The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

Markets are having trouble making up their minds which way to go this morning. It's a data-packed week though a short trading one. Powell is speaking in Europe tomorrow. The minutes of the last Fed meeting - the one with the dot plot indicating one rate cut this year - is due on Wednesday. As is the U.S. Trade Deficit. Thursday - Happy 4th! Markets are closed. And then on Friday, the always heavily-anticipated Jobs report is due. No summer doldrums here.

Stocks are up at midday trading on Monday following a volatile week. The 10-year Treasury yields are the highest since November on the heels of strong retail sales data. U.S. retail sales were above expectations, rising 0.7% in March. This follows an upwardly revised 0.9% increase in February. Sales excluding automobiles were up 1.1%, and excluding gasoline were up 0.6%. Among the advancing sales categories were gasoline stations (+2.1%), general merchandise (+1.1%) and building material & garden stores (+0.7%). Among the declining sales categories were sporting goods, hobby, music & bookstores (-1.8%), clothing (-1.6%) and electronic & appliances (-1.2%).The Dow was up 0.5%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.4% and the Nasdaq rose 0.1%. Crude oil is trading near above $84 per barrel and gold fell $6 to $2368 per ounce.

Stocks are up at midday trading on Monday following a volatile week. The 10-year Treasury yields are the highest since November on the heels of strong retail sales data. U.S. retail sales were above expectations, rising 0.7% in March. This follows an upwardly revised 0.9% increase in February. Sales excluding automobiles were up 1.1%, and excluding gasoline were up 0.6%. Among the advancing sales categories were gasoline stations (+2.1%), general merchandise (+1.1%) and building material & garden stores (+0.7%). Among the declining sales categories were sporting goods, hobby, music & bookstores (-1.8%), clothing (-1.6%) and electronic & appliances (-1.2%).The Dow was up 0.5%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.4% and the Nasdaq rose 0.1%. Crude oil is trading near above $84 per barrel and gold fell $6 to $2368 per ounce.

10 Investment Themes for 2024

It's all about the Fed this week, with a rate decision coming off fresh inflation data that showed an uptick in prices for the second month in a row. As well, the automakers strike is underway and a few more earnings reports will trickle in. Last week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the week higher by 0.1%, the S&P 500 lost 0.2%, and the Nasdaq shed 0.4%. Year-to-date, all the major indices are still higher, with the DJIA up 4%, the S&P 16%, and the Nasdaq 31%.

Stocks gave up early gains on Monday morning, led by declines in the Communication Services and Healthcare sectors, as investors awaited new data on inflation, consumer confidence, and GDP growth later in the week. On the earnings front, Carnival shares fell 11% after the cruise operator posted a narrower-than-expected fiscal 2Q loss but offered disappointing EPS guidance for the current quarter. The Dow, the S&P, and the Nasdaq were all down about 0.2%. Crude oil traded near $69 per barrel while gold rose $6 to $1936 per ounce.

Monday Tee Up: Short Week Features the Jobs Report

Stocks rose on Friday morning, paring early losses after new data showed further signs of moderating inflation. The Commerce Department reported that its personal consumption expenditures price index rose 5.5% from the prior year in November, slowing from 6.1% growth in October and in line with the consensus estimate. The core PCE, excluding food and energy costs, rose 4.7% on a year-over-year basis, down from a prior reading of 5.0%. The Dow rose 0.4%, the S&P 0.5%, and the Nasdaq 0.3%. Crude oil rose more than 3% to $80 per barrel, while gold rose $11 to $1806 per ounce.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The only thing falling faster than stocks prices of late may be the sell/buy ratios from Vickers Stock Research. When stocks head south, it is, of course, a bad thing. But when the ratios from Vickers drop, good things often follow. Insiders typically sell shares 2.0- to 2.5-times more often than they buy shares. As such, the neutral range for the sell/buy ratios is 2.00 to 2.50; above 2.50 is bearish territory; and below 2.00 is bullish land. Ratios below 1.00 represent rarified territory, as they occur only when insiders are buying shares more often than they are selling. And that is where things are headed this week.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

