SPY Challenges 2011 Resistance with Big Week
With a string of positive economic reports lifting stocks this week, the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) closed higher for the fifth consecutive week. Friday was a big reporting day with Factory Orders showing strength, IWM Services indicating expansion and the employment rate coming down. These positive reports should not come as a surprise because stocks,...
Finance Shows Green in the Market Cap Market Carpet
As the Sector Market Carpet shows, the finance sector has the biggest average gain (2.4%) thus far on Friday. Technology is second with the average stock gaining 1.9% on the day. Notice that the boxes are different sizes because of mark......
How Can I Compare Performance using Intraday Charts?
Performance charts can be created with SharpCharts using "Performance" as the chart type and "Price Performance" as an indicator. For the first steps, enter a symbol, select the periods and then choose "Performance" under chart attributes/type. In the example below, I entered SPY and it will show in the main window. Second, go to "Chart...
Nordstrom Shows Relative Weakness as Bollinger Bands Narrow
The stock market rallied in January, but Nordstrom (JWN) traded flat and shows relative weakness. Even though the stock has yet to break down, volatility is narrowing as the Bollinger Bands contract. Notice that Bollinger Band width is at its lowest in over six months. Watch the range for the next direction clue. Click this...
CAT Powers the Dow Higher
According to the Wall Street Journal, "Caterpillar's 20% stock surge this month contributed nearly 34% of the Dow Jones Industrial Average's 415-point advance." As a price weighted "average" the highest priced issues in the Dow carry the most weight. This is also true for the Dow Transports and Dow Utilities. Click this chart for a...
Electronic Arts Bounces off Support with Bullish Engulfing
Electronic Art (ERTS) declined to the August low in mid January and then firmed the last two weeks. A bullish engulfing formed on Friday as the stock opened weak and closed...
Oracle Stalls at Key Retracement
Oracle (ORCL) surged back above 28 this month, but stalled the last few weeks as resistance came into play. First, notice that broken support turns resistance around 28.50. Second, the stock...
Spot Light Crude Forms Bull Wedge
Spot Light Crude ($WTIC) surged above 100 in the second half of December and then formed a falling wedge in January. A decline in oil is unusual because the Dollar is...
How can I plot the yield curve?
The yield curve is available at StockCharts.com with the Dynamic Yield Curve tool. This nifty Java application not only shows the current yield curve, but it can also be animated to show changes in the yield curve over time. Notice the options just below the yield curve plot. Click "animate" to see the yield curve...
Regional Bank SPDR Forms Big Bearish Engulfing
With stocks opening strong and then moving sharply lower, the intraday
bearish engulfing scan
...
Amex Airline Index Forges Quadruple Top Breakout on P&F Chart
The Amex Airline Index ($XAL) lagged the market throughout 2011, but may be poised to lead with a breakout in 2012. The P&F chart below is a classic three box reversal...
Quest Diagnostics Breaks Resistance with SCTR Surge
A look at the
StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR)
movers shows Quest Diagnostics with...
