Trading and Investing

European stock markets built on a strong rally seen a day earlier owing to a pledge by leading G20 nations to keep pumping their economies with easy money, while Asian stocks diverged on Tuesday. Gains in Europe were however less sharp than on Monday as investors digested a batch of mixed earnings reports. "Looking at the major indices, there is maybe an element of twitchiness creeping back into the market," said IG Index chief market strategist David Jones. In late morning trade, London's... Read Full Story

Banking group Barclays PLC on Tuesday reported strong earnings in its investment banking unit and announced the restart of dividend payments, but also warned that the bad debts weighing on its profits have not yet peaked. Barclays, Britain's biggest bank and one of the few to rebuff a taxpayer-funded bailout, said net profit fell 29 percent in the first nine months of the year to 2.73 billion pounds ($4.55 billion), down from 3.83 billion pounds a year ago. The decline was largely due to a... Read Full Story

Asian stocks extended their gains Tuesday after Wall Street touched its highest level for 2009 amid optimism low interest rates would continue to power this year's rally in global markets. European shares were narrowly mixed. Although Asia's rally ran out of momentum toward the end of the session, it marked the region's third straight advance. Oil and gold prices softened, while the dollar slipped against the yen. Investors were cheered by an overnight surge in the U.S., where the Dow Jones... Read Full Story

Asian stocks extended their gains Tuesday after Wall Street touched its highest level for 2009 amid optimism low interest rates would continue to power this year's rally in global markets. It marked the third straight advance for the region, with Japan and Hong Kong markets helping lead the way with gains of nearly 1 percent. Oil and gold prices softened, while the dollar slipped against the yen. Investors were cheered by an overnight surge in the U.S., where the Dow Jones rocketed 2 percent... Read Full Story

Everyone is talking about commodities as the place to be in the coming months. I tend to agree, but it is still important to know where each commodity is trading to maximize returns and reduce risk. That being said we are also seeing money flow out of small-cap stocks and into large-cap blue chip Stocks. These companies prove year after year that they are profitable, and that’s where investors have been putting their money the past couple weeks. This can be seen by simply looking at the Dow... Read Full Story

With earnings season nearing an end and limited economic or corporate news out over the weekend, it appears investors have been taking stock of third quarter earnings and guidance and seem to like what they have seen overall. Today, the Dow Industrials (US30 CFD) broke through resistance at 10,125 to a new high on the recovery trend that started back in March. This suggests that a new up leg may have commenced that could carry the index toward the 10,600 (based on a measured move) to 10,750... Read Full Story

General Moly is demonstrating a bullish outside bar which is a reversal pattern which will give us usually 5-7 bullish trading sessions.  Notice how it has bounced off the 200 day moving average which is acting as support.  General Moly is a takeover candidate and needs to be monitored to see how it acts with the 50 day moving average which has become resistance.  This bullish pattern should lead General Moly to test resistance. Notice the first outside bullish bar in July which led to GMO... Read Full Story

Crude oil was slightly lower overnight in quiet trading as it extends the trading range of the past three weeks. Stochastics and the RSI remain bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term. Closes above 82.00 or below 76.55 are needed to confirm a trading range breakout and point the direction of the next trending move. Tuesday's pivot point, our line in the sand is 79.13 First resistance is last Wednesday's high crossing at 81.06 Second resistance is October's high... Read Full Story

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Asian stocks and currencies rose on Monday as investors bet that a surge in the U.S. unemployment rate to a 26-1/2-year high would force policymakers to keep many stimulus measures in place until an economic recovery was on more solid footing. U.S. stock futures edged up while U.S. Treasuries sagged ahead of $81 billion worth of new supply this week. The message of status quo was well reflected in markets with U.S. job market contraction remaining near a trend rate and... Read Full Story

Nymex Crude Oil (CL) Crude oil continues to engage in choppy sideway trading today and intraday bias remains neutral. Though, note that a break below 76.55 will bring fall resumption to 38.2% retracement of 65.05 to 82 at 75.53 first. Break will target 61.8% retracement at 71.52. On the upside, nevertheless, above 81.06 minor resistance will signal that the sideway trading from 82.00 has completed and will bring retest of this high first. In the bigger picture, outlook is mixed for the... Read Full Story