StockCharts users can find the market movers and shakers by checking the SCTR tables on our home page. Click the top up or top down tabs to see securities that show the biggest gains or losses in relative strength. As the table below shows, the StockCharts Technical Ranks (SCTR) for... READ MORE
Stocks started the month overbought and traded flat the last few days. The major index ETFs were again mixed on Wednesday with the Equal-Weight S&P 500 ETF (RSP) edging higher and the S&P 500 SPDR (SPY) edging lower. The sectors were mixed with five up... READ MORE
The S&P 500 is up around over 4 percent the last four weeks, but Starbucks is underperforming and is barely positive over the same timeframe. In fact, SBUX is well below its July high and recently broke wedge support. The indicator window shows momentum deteriorating as MACD moves... READ MORE
It was a mixed day overall, but small-caps and regional banks showed some strength. DIA and SPY edged lower, while IWM and QQQ closely slightly higher. Five of the nine sectors were up with the Finance SPDR (XLF) leading the gainers. The Energy SPDR (XLE) got hammered as Spot... READ MORE
Stocks remain strong. Period. Even though IWM is underperforming SPY, it is trending higher the last four weeks and participating in the broad market advance. Note that QQQ continues to lead with a new high last week. SPY also hit a new high on Tuesday and Friday's close... READ MORE
Stocks stalled over the last few days, but the short-term uptrends have yet to reverse. In fact, the existing trends for TLT (up), UUP (up), USO (down) and GLD (down) also remain unchanged. SPY is up around 5% since August 7th. This is a very steep advance and the... READ MORE
The German DAX Index ($DAX) is at an interesting juncture because it broke down in July and then retraced 62% of the prior decline with a bounce in August. Notice that broken support turns into resistance in the 9600 area as well. The index stalled on Wednesday and was trading... READ MORE
Stocks turned mixed on Wednesday with fractional gains and losses in the major index ETFs. The sectors were also mixed, but the Utilities SPDR (XLU) caught a bid and surged 1.09%. Networking stocks weighed on the tech sector as the Networking iShares (IGN) fell .69%. Regional banks weighed on... READ MORE
Stocks edged higher again with the Russell 2000 iShares (IWM) leading the way, though the gain was just .65%. Eight of the nine sectors were higher with the Energy SPDR (XLE) and Finance SPDR (XLF) leading. The Utilities SPDR (XLU) was the lone loser. As the chart below shows, XLU... READ MORE
Stocks opened strong and then traded flat the rest of the day. The major index ETFs closed with small gains as the opening surge held. All nine sectors were higher with the Finance SPDR (XLF) and Energy SPDR (XLE) leading the way. Energy is getting an oversold bounce and money... READ MORE
Contrary to seasonal tendencies, August has been a strong month for the stock market. The Sector PerfChart shows the S&P 500 SPDR (SPY) up just over 3% since July 31st. Of the nine sectors, the Industrials SPDR (XLI) and the Consumer Discretionary SPDR (XLY) are up over 4%... READ MORE
Stocks put in another strong performance last week with the Dow Diamonds (DIA) and S&P MidCap SPDR (MDY) gaining over 2%. All sectors were up with the consumer discretionary, technology, finance and industrials sectors gaining over 2%. It is hard to argue with broad strength in the four... READ MORE
Stocks eked out some gains on Thursday to extend the run that started on August 8th. In particular, the Finance SPDR (XLF) led the way with a 1+ percent gain. Banks and brokers were also higher as the Regional Bank SPDR (KRE) advanced over 1%. Gold returned to its roots... READ MORE
The finance sector is showing strength as the annual conference in Jackson Hole gets under way. Fed Chair Janet Yellen will speak tomorrow and this could move Treasury yields and further affect the group. The image below comes from the Sector Carpet and shows the finance sector leading with a... READ MORE
There are six setups today. First, we start with a healthcare stock forming a triangle after an advance. Second, there is a tech stock with a high volume breakout. Third, we have a regional bank reversing just above a support zone. Fourth, there is an internet stock that did not... READ MORE
Stocks were mixed with the S&P 500 SPDR (SPY) edging higher and the Russell 2000 iShares (IWM) closing modestly lower. Relative weakness in small-caps is a small concern for two reasons. First, IWM represents a little less than 8% of total market cap for the US stock... READ MORE
The Point & Figure chart below, which is based on 10 points per box, shows the S&P 500 with successive upside breakouts in April, May and June. A key tenet of technical analysis is that broken resistance turns into support. The green support box, therefore, is based on... READ MORE
Stocks opened strong and remained strong on Tuesday. SPY and IWM are up almost four percent over the last eight days. QQQ is up 4.75% and leading the pack. The advance is getting a little extended for the short-term, but overbought is a sign of strength, not weakness.... READ MORE
Stocks opened strong and closed strong with small-caps leading the way. Eight of the nine sectors were higher with industrials and finance leading. The utilities sector lost ground. The Home Construction iShares (ITB) and the Retail SPDR (XRT) lifted the consumer discretionary sector. Strength in these two groups would... READ MORE
There are five setups today. First, we have a mining and oil concern with a correction underway. Second, we have an auto parts maker firming within a key retracement zone. Third, there is a shipping stock with a triangle breakout. Fourth, we feature a solar energy stock with a high... READ MORE
