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Perspectives and insights
What's the word on the markets? Get insights from E*TRADE investment strategists.
04/18/19
The US trade deficit narrowed 3.4% in February. Trade deficits get a bad rap, but history shows that a shrinking trade gap isn't all it's cracked up to be.
04/12/19
A long roster of US IPOs scheduled for 2019 could raise more than $100 billion. How can investors participate in offerings that are often oversubscribed and difficult to access?
04/11/19
Brexit was sold as an escape from the bureaucratic clutches of the EU. But it could also mean fewer jobs and a decline in stature for the UK. So far it's been one big headache.
04/01/19
Large-cap stocks led the markets higher in March, capping off a stellar first quarter for equities. But an inverted yield curve could hint at trouble ahead.
03/29/19
Studies have pointed to a significant gender gap when it comes to investing. Four experts share their insight on get more women into the markets.
03/20/19
After raising interest rates nine times since 2015, the Fed has put the brakes on monetary tightening. The central bank's next move may hinge on economic growth prospects.
03/08/19
Female portfolio managers are a small but growing presence on the Street. Studies suggest women-run funds return as much—and in some cases, more—than those run by men.
03/01/19
The markets continued to gain steam in February, with gains across every economic sector But headline risks remain.
07/27/18
Passive strategies are reshaping an investment environment traditionally dominated by actively managed funds. But active management can still play an important role.
02/22/19
Tax season is here. But some taxpayers aren't getting the refunds they expected. What gives? And what should they do with those smaller checks?
02/15/19
Consumer confidence fell for the third consecutive month in January. Was it just a case of the jitters, or is something more significant at play?
02/08/19
The Federal Reserve has signaled a temporary break in its campaign of monetary tightening. While it's unclear how long this will last, past pauses have not always been kind to the markets.
02/01/19
Stocks staged a remarkable turnaround in January, with gains covering every sector and equity asset class. What changed from last month?
01/25/19
Fourth-quarter earnings season is here. While it's tempting to focus on the past quarter's results, it's guidance for the coming year that can often move stock prices.
01/18/19
The latest government shutdown has become the longest on record. Investors could feel the sting if the political standoff disrupts the economy.
01/02/19
December's market volatility made for a fitting end to the roller coaster ride of 2018. What might 2019 hold in store?
12/19/18
Despite trade tensions and a softening housing market, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a target range of 2.25–2.50%—the fourth rate hike of 2018.
12/12/18
2018 was marked trade wars, volatility, and shifting political winds. What might the new year hold in store for investors?
12/07/18
Stocks sold off again on trade concerns, but bonds have rallied of late, and markets are still above their lows for the year.
12/03/18
Despite a wave of market volatility that briefly erased the year's gains, stocks finished higher in November as investors weighed headline risks and strong economic fundamentals.
11/30/18
After cresting new heights in October, oil prices have fallen dramatically in the wake of rising inventories and economic uncertainty.
11/21/18
The holiday shopping season is critically important to most retailers, but a changing retail landscape is forcing brands to come up with innovative strategies to reach customers.
11/16/18
After a remarkable run, the US housing market is showing signs of weakness. That's a concern given housing's impact on the broader economy.
11/09/18
November's midterm elections resulted in divided government. How might that affect investors?
11/01/18
After climbing to record highs in September, stocks gave ground in October as the equity markets came within range of a correction.
10/26/18
While the weeks leading up to midterm elections have traditionally been volatile, history tells a different story after the midterms.
10/25/18
As market volatility increases, investors appear to be favoring defensive sectors and companies with strong fundamentals.
10/23/18
Market volatility can be unnerving, but a long-term investment approach can help ease concerns about recent turbulence.
10/19/18
October is known as a volatile month in the financial markets. So far in 2018, the reputation is well earned.
10/12/18
Known as one of the most volatile months of the year, October has witnessed some of history’s most spectacular stock market crashes, but has also seen impressive gains.
10/01/18
The markets were generally flat in September, with large-cap stocks outperforming smaller-company shares. Despite an eventful month, things ended up pretty much where they started.
06/28/18
The current economic expansion is the second-longest in US history. When will it peak? Leading indicators signal that we could be approaching a late-growth stage of the current business cycle.
06/22/18
The Trump administration is threatening punitive tariffs of up to $200 billion on Chinese imports, while criticizing the trading practices of America's closest allies. We examine the arguments for and against protectionist trade policy.
06/07/18
Interest rates continue their upward march. Fortunately, there are a number of ways investors can position their portfolios for rising rates, from floating rate bonds to sector-focused equity strategies.