We Look for a Return to GDP Growth in 2Q

We Look for a Return to GDP Growth in 2Q

The first quarter of 2022 continues to get uglier, with most of the major indices closing at new corrective lows. The S&P 500 surrendered 3% on Monday, the Nasdaq gave up 3.6%, the QQQs plunged 3.7%, the S&P 400 got whacked for 3.8%, and the Russell 2000 (IWM) lost 2.4%. The only index that did not close at a new corrective low was IWM and none of the indices made intraday lows. The '500' is off 11.9% for 2022, the Nasdaq and the QQQs have given up 18%, MDY is down 11%, and IWM is off 13%.

Stocks recouped some of Friday's losses on Monday morning amid continued uncertainty about the impact of the new Omicron variant, including its ability to evade vaccines and force a new round of lockdowns. Moderna shares rose 9%, adding to a more than 20% gain on Friday, after the company said that it could develop a booster shot adapted to the new variant by early 2022. The Dow rose 0.1%, the S&P 0.8%, and the Nasdaq 1.1%. Crude oil rose nearly 4% to $71 per barrel, while gold traded near $1785 per ounce.

Small- and mid-cap stocks (SMID stocks) soared in 2019. They have underperformed large-caps over the past 12 months, but still may be in a better position to generate market-beating returns going forward. For one thing, SMID companies tend to focus on domestic markets, so their businesses could be poised to rebound more quickly once COVID-19 vaccines are more widely distributed and the domestic service economy recovers. As well, the prices of SMID stocks generally are lower than the prices of large-caps. That said, SMID stocks can be risky. Still, despite the risks, diversified investors look to have exposure to small- and mid-caps based on the long-term performance record. Investors used to use a $2 billion market-cap threshold to define a small-cap stock and a $10 billion threshold for a mid-cap. The Russell 2000 index now includes numerous companies with market capitalizations above $15 billion. For our purposes, we use a threshold of $20 billion to define a SMID stock.

Stocks edged lower on Thursday morning after comments from two Fed regional presidents suggested that the central bank could begin tapering bond purchases well before the end of the year. Markets were also rattled by reports of two explosions near the Kabul airport as the U.S. and other Western nations prepared to wind down their evacuation efforts. On the employment front, the Labor Department said that first-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose to 353,000 for the week ended August 21, up from 349,000 a week earlier and above the consensus forecast of 350,000. The Dow fell 0.1%, the S&P 0.3%, and the Nasdaq 0.3%. Crude oil fell 1% to $68 per barrel, while gold traded near $1797 per ounce.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

Stocks finished mostly higher on Thursday, but gave up most of their early gains in afternoon trading. On the employment front, first-time jobless claims fell to a new pandemic era low of 406,000, down from the prior week and below consensus. Continuing claims also fell to 3.642 million, down from 3.738 million a week earlier and below the consensus forecast of 3.68 million. Housing data disappointed. The National Association of Realtors said that its pending home sales index fell 4.4% in April to 106.2. The reading reflected the low inventory of homes available for sale and came in below the Reuters consensus forecast, which called for growth of 0.8%. The Dow rose 0.41%, the S&P rose 0.12%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.01%. Crude oil fell nearly 1% to $67 per barrel, while gold fell $3 to $1901 per ounce.

Recent insider sentiment has trended for the better one week and for the worse the next. In our weekly review of insider-transaction data from Vickers' Stock Research this week, there is improvement. Vickers' benchmark NYSE/ASE One-Week Sell/Buy Ratio is now 5.18, better by 147 basis points (bps) since last week -- but nowhere near the 2.50 reading that would move the indicator to neutral from the current bearish result. The NYSE/ASE Eight-Week reading is now 5.73, better by 17 bps since last week. Adding insider transactions from the Nasdaq, Vickers' Total One-Week Sell/Buy Ratio is now 5.62, an improvement of 85 bps, and the Total Eight-Week Sell/Buy Ratio is 6.23, better by 25 bps. Looking at sales and purchase transaction volume, we note that the total number of sales transactions that met the criteria for inclusion in Vickers' Weekly Insider Report this week is down by 6% since last week. The total number of purchase transactions is up by 8%. NYSE sales transactions are down 14% and purchase transactions are up by 4%. Nasdaq sales transactions are down 1% and purchase transactions are up 5%.

