Schaeffer's Top Stock Picks for '25

Dow Jones Industrial Average Struggles as Energy Gets Drilled

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly on Twitter

Jul 31, 2015 at 11:50 AM
facebook X logo linkedin


The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) has fluttered above and below breakeven today, but is currently sitting on a gain -- despite intense pressure from a pair of energy names and mostly downbeat data. Specifically, blue chips Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) and Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) are selling off on dreary earnings numbers, while crude has tanked below $48 per barrel. Meanwhile, consumer sentiment slipped and the employment cost index posted its smallest gain on record, while the Chicago purchasing managers index (PMI) topped expectations.

 

Continue reading for more on today's market -- and don't miss:

 

  • Schaeffer's contributor Adam Warner breaks down the good, the bad, and the ugly on Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR).
  • M&A rumors have this beverage stock flirting with highs, while earnings season has claimed its latest social media victim.
  • Plus ... Checking in on the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), and other noteworthy stats at midday.

 

150731mmc

 

Among the stocks with notable call volume is touchscreen expert Synaptics, Incorporated (NASDAQ:SYNA), with the contracts running at five times the expected intraday clip. The shares plunged 7.7% out of the gate on disappointing earnings and guidance -- as well as a number of price-target reductions -- but was last seen just 1.4% lower at $78.13. SYNA's most active strike is the August 80 call, where a block of 2,000 contracts was apparently sold earlier.

 

One of the top gainers on the Nasdaq is Medivation Inc (NASDAQ:MDVN), up 10.8% at $107.45 -- and back in positive year-to-date territory. The drugmaker's shares are getting a lift from news of a 2-for-1 stock split.

 

150731mdvn

One of the leading losers on the Big Board is Ocwen Financial Corp (NYSE:OCN), thanks to downbeat quarterly results. The mortgage lender was last seen 22.3% lower at $9.14, and has lost over 39% in 2015 -- in no small part due to OCN's early 2015 legal wranglings.

 

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is off 0.3 point, or 2.1%, at 11.87.

 

Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.89, with puts almost doubling calls. At last check, the SPY is up 0.5 point, or 0.2%, at $211.30.

 

 
 

You have the chance to join one of Bernie's most exclusive programs, complete access at HUGE savings!

As we prepare for a new administration to take the reins in Washington, the near-term market landscape is rife with uncertainty.

The Federal Reserve has already hinted at the turbulence ahead, lowering its interest rate outlook for 2025.

Meanwhile, breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and other transformative sectors have unlocked incredible profit potential.

But these opportunities are fleeting, and timing is everything. That's where Quick-Hit Trader comes in.

Quick-Hit Trader is designed for precision and speed, getting you in and out of the market in a flash. While other investors scramble to navigate volatile conditions, you'll have access to expertly curated trades that leverage these rapid shifts to deliver explosive profits in short order.

This is your chance to capitalize on the fast-moving market like never before. Are you ready to make your move?