Most Recent
04/26/19
Don’t go away: The fifth month of the year may not signal what you think it does—and the same goes for the January–April rally.
04/25/19
Traders may want to keep an eye on the Russell 2000 for signals about the broad market’s intentions.
04/24/19
The S&P 500 closed at a new record high yesterday, and traders loaded up on energy stock options.
04/23/19
“Medicare for All” had the health care sector reaching for the oxygen tank last week, but are its vital signals stabilizing?
04/22/19
The tech index sets news record as earnings season heats up.
04/18/19
After an initial earnings-season rally in financials, another industry takes center stage.
04/17/19
Greatest Hits: Past targets of the “Amazon effect” have sometimes ended up singing a bullish tune.
04/16/19
In or out? What yesterday’s options activity said about WTR.
04/15/19
Stocks continued to edge toward records as initial Q1 earnings topped estimates.
04/12/19
Waste management stock gets taken to curb, bounces back.
04/11/19
Yelp makes a noise: Options volatility implies possibility of big move.
04/10/19
Traders pile into call options in a range-bound internet stock.
04/08/19
Trade talk, jobs report helped boost stocks as earnings season approaches
04/05/19
Public spending has expanded, and construction materials stocks may be reaping the rewards.
04/04/19
An oil stock diverges from crude, while a social media titan makes a break for it.
04/03/19
With a little more than two weeks until expiration, someone makes a big options bet in a stock testing highs.
04/02/19
Q1 earnings season may have traders talking more about stocks with a certain trait.
03/28/19
The yield curve flipped, and the S&P 500 is having one of its best Q1s ever. What’s next for traders?
03/27/19
Sector gets wired Communications equipment stocks may not be sexy, but their returns sure have been lately.
03/26/19
High put-call ratio and intraday rally present interesting scenario for short-term traders.
03/25/19
A Friday yield-curve inversion takes some of the starch out of a Fed-fueled rally.
03/22/19
Wednesday’s Fed announcement hit bank shares but sent homebuilders soaring.
03/21/19
A volume surge isn’t necessarily what it first appears to be, but that doesn’t mean there’s no trade opportunity.
03/19/19
Trading when vs. trading why Timing isn’t everything—unless you’re a short-term trader.
03/18/19
Tech stocks boom as market erases pullback with biggest up week of the year.
03/15/19
The chart seems to say one thing, but the price history suggests something else.
03/14/19
Looking for discrepancies between price action and options volatility can sometimes tip you off to stocks that could move.
03/13/19
…in all the appropriate places. After pulling back for the past month, will Match Group find traders are ready to “swipe right?”
03/12/19
Airline stocks lose altitude on Boeing downturn, but is it just minor turbulence?
03/08/19
Stock, options provide different angles of approach to a potential trade opportunity.
03/07/19
Strong quarterly numbers from Target and other stores have contradicted recent retail sales data.
03/06/19
Can a stock known for its investment credentials also be a momentum pick for traders?
03/04/19
After a booming February, the market kicks of a new month near its late-2018 highs.
03/01/19
March may not be a particularly memorable month, but it kicks off an important period for the market
02/28/19
After laying low for a while, the tech sector shows signs of reasserting itself.
02/25/19
But stocks grind out another weekly gain as February draws to a close.
02/22/19
Important resistance levels loom for US stock indexes as trade negotiations near deadline.
02/21/19
Options activity surges in animal pharma stock as its price chart consolidates.
02/20/19
Communications services stock shows upside momentum as sector attempts to rotate out of the cellar.
02/19/19
Stocks kept climbing amid trade negotiations, border wall politics, and shutdown worries.
02/14/19
Oil shares have been on the vanguard of the stock market rebound, rotating from worst to (almost) first.
02/13/19
Latest round of trade talks shines light on commodity futures in limbo, and China-sensitive stock sectors.
02/12/19
A biopharma stock’s mega-surge triggers more action as traders sort out the aftermath.
02/08/19
A low-profile stock trounces some high-profile competition to become an unlikely momentum name.
02/07/19
Smart money and Chinese stocks Are IQ and other Chinese tech titans finally on the march?
02/05/19
Discount retailer’s options may have recently moved into an attractive selling zone.
02/04/19
Stocks breakout of a short-term consolidation phase as February gets underway.
01/29/19
This week’s US-China trade talks may or may not produce a meaningful deal, but they’ll almost certainly trigger some market action.
01/28/19
The stock market took a breather before heading into what looks to be an action-packed week.
01/25/19
Defense and aerospace stocks will put their early 2019 win streak on the line with next week’s earnings.
01/24/19
Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, but it may shed some light on the market’s current pullback.