Blue Chips finished the 2/26/2021 week with more selling, although the hardest-hit part of the market (Nasdaq growth stocks) staged a feeble rebound on Friday. The market is not in freefall, but the S&P 500 is down 3.2% from its all-time high of 3,935 reached on 2/12/21. Pullbacks and corrections are commonplace, but this one feels different because of the trend in long rates. Still, investors always say 'this one feels different' until it's forgotten in the next pullback.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The first day of trading in December reversed some of the selling on November's last day, returning major indices to levels at or near all-time highs. When indices are making new highs, it stands to reason that many stocks are also at or near all-time-high levels. Yet that's not an ironclad guarantee.

Stocks were mixed on Wednesday morning after reaching record levels on Tuesday. On the employment front, first-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose to 778,000 for the week ended November 21, up from 748,000 a week earlier and above the Bloomberg consensus forecast of 730,000. Core capital goods orders excluding aircraft rose 0.7% in October, down from 1.9% in September but above the consensus forecast of 0.5% growth. The Dow fell 0.6%, the S&P fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.1%. Crude oil traded near $45 per barrel, while gold rose $5 to $1809 per ounce.

Stocks finished down on Thursday following the Federal Reserve's comments that the economic recovery will likely be slower than anticipated. Fed Chairman Powell said that even though the labor market is improving, it is still far from 'maximum employment.' First-time unemployment claims of 860,000 were down from last week but still remain high. Continuing claims were 12.6 million, compared to 1.7 million a year ago. The Commerce Department reported that new housing starts for the month of August were an annualized 1.416 million units, 5.1% below the revised July estimate of 1.492 million units. The Dow fell 0.47%, the S&P 0.84%, and the Nasdaq 1.27%. Crude oil rose to $40.99 per barrel, while gold dropped to $1952.40 per ounce.

Stocks finished down on Thursday following the Federal Reserve's comments that the economic recovery will likely be slower than anticipated. Fed Chairman Powell said that even though the labor market is improving, it is still far from 'maximum employment.' First-time unemployment claims of 860,000 were down from last week but still remain high. Continuing claims were 12.6 million, compared to 1.7 million a year ago. The Commerce Department reported that new housing starts for the month of August were an annualized 1.416 million units, 5.1% below the revised July estimate of 1.492 million units. The Dow fell 0.47%, the S&P 0.84%, and the Nasdaq 1.27%. Crude oil rose to $40.99 per barrel, while gold dropped to $1952.40 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Friday morning amid continued U.S.-China tensions over Hong Kong and weak consumer spending data. The Commerce Department said that consumer spending fell 13.6% in April, nearly double the 6.9% drop in March and more than the Reuters consensus forecast, which called for a decline of 12.6%. The Dow fell 0.7%, the S&P fell 0.4%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.2%. Crude oil fell slightly to $33.50 per barrel, while gold rose $23 to $1751 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Friday morning amid continued U.S.-China tensions over Hong Kong and weak consumer spending data. The Commerce Department said that consumer spending fell 13.6% in April, nearly double the 6.9% drop in March and more than the Reuters consensus forecast, which called for a decline of 12.6%. The Dow fell 0.7%, the S&P fell 0.4%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.2%. Crude oil fell slightly to $33.50 per barrel, while gold rose $23 to $1751 per ounce.

Stocks remain on a wild ride that mostly goes down. Yet something else is happening: exceedingly bullish insider sentiment in the midst of broader market pain.

