that the credit crisis was limited to the financial sector...(Read More)

U.S. stocks head for their eighth consecutive drop as investor confidence continues to slip

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:51:00 GMT

In the opening minutes, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped below 8,000 for the first time since April 1, 2003...(Read More)

Despite its status as an underperformer, optimism surrounds ReneSola (SOL)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:40:00 GMT

As if broad-market woes weren't enough, the shares of ReneSola Ltd. (SOL: sentiment, chart, options) were pushed even lower by a bout of negative analyst commentary this morning...(Read More)

Examining growing pessimism toward a blue-chip oil company

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:35:00 GMT

Late Thursday, Chevron Corporation (CVX: sentiment, chart, options) announced that it expects third-quarter results to surpass those of the second quarter, thanks to improvements at its downstream, or refining and marketing, operations...(Read More)

Next week brings us earnings from Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), eBay (EBAY), The Coca-Cola Company (KO), Wells Fargo & Company (WFC), and Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:05:00 GMT

This is a weekly feature that provides you a peek at the major economic and earnings announcements for the week ahead.Economic Calendar for the Week of October 13:The economic calendar starts off the week on Monday with September's Treasury budget...(Read More)

Calls nearly quadruple puts among the SPDR Gold Trust's (GLD) option open interest

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:50:00 GMT

With so much drama unfolding in the global financial markets, I wanted to take a look at gold and the underlying sentiment data to get a better understanding of where we have been and where we might go as this crisis evolves.Gold Commodity Futures Open InterestThe put/call ratio for gold has decreased of late, with call-buying surpassing put-buying as speculators have stepped in on the precious metal's most recent price pullback...(Read More)

A look at the historical earnings performance of JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Google (GOOG), Coca-Cola (KO), and more

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:45:00 GMT

Third-quarter earnings season continues to roll on next week, with approximately 160 companies expected to report...(Read More)

A contrarian look at Jos. A Bank Clothiers (JOSB)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:40:00 GMT

Last week, I took a look at Toll Brothers (TOL), building a bullish case for the firm...(Read More)

A rundown of the morning's major news

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:10:00 GMT

Today features a potential downgrade for Alcoa (AA), brokerage comment on Biogen Idec (BIIB), an upgrade for DreamWorks Animation (DWA), and a price-target cut for MasterCard (MA)...(Read More)

General Electric (GE) reports earnings; Citigroup (C) drops bid for Wachovia Bank (WB)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:12:00 GMT

Futures are lower heading into the open, indicative of a potentially negative start to the regular session...(Read More)

Despite a positive start to the session, U.S. stocks quickly succumbed to gravity

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:30:00 GMT

The blue-chip earnings news today was considerably improved, as IBM (IBM) said that its third-quarter profit would surpass analysts' expectations...(Read More)

A bearish candidate sees a surge in call trading

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:10:00 GMT

This week's edition of Options Spotlight takes a look at Weatherford International (WFT: sentiment, chart, options)...(Read More)

Examining technical and sentiment indicators for International Business Machines (IBM)

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:10:00 GMT

International Business Machines (IBM: sentiment, chart, options) wasn't slated to step into the earnings confessional until October 16, but the information-technology (IT) company chose to release its third-quarter results ahead of schedule...(Read More)

Put volume and short-selling ramp up on this sliding retail stock

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:48:00 GMT

It's been a long trip down the charts for Sears Holdings Corporation (SHLD: sentiment, chart, options)...(Read More)

Optimism toward MetLife, Inc. (MET) among options speculators intensifies

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:30:00 GMT

Optimism toward insurer MetLife, Inc. (MET: sentiment, chart, options) has been on the rise recently, as the stock's Schaeffer's put/call open interest (SOIR) - measuring options slated to expire within 3 months - has inched lower during the past couple of sessions...(Read More)

Option activity on DR Horton (DHI) reveals a spike in put volume

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:00:00 GMT

According to the company's website, DR Horton (DHI: sentiment, chart, options) is slated to release its fourth-quarter earnings figures on November 25...(Read More)

Gold futures caught a serious boost this week as panic swept the market, and so did this slipping stock

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:25:00 GMT

While U.S. stocks were hit with a massive haircut this week, the price of gold futures enjoyed a healthy, 3-day gain of more than %2470...(Read More)

Examining growing pessimism on a blue-chip oil company

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:15:00 GMT

Investors may finally be shedding their bullish outlook on Exxon Mobil (XOM: sentiment, chart, options), as the price of crude oil continues to retreat from its all-time highs...(Read More)

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Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:41:00 GMT

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Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:41:00 GMT

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