01/23/19
Even after the recent run-up, traders may be eyeing potential action in banking stocks.
01/17/19
Markets are a puzzle, and one missing piece can change the whole picture.
01/16/19
After a rough December, railroad stocks have recently made some industrial-strength up moves.
01/15/19
Did sellers over-imbibe after STZ’s earnings announcement last week?
01/11/19
Power on: Semiconductors have paced the tech sector in recent days.
01/10/19
The Russell 2000’s hot start to the year is nothing new—but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it.
01/09/19
An oil stock puts up interesting options numbers as crude reaches resistance.
01/08/19
With earnings approaching, health insurer consolidates after big move.
01/07/19
Market picks up where it left off Stocks rocked and rolled to start off 2019, but ultimately notched a gain for the week.
01/03/19
Was there some hidden bullishness in yesterday’s early stock market selling?
01/02/19
The market will likely be watching quarterly numbers closer than ever.
12/31/18
Chances are we’re not done with tariffs and trade tensions—and a stock market that reacts to them.
12/27/18
Watch for surprises: The central bank’s stance on interest rates may be in flux.
12/26/18
2018 has defied expectations, but if one market pattern doesn’t pan out in 2019, it will be its first failure in more than 50 years.
12/24/18
Crude oil is always in play, but traders may also want to keep an eye on grain futures.
12/21/18
What has the stock market really tended to do around the end of the year?
12/20/18
It hasn’t roared to the upside, but it hasn’t fallen, either—and that could be important.
12/18/18
Yesterday may have hinted at potential short-term price direction, but perhaps not the way you’d expect.
12/17/18
The US market wobbled near recent lows as border-wall squabbles, economic slowdown fears, and trade uncertainty weighed on stocks.
12/14/18
Short-selling the stock market isn’t about flipping long-side trading strategies upside down.
12/12/18
New options positions increase in a stock as it tests an important low.
12/11/18
The stock-market fear gauge may be poised to deliver a message about the market.
12/07/18
Visa put options prices and stock price action were at an interesting crossroads yesterday.
12/06/18
If the trade-war ceasefire is real, certain stocks may be particularly well-positioned to bounce back from Tuesday’s losses.
12/05/18
Britain’s currency and stock market hover near lows as the Brexit vote draws near.
12/04/18
Traders need to be wary of chasing moves driven by macro stories.
11/30/18
What the analysts say about Fed policy is one thing, what the market says about it is another.
11/29/18
One stock has shown that dip-buying isn’t necessarily extinct, and the Fed Chairman jumpstarts housing stocks.
11/27/18
Will this consumer staples name continue to bring the heat, or revert to more vanilla price action?
11/26/18
It’s a trader’s market: Price swings probe technical levels and test investor psyches.
11/20/18
The stock market sometimes takes an interesting trot around the Thanksgiving market holiday.
11/19/18
It’s a trader’s market: Price swings probe technical levels and test investor psyches.
11/16/18
Negotiations flirt with disaster as British pound, stocks flirt with key support levels.
11/15/18
Short-term pattern my allow traders to sidestep bigger-picture dynamics.
11/14/18
Energy stocks bear watching as crude searches for a bottom.
11/13/18
What do you get when you mix contrarian options sentiment, positive price action, and large trader positioning?
11/09/18
Everyone’s favorite high fliers are at very different altitudes coming out of the October tech rout.
11/06/18
Voters will cast their ballots for Congress today, while traders will cast their ballots on the outcome.
11/02/18
This isn’t failing: New York Times stock breaks out on earnings.
11/01/18
“Risk-on” sector rotation accompanied bullish technical signals in yesterday’s trading.
10/29/18
S&P 500 slips into correction territory, in the red for the year after volatile week.
10/26/18
If the market breaks Wednesday’s low, which downside target may be in the S&P 500’s sights?
10/22/18
Broad market breaks weekly losing streak, but small caps and tech drop again.
10/17/18
High-flying cloud communications stock tests pullback lows with dramatic rebound.
10/15/18
A familiar tune as stocks dive mid-week before stabilizing on Friday.
10/12/18
AT&T turns the tables on a FAANG, but a familiar dynamic could play out.
10/11/18
Rotation into defensive sector could unwind with broad-market rebound.
10/10/18
The volatility index’s first significant bump in a couple of months has market tongues wagging.
10/09/18
In a constantly rotating market, the health care sector—especially pharma—has held the bullish center.
10/08/18
Some record highs, but small-cap slide led market lower last week.
10/05/18
The Russell-Dow relationship suggest small-caps may be approaching an inflection point.
10/01/18
S&P posts September gain despite last week’s pullback.