Stocks remain on a wild ride that mostly goes down. Yet something else is happening: exceedingly bullish insider sentiment in the midst of broader market pain.

Stocks rose on Thursday amid continued trade optimism, as the U.S. and China prepared to sign a phase 1 trade agreement on January 15. China also took steps to boost economic growth by again lowering the required level of cash reserves for banks. On the employment front, the Labor Department said that first-time unemployment benefit claims fell by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 222,000 for the week ended December 28, slightly below the Reuters consensus forecast. The Dow rose 1.16%, the S&P 0.84%, and the Nasdaq 1.33%. Crude oil rose slightly to about $61 per barrel, while gold rose $8 to $1531 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Thursday amid continued trade optimism, as the U.S. and China prepared to sign a phase 1 trade agreement on January 15. China also took steps to boost economic growth by again lowering the required level of cash reserves for banks. On the employment front, the Labor Department said that first-time unemployment benefit claims fell by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 222,000 for the week ended December 28, slightly below the Reuters consensus forecast. The Dow rose 1.16%, the S&P 0.84%, and the Nasdaq 1.33%. Crude oil rose slightly to about $61 per barrel, while gold rose $8 to $1531 per ounce.

Stocks finished down on Thursday following the Federal Reserve's comments that the economic recovery will likely be slower than anticipated. Fed Chairman Powell said that even though the labor market is improving, it is still far from 'maximum employment.' First-time unemployment claims of 860,000 were down from last week but still remain high. Continuing claims were 12.6 million, compared to 1.7 million a year ago. The Commerce Department reported that new housing starts for the month of August were an annualized 1.416 million units, 5.1% below the revised July estimate of 1.492 million units. The Dow fell 0.47%, the S&P 0.84%, and the Nasdaq 1.27%. Crude oil rose to $40.99 per barrel, while gold dropped to $1952.40 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Friday morning amid continued U.S.-China tensions over Hong Kong and weak consumer spending data. The Commerce Department said that consumer spending fell 13.6% in April, nearly double the 6.9% drop in March and more than the Reuters consensus forecast, which called for a decline of 12.6%. The Dow fell 0.7%, the S&P fell 0.4%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.2%. Crude oil fell slightly to $33.50 per barrel, while gold rose $23 to $1751 per ounce.

Stocks remain on a wild ride that mostly goes down. Yet something else is happening: exceedingly bullish insider sentiment in the midst of broader market pain.

Stocks rose on Thursday amid continued trade optimism, as the U.S. and China prepared to sign a phase 1 trade agreement on January 15. China also took steps to boost economic growth by again lowering the required level of cash reserves for banks. On the employment front, the Labor Department said that first-time unemployment benefit claims fell by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 222,000 for the week ended December 28, slightly below the Reuters consensus forecast. The Dow rose 1.16%, the S&P 0.84%, and the Nasdaq 1.33%. Crude oil rose slightly to about $61 per barrel, while gold rose $8 to $1531 per ounce.

Stocks gave up early gains on Tuesday morning as investors weighed prospects for renewed trade talks between the U.S. and China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated that it had not heard of any recent phone calls between the two sides, but said that it hoped the U.S. would create conditions for talks to resume. In M&A news, Altria and Philip Morris International confirmed that they were discussing the re-merger of their operations in an all-stock deal. The Dow and the S&P were flat, while the Nasdaq fell 0.1%. Crude oil traded near $54 per barrel, while gold rose $15 to $1552 per ounce.

Stocks gave up early gains on Tuesday morning as investors weighed prospects for renewed trade talks between the U.S. and China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated that it had not heard of any recent phone calls between the two sides, but said that it hoped the U.S. would create conditions for talks to resume. In M&A news, Altria and Philip Morris International confirmed that they were discussing the re-merger of their operations in an all-stock deal. The Dow and the S&P were flat, while the Nasdaq fell 0.1%. Crude oil traded near $54 per barrel, while gold rose $15 to $1552 per ounce.

