SchaeffersResearch.com Market Observations

After a shaky start, stocks ended the session with respectable gains

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:27:00 GMT

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) took the spotlight today, and the central bankers shocked absolutely no one by voting to maintain interest rates at their current, rock-bottom levels...(Read More)

A theoretical covered call on one of the best performing stocks of the past year

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:25:00 GMT

The Options 101 column introduces readers to the basics of options trading by exploring rudimentary concepts and terminology, and dissecting the risks and rewards of various strategies...(Read More)

Examining a popular alternative to exiting an options position

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:20:00 GMT

Is that options strategy you spent hours laboring over not working out quite as quickly as you hoped? Have you reexamined your reasons for entering the trade, and remain confident in your initial forecast? Have you been successfully earning extra income by writing covered calls, and want to extend this strategy over time? Or, have you utilized long puts to hedge an investment and want to extend your "insurance"? If so, you might consider rolling your options...(Read More)

Capitalizing on options that are underpriced relative to their expiration values

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:07:00 GMT

One of the benefits to trading options is that they offer a diversity that is nearly unmatched in the investing world...(Read More)

One anxious bull opened a credit spread on the high-flying stock

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:37:00 GMT

Calls have been in vogue lately on Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (POT), with the stock sporting a 10-day International Securities Exchange (ISE) call/put volume ratio of 1.78...(Read More)

Bullishly oriented options are drawing a crowd on this heavily shorted stock

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:56:00 GMT

Traders have been gravitating toward calls on OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (OVTI) in recent sessions, as the stock attempts to tackle looming double-top resistance...(Read More)

Bearishly biased contracts are the options of choice on this uptrending airline issue

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Puts were a popular choice on Continental Airlines, Inc. (CAL) yesterday, with activity rising to 1.73 times the usual level...(Read More)

Solar energy firm continues to be targeted by bearish options traders

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:30:00 GMT

Last week, JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (JASO) was targeted by long-term bearish options traders, with the stock's September 5 strike drawing considerable attention...(Read More)

Could the Street's extreme expectations spell trouble for GOOG?

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:05:00 GMT

Google Inc. (GOOG) has dominated headlines recently, thanks to the search sultan's ongoing drama with the Chinese government...(Read More)

A bullish candidate sees a surge in put trading

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:00:00 GMT

This week's edition of Options Spotlight takes a look at Ashland Inc. (ASH)...(Read More)

The coffee chain scored an upgrade to 'buy' at UBS

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:25:00 GMT

Today's column includes the latest quarterly results from Medivation, Inc. (MDVN), a bullish endorsement for Starbucks Corporation (SBUX), a delayed quarterly filing from Ambac Financial Group, Inc...(Read More)

U.S. stocks poised to challenge 2010 highs as key economic data looms

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) finally topped 1,150 on Monday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) put more distance between itself and potential support at the 10,600 level...(Read More)

Jitters ahead of the Fed's policy meeting weighed on stocks for most of the session

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:12:00 GMT

Stocks wallowed in the red for most of the session today, thanks to escalating concerns about the health of the global economy...(Read More)

Capitalizing on volatility while limiting risk by utilizing options

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:00:00 GMT

One of the benefits to trading options is that they offer a diversity that is nearly unmatched in the investing world...(Read More)

Can the shares of NKE finally defeat the round-number 70 neighborhood?

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:45:00 GMT

While many Street dwellers will be dodging pinches on St. Patrick's Day, Nike, Inc...(Read More)

One speculator is betting on stagnant price action for the motorcycle maker

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:15:00 GMT

Speculation is heating up today on Harley-Davidson, Inc. (HOG), with option volume accelerating to nearly three times the norm...(Read More)

Pharmaceutical concern looks to capitalize on growing goodwill among Wall Street analysts

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:47:00 GMT

Pharmaceutical concern Sequenom Inc. (SQNM) attracted considerable attention on March 3, when analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald and Hapoalim Securities both announced that they'd gained renewed confidence in the company...(Read More)

The stock's March 32.50 call was the center of attention last Friday

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:19:00 GMT

Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) drew a tidal wave of options volume on Friday, with roughly 23,000 calls changing hands during the course of the session...(Read More)

Puts have been the options of choice in recent weeks

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:30:00 GMT

Puts were a popular choice on Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL) last Friday...(Read More)

Goldman Sachs removed the stock from its conviction buy list

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:50:00 GMT

The newest members of RadioShack Corporation's (RSH) bullish fan club may be regretting their recent call purchases today, as the shares of RSH react to a negative analyst note...(Read More)

The defense firm is reportedly in line to score a lucrative contract from the British army

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:24:00 GMT

Today's column includes a rumored contract win for General Dynamics Corporation (GD), a fundamental boost for Baidu, Inc...(Read More)

U.S. stock futures point to weak start ahead of key economic data

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:03:00 GMT

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) cleared another technical hurdle last week, topping 10,600 during a rather lackluster week of trading...(Read More)

Dow Cracks 10,600, While SPX Winks at 1,150

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:25:00 GMT

Ho-hum. But a good ho-hum. Stocks traded in a relatively tight range all week, but by week's end, all three major market indexes had recorded respectable gains...(Read More)

The SPX and Nasdaq Composite touched new highs before retreating toward breakeven

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:14:00 GMT

Stocks kicked off the session on an upbeat note today, as the Street savored an encouraging dose of data from the retail sector...(Read More)

Is sentiment shifting after the company's fourth-quarter earnings report?

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:30:00 GMT

Call traders have descended on Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (HALO) today, with volume spiking to 11 times the usual level...(Read More)