2020 continues to be a year for the record books. I’ve heard the comment “I’ve never seen this happen before” more times over the last month than I have the previous five years. And it doesn’t seem like things will normalize anytime soon. The most recent unbelievable incident to hit the financial markets is the […]
Options
What Do Bank Earnings Say About the Recession?
The market has settled down to some extent after one of the most volatile months on record. However, the reprieve may be short-lived as we head into what is likely to be an interesting earnings period. We all know that most companies are suffering due to the pandemic; the question is, just how much damage […]
How To Generate Income While Owning Stocks
Although the market has been extremely volatile, it doesn’t mean investors are only looking at directional trades in which they try to make money on big market moves. There are plenty who are still want to generate a regular income from their investments. Of course, dividend stocks are the primary form of income generation through […]
Trade of the Week: Zoom
It probably comes as no surprise, but there has been heavy options activity in Zoom Video Communications (ZM). The popular video communication platform has seen its usage skyrocket as people are forced to work from home. Everyone from school teachers to business executives are using ZM extensively for online meetings, lectures, and discussions. Traders seem […]
Is This Volatility Trade Crazy Or Brilliant?
As the reality of COVID-19 sets in, many nations around the globe are digging in for a prolonged battle against the virus. Of course, this isn’t a traditional fight: it involves quarantines, social distancing, and significant disruptions to our usual way of life. Even as many companies and schools temporarily close, it’s been business as […]
Trade of the Week: Crude Oil
One of the secondary reasons for the market crash (after COVID-19) has been the extreme selloff in the price of oil. Crude oil has dropped to around $20 a barrel for the first time since 2002 due to a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. One popular method for trading crude oil is United […]
Is It Finally Time For Gold To Shine?
Investors are on the hunt for bargain stocks with Congress reaching a deal on a $2 trillion stimulus package to fight the economic damage done by COVID-19. For instance, on the day the stimulus package seemed likely to pass, the S&P 500 index shot up over 9%. That same day, gold futures soared, up nearly […]
Trade of the Week: Time to Get Bullish on The U.S. Dollar
With most asset classes getting pummeled this past week, investors are seeking the relative safety of the US dollar. One method to get bullish exposure to the dollar is through Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish ETF (UUP). UUP is a fund that is long the dollar versus a basket of other major currencies. Typically, […]
One Way To Trade Ultra-High Volatility
It’s not hyperbole to say that this is as crazy as the financial markets ever get. There may have been more shocking news items in 2008 (Lehman going bankrupt), but the huge daily swings we have seen in stocks and other asset classes are unprecedented. A market that has frequent, huge swings in prices is […]
Trade of the Week: Financial Sector Stocks
With stocks in a bear market and potentially more selling ahead, the Fed has cut interest rates to 0% and started a new $700 billion quantitative easing program. This could cause a substantial amount of volatility in the market, but especially in rate sensitive sectors like financials. In fact, a trader just bought a large […]