Delta Airlines (DAL) appears to be ending its two month correction with a surge back above the 50-day moving average. Notice how the stock successfully tested the 35 level twice and did not even test the rising 200-day. The recent move above the June trend line and 50-... READ MORE
If one follows the financial media, it seems as if Ukraine and Iraq are driving the markets these days. While these two regions are certainly a concern, I am not sure how much lasting influence they will have on the overall direction for US stocks. The German DAX Index ($DAX)... READ MORE
Gold broke out with a surge in early August, but stalled the last eight days and failed to follow through. Despite lack of follow through, the breakout is holding and has yet to be proven other wise. Let's see what it would take to prove this bullish signal... READ MORE
Stocks edged higher on Thursday with the major index ETFs scoring modest gains. The HealthCare SPDR (and the Utilities SPDR (XLU) led the sectors, while the Energy SPDR (XLE) lagged with a loss. Another break down in Spot Light Crude ($WTIC) weighed on the energy sector. The consumer discretionary sector... READ MORE
WuXi PharmaTech (WX) is a mid cap stock showing a big gain in its StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) on Thursday. Notice that the SCTR surged above 50 and to its highest level since May. On the price chart, the two lows in the 30.5 area form a possible double... READ MORE
Stocks advanced on Wednesday with a fairly broad-based rally. Volume was low, but volume is supposed to be low in mid August so I would not read too much into this indicator right now. In addition, exchange volume has not been that great of an indicator for signs of... READ MORE
There are five setups today. First, we have a biotech forming a triangle in an uptrend. Second, there is an auto retailer with a bearish wedge. Third, we have a biotech services company with a triangle breakout. Fourth, there is a steel stock showing signs of accumulation. And finally, we... READ MORE
Stocks surge from early Friday to early Monday and then corrected from Monday afternoon to Tuesday. A four day chart reveals a pattern similar to a 1-2 day surge followed by a 1-2 day falling flag. In other words, this week's pullback may just be a... READ MORE
There are five setups today. First, we have an investment manager with follow through to a big harami. Second, there is an airline making a breakout. Third, we feature a volatile online real estate stock with a bullish consolidation. Fourth, there is a truck part manufacturer with a gap and... READ MORE
Stocks followed up on Friday's gains with a strong open on Monday. There was not much follow through to this strong open, but the gains did hold for the most part. Short-term, I would say the cup is half full (bullish) until proven otherwise. A filling of... READ MORE
It has been a rough year for Boeing, but the stock may be poised for an oversold bounce. After a big plunge in January, the stock firmed for a few months and then worked its way higher in April-May. BA peaked in early June and fell back to support... READ MORE
I am going straight to the charts, but here is a summary. QQQ, IWM and SPY remain in downtrends. QQQ and SPY held the late July support breaks. IWM, however, is showing some relative strength over the past weeks and chartists should watch for a breakout. Treasuries continue to move... READ MORE
Chartists can search pre-defined scans to find out if their favorite stock or ETF triggered any scans. The chart below shows Lam Research (LRCX) triggering three bearish scans today. The Elder bar turned red, the stock moved below the lower Bollinger Band and the Commodity Channel Index (CCI) moved... READ MORE
There are four setups today. We start with a big software stock showing weakness near two key moving averages. Second, there is a consumer services stock with a bullish wedge. Third, we feature a tech stock breaking out with strong volume patterns. And finally, there is a social media stock... READ MORE
Stocks were mixed on Wednesday, but small-caps and micro-caps are starting to show some relative strength. The PerfChart below shows the performance for eight major index ETFs this week. IWM and IWC are up around 1% and leading the pack. MDY is the only other one showing a... READ MORE
The Gold Miners ETF (GDX) is reacting to strength in gold with a gap and 2+ percent surge. The chart below shows GDX forming a wedge above the 50 and 200 day moving averages. The ETF gapped up within this wedge and StochRSI surged above its July highs for a... READ MORE
There are no real changes in the trends so I just updated the charts. **This chart analysis is for educational purposes only, and should not be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell or sell-short said securities** ************************************************************** SPY remains in a short-term downtrend after the support break in... READ MORE
The pre-defined technical alerts page is a great place see the positive and negative events of the last few days. The image below shows a green (positive) alert for the Russell 2000 and a red (negative alert for the Materials SPDR (XLB). Prior to today, there were eleven negative... READ MORE
There are four setups today. We start with a volatile networking stock challenging a channel trend line. Next, there is a major airline testing support. Third, we are featuring an apparel retailer showing resilience near support. And finally, there is a semiconductor equipment stock with a bearish pennant. **This chart... READ MORE
Stocks rebounded on Monday with a broad advance that lifted most sectors and industry groups. The Materials SPDR and Energy SPDR led with 1+ percent gains. The Utilities SPDR lagged with a .54% loss. Of note, the Consumer Discretionary SPDR was the third strongest sector with a .97% gain. Strength... READ MORE