SchaeffersResearch.com Market Observations

The Dow industrials rallied today, despite mixed employment data

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:22:00 GMT

Following the Dow's finish Wednesday in official bear-market territory, stock futures were pointed south in early trading...(Read More)

Ahead of Penn National Gaming's (PENN) failed deal, option traders were increasingly optimistic

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Shares of Penn National Gaming (PENN: sentiment, chart, options) slipped to a new annual low today after the casino and racetrack company announced that its planned takeover by Fortress Investment Group and Centerbridge Partners has fallen through...(Read More)

Examining technical and sentiment indicators for 3M Company (MMM)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:25:00 GMT

3M Company (MMM: sentiment, chart, options) , is a diversified technology company operating in 6 segments: industrial and transportation; health care; display and graphics; consumer and office; safety, security, and protection services; and electro and communications...(Read More)

Brokers respond positively to Chesapeake Energy's (CHK) Haynesville shale-related deal

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Shares of Chesapeake Energy (CHK: sentiment, chart, options) hit a new all-time high yesterday after the company agreed to collaborate with Plains Exploration & Production (PXP) in developing a lucrative natural-gas deposit...(Read More)

Skeptics try to call a top to the rally in crude-oil prices, in defiance of market fundamentals

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:30:00 GMT

Prices for crude oil blazed 46% higher during the first half of 2008, and rose to their latest record high as recently as yesterday...(Read More)

A look at how using the cup and handle pattern could have given you an edge on EMC Corp. (EMC)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:21:00 GMT

In an effort to broaden your horizons a bit, I thought I would take a look at a particular pattern used by technical analysts to predict upside moves in stocks...(Read More)

Next week brings us earnings from Alcoa (AA), General Electric (GE), Ruby Tuesday (RT) and Material Sciences (MT)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:30:00 GMT

This is a weekly feature that provides you a peek at the major economic and earnings announcements for the week ahead.Economic Calendar for the Week of July 7:The economic calendar starts off the week on Tuesday, with the latest numbers on pending home sales and the consumer credit report...(Read More)

News from Alcoa (AA), Abbott Laboratories (ABT), L-3 Communications (LLL), and Merrill Lynch (MER)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:37:00 GMT

Today's headlines include upgrades for Alcoa (AA) and L-3 Communications (LLL), analyst earnings revisions on Merrill Lynch (MER), and FDA approval of a stent from Abbot Laboratories (ABT)...(Read More)

Nvidia (NVDA) is the subject of much analyst attention after slashing its revenue prediction

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:13:00 GMT

U.S. stock futures are slightly lower ahead of the opening bell, indicative of a potentially negative start to the regular session...(Read More)

Pressure from high oil prices and fear of tomorrow's jobs report push the market considerably lower

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:21:00 GMT

The morning kicked off with news from the Commerce Department, which reported that U.S. factories saw an increase in new orders during May...(Read More)

Massey Energy (MEE) proves to have bullish or no changes in all 4 of the charted categories

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:55:00 GMT

After writing Short Interest Report for more than a month now, I decided to check up on some of the stocks I covered in June...(Read More)

Examining technical and sentiment indicators for Patterson UTI Energy (PTEN)

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:30:00 GMT

Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN: sentiment, chart, options) is an onshore contract drilling services company that is engaged in the exploration and production of primarily oil and natural gas in North America...(Read More)

Examining the heavy option activity toward UnitedHealth (UNH) after it cuts its forecast and announces job cuts

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:02:00 GMT

Uni-formly Bad News?For the second time this year, UnitedHealth Group (UNH: sentiment, chart, options) has cut its earnings outlook, noting that it will pay out more than %24900 million to settle claims relating to allegations that it adjusted options awards...(Read More)

The market is unable to hold on to early gains as oil surges

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:50:00 GMT

I can hardly remember a declining day where the drop didn't have something to do with oil; today is no different...(Read More)

Today's pullback might be your best opportunity to buy into the coal company's rally

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:43:00 GMT

According to our quantitative analysis team, the price of Central Appalachian coal has increased by a staggering 182% during the past 52 weeks...(Read More)

Petrohawk Energy (HK) soars to new highs as brokers digest its stake in the Haynesville shale

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:15:00 GMT

Shares of natural-gas firm Petrohawk Energy (HK: sentiment, chart, options) rallied to another new high today, fueled in part by positive analyst commentary...(Read More)

Family Dollar's (FDO) recent rally has the stock poised to breach long-term resistance

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:15:00 GMT

Shares of discount retailer Family Dollar (FDO: sentiment, chart, options) skyrocketed out of the gate this morning, after the company reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings...(Read More)

BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. (BJ) rallies on upgrade and boosted earnings forecast

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:36:00 GMT

BJ's Wholesale Club has edged higher this morning following an upgraded at J.P...(Read More)

Even after a year-to-date surge, there's plenty of room for this natural-gas company to run higher

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:59:00 GMT

After I covered Fuel Systems (FSYS) in last week's column, many readers wrote in to share their own favorite stocks from the alternative-fuel sector...(Read More)

A look at short selling as a contrarian indicator

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:49:00 GMT

This week on the Casual Contrarian we are going to take a look one of the sentiment indicators that drives contrarian analysis for many of the stock reviews in the Casual Contrarian: short interest...(Read More)

News from Apollo Group (APOL), Continental Airlines (CAL), Huntsman (HUN), and Yahoo! (YHOO)

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:55:00 GMT

Today's headlines include earnings from Apollo Group (APOL), Continental Airlines (CAL) sees traffic drop, Huntsman (HUN) extends its merger accord, and the Yahoo! (YHOO)/Microsoft overtures begin ... again...(Read More)

Option traders favor puts on Diamond Offshore Drilling (DO)

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:52:00 GMT

According to Hoovers, Diamond Offshore Drilling (DO: sentiment, chart, options) is a contract offshore oil and gas driller capable of descending the deep blue to depths of 7,500 feet...(Read More)

Starbucks (SBUX) plans to close around 600 stores by the middle of next year

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:11:00 GMT

U.S. stock futures are higher ahead of the opening bell, indicative of a potentially positive start to the regular session...(Read More)

Stocks dropped in early action, but bounced back on a late-day boost from General Motors (GM)

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:27:00 GMT

The first half of 2008 proved brutal for stocks, and the second half of the year kicked off on a similarly uninspiring note, with more banking-sector woes out of Europe...(Read More)

Short interest on Allegheny Technologies (ATI) increased by more than 85 percent in the past 2 weeks

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:50:00 GMT

Continuing my series utilizing the filters on SchaeffersResearch.com, I'm checking out some struggling stocks with heavy short interest - coupled with excessive optimism on the Street - as these bearish bets can often place additional selling pressure on already-downtrending equities...(Read More)

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Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:41:00 GMT

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Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:41:00 GMT

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