The Coppock Curve is a momentum indicator first introduced in Barron's in 1965 by its developer, Edwin Coppock. The original goal of the indicator was to identify longer-term buying opportunities in the S&P 500 and Dow Industrials.

The Coppock Curve is a momentum indicator first introduced in Barron's in 1965 by its developer, Edwin Coppock. The original goal of the indicator was to identify longer-term buying opportunities in the S&P 500 and Dow Industrials.

Stocks edged higher on Monday morning on reports that the U.S. and China were close to reaching a trade deal that would roll back most U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods as well as China's own retaliatory tariffs. On the negative side, U.S. construction data disappointed. The Commerce Department said that U.S. construction spending fell 0.6% in December, down from a 0.8% increase in November and below the Reuters consensus forecast, which called for growth of 0.2%. The Dow was flat, the S&P rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.3%. Crude oil rose $1 to about $57 per barrel, while gold fell $13 to $1286 per ounce.

Stocks edged higher on Monday morning on reports that the U.S. and China were close to reaching a trade deal that would roll back most U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods as well as China's own retaliatory tariffs. On the negative side, U.S. construction data disappointed. The Commerce Department said that U.S. construction spending fell 0.6% in December, down from a 0.8% increase in November and below the Reuters consensus forecast, which called for growth of 0.2%. The Dow was flat, the S&P rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.3%. Crude oil rose $1 to about $57 per barrel, while gold fell $13 to $1286 per ounce.

After a solid start in 2019, major stock indices are now sitting right under what could be a brick wall of resistance. Technically, we think the probability that the market rolls over in the not-too-distant future is pretty high, but that does not mean it's time to go short.

After a solid start in 2019, major stock indices are now sitting right under what could be a brick wall of resistance. Technically, we think the probability that the market rolls over in the not-too-distant future is pretty high, but that does not mean it's time to go short.

Equity markets gained on Wednesday, responding to double positives from the release of the Fed meeting minutes and a possible easing of trade tensions between the U.S. and China. The Fed minutes generally pointed toward stasis (i.e. no more interest-rate increases for now, which may be just what the markets were seeking). The Fed also brought its forecast number of rate increases in 2019 down to two from a previous estimate of three.

Equity markets gained on Wednesday, responding to double positives from the release of the Fed meeting minutes and a possible easing of trade tensions between the U.S. and China. The Fed minutes generally pointed toward stasis (i.e. no more interest-rate increases for now, which may be just what the markets were seeking). The Fed also brought its forecast number of rate increases in 2019 down to two from a previous estimate of three.

Stocks gave up early gains on Tuesday morning as investors weighed prospects for renewed trade talks between the U.S. and China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated that it had not heard of any recent phone calls between the two sides, but said that it hoped the U.S. would create conditions for talks to resume. In M&A news, Altria and Philip Morris International confirmed that they were discussing the re-merger of their operations in an all-stock deal. The Dow and the S&P were flat, while the Nasdaq fell 0.1%. Crude oil traded near $54 per barrel, while gold rose $15 to $1552 per ounce.

The Coppock Curve is a momentum indicator first introduced in Barron's in 1965 by its developer, Edwin Coppock. The original goal of the indicator was to identify longer-term buying opportunities in the S&P 500 and Dow Industrials.

Stocks edged higher on Monday morning on reports that the U.S. and China were close to reaching a trade deal that would roll back most U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods as well as China's own retaliatory tariffs. On the negative side, U.S. construction data disappointed. The Commerce Department said that U.S. construction spending fell 0.6% in December, down from a 0.8% increase in November and below the Reuters consensus forecast, which called for growth of 0.2%. The Dow was flat, the S&P rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.3%. Crude oil rose $1 to about $57 per barrel, while gold fell $13 to $1286 per ounce.

Still-Strong Trends as Corporate, Investor Confidence Wanes

Still-Strong Trends as Corporate, Investor Confidence Wanes

Still-Strong Trends as Corporate, Investor Confidence Wanes