Traders were greeted with some M&A buzz, tooStocks spent most of the week grinding to fresh highs, while investors monitored the first round of corporate earnings, headlined by the big banks. Of course, the real tailwind for equities came from the signing of the "phase one" U.S.-China trade deal, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) last seen pacing for a perfect week, set for a fifth strai...Read More

Bloomberg tweeted that the firm is weighing a potential sale Online education concern 2U Inc (NASDAQ:TWOU) is surging today, after a tweet from Bloomberg suggested that the firm was weighing a potential sale under pressure from activist investor Sachem Head Capital Management. The stock has added 7.3% to trade at $23.36, and the options pits are going wild in response. So far, 5,086 calls and 1,3...Read More

SE options are attractively priced at the momentOne of the hottest stocks in the last 12 months is Sea Ltd (NYSE:SE). The e-sports name has more than tripled year-over-year, culminating in a Jan. 7 record high of $41.80. But SE could just be getting started; the stock is currently flashing a historically bullish signal.More specifically, Sea's recent high comes amidhistorically low implied volat...Read More

InVitae's recent rally looks short-livedBiotech InVitae Corp (NYSE:NVTA) is down 2.3% this afternoon -- set to snap its three day win streak -- though the catalyst is unclear. Prior to today's drop, the equity was recovering from its early January lows near $15, but remains up 22% year-to-date. However, supported by today's drop, now might be the time to take a step back from NVTA, as data from Sc...Read More

The Dow and its peers are back near breakeven at middayThe Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), S&P 500 Index (SPX), and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) have all hit new highs today, though a big drop in job openings in Novemberhas pulled the major indexes back near breakeven on the day. In turn, the Dow's four-day win streak is in jeopardy -- though stocks' weekly gains appear firmly in place. Elsewher...Read More

TWTR has been attempting to recover from its fourth-quarter lowsSocial media giant Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) is trading below breakeven this morning, last seen down 0.3%, at $34.08. The shares are struggling after receiving an early morning downgrade out of UBS. The firm downgraded TWTR to "neutral" from "buy," and cut its price target to $35 from $37, citing expectations for higher R&D and investm...Read More

The shares of IMBI and DRRX are moving in opposite directionsWhile stocks on the whole are set to close the week on a strong note, we're taking a closer look this morning at penny stocks iMedia Brands Inc (NASDAQ:IMBI) and Durect Corporation (NASDAQ:DRRX). Here's a look at what's moving the shares of IMBI and DRRX this morning. For IMBI, the shopping experience specialist has seen its stock jump 5...Read More

GPS is staring up at its 200-day trendline stillRetailer Gap Inc (NYSE:GPS) is in focus this morning, after abandoning its plans to spin off Old Navy. Instead, the company will focus on recuperating its dropping sales figures. Five analysts have upped their price targets in response, including to $20 from $19 at Wedbush. An analyst at Jefferies said it will "take time to heal," but called it the...Read More

Comcast just revealed more details about its new streaming service, Peacock The shares of broadcasting name Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) are eyeing their fifth straight win today as more details from the firm's streaming service Peacock roll out. The firm said it will offer a free tier of the service, as well as a $5 a month option -- which will include advertising -- in order to win over cu...Read More

Stocks are set to close a big week on a bullish noteThe Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is setting its sights on a fifth straight win and another record high, as stock futures point to another up day to close out a big week on Wall Street. Stocks recently have been fueled by the signing of the "phase one" trade deal and positive economic data, including this morning's strong update on housing s...Read More

Gold COT Report - Futures Large SpeculatorsCommercialTotal LongShortSpreadingLongShortLongShort 376,80957,574137,119221,358571,177735,286765,870 Change from Prior Reporting Period -6,671-3,615-2,24418,90612,6449,9916,785 Traders 22466835759312181 Small Speculators LongShortOpen Interest 61,59731,013796,883 1,0354,24111,026 non reportable positionsCh...Read More

After watching Crude Oil fall from the $65ppb level to the $58 ppb level (-10.7%) over the past few weeks, we stillbelieve the energy sector is setting up for another great trade for skilledinvestors/traders.We are all keenly aware that Winter is stillhere and that heating oil demands may continue to push certain energy priceshigher.  Yet Winter is also a time whenpeople don’t travel as...Read More

Chinese steel production increased in 2019 amid stronger demand from the construction sector, according to data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics on Friday January 17.2019 outputCrude steel: 996.34 million tonnes, up 8.3%Finished steel: 1.2 billion tonnes, up 9.8% ...Read More

Certain precious metals, Gold, Silver, and Platinum, have shown moderate upside price trending over the past 20+ months while Rhodium and Palladium have skyrocketed higher.  These more precious metals, Rhodium and Palladium, have many industrial and consumer uses.  Rhodium is used in electronics and plating and Palladium is used in a variety of consumer products from Automobiles to Medic...Read More

Precious metals got off to an explosive early start to 2020 astensions between the U.S. and Iran drove safe-haven buying. Of course, gold and silver markets will need more than ageopolitical flare up to drive a long-term bull market advance.The question for investors is whether the fundamental picturenow looks promising or fleeting.In our view, the fundamentals are turning in favor ofhigher g...Read More

Market participants in China say they are not worried by the expected increase in steel imports from the United States, even after the two major economic powers signed the phase one economic and trade agreement on Wednesday January 15. While the agreement does not set out the increase in quantity of US-origin steel exports China will accept, Chinese market participants do not expected the increase...Read More

Central China-based Henan Luoyang Iron & Steel is to sell its 1.04 million tonnes per year of crude steel capacity to a mill in southern China's Guangdong province, according a notice released by the Henan Industry & Information Technology Department on Tuesday January 14.Seller: Luoyang Iron & SteelLocation: Luoyang city, Henan...Read More

The long-term impact of China renaming scrap metal as renewable material remains to be seen, sources said, citing a potential increase in scrap exports from the United States to the Asian nation, although China's scrap import quota system will continue through 2020.The impact of China restricting scrap imports was felt keenly in the US for much of 2019, which saw an oversupplied market with soft d...Read More

Gold COT Report - Futures Large SpeculatorsCommercialTotal LongShortSpreadingLongShortLongShort 376,80957,574137,119221,358571,177735,286765,870 Change from Prior Reporting Period -6,671-3,615-2,24418,90612,6449,9916,785 Traders 22466835759312181 Small Speculators LongShortOpen Interest 61,59731,013796,883 1,0354,24111,026 non reportable positionsCh...Read More

Aluminium billet premiums in Brazil and Japan ticked down on Friday January 17 due to weak demand, while premiums in Europe and the United States were steady on unchanged fundamentals.Brazilian premium falls, but sentiment optimistic Japanese premium declines on slow demand European premiums flat in quiet conditions US premium stable at all-time low BrazilThe premium in Brazil was dampened by slug...Read More