The markets are spiking sharply higher today on extremely light volume. Most markets in Europe are closed today. This is like the analogy, when the cat is away, the mice will play. Light volume, no problems in Europe mean solid upside but also a great shorting opportunity for smart traders.  The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY) is trading at $141.54 +1.77 (1.27%).



One stock nearing an awesome shorting level is International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM). After taking a…

International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) is trading lower today at $197.22, -2.38 (-1.19%). The stock has dropped sharply since it reported earnings. While the price action is negative, IBM has hit its first major support on the daily chart. This level is at $196.80 and can be seen on the chart below. A bounce from this level in the short term is likely. IBM hit a 52 week high of $210.69 on April 3rd, 2012. It has fallen 6.6% since its high.



Gareth…

The markets opened lower after earnings reports from International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC). Both reports were slightly shy of Wall Streets expectations. As those stocks dropped, so did the markets. While down, the markets are only hovering slightly lower with the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY)  trading at $138.78, -0.31 (-0.22%). Fears from Europe have calmed in the last two days. This was the major reason for the monster rally…

This morning, most of the leading stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are trading higher. Traders must remember that the DJIA is a price cap weighted index unlike the S&P 500 Index and NASDAQ Composite which are market cap weighted indexes. When a price cap weighted index trades higher it will usually signal that the high priced stocks in that indexes are trading higher. Today, International Business Machines Corp (NYSE:IBM) is the highest priced stock in the DJIA and…

The markets are taking a pounding today as fears from Europe reemerge. Yields in Spain have spiked dramatically as a bond auction saw weak demand. Just yesterday, I wrote an article about the downside potential nailing this drop. This was a perfect prediction based on trend line analysis. In this article, I discussed how the markets kept breaking their 52 week highs by $0.50 on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY), then selling sharply. The downside target I gave was $139.50 - $139.75.…

The markets are slowly selling off today. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY) is trading at $141.15, -0.64 (-0.45%). This is coming on the heels of a solid rally yesterday, to start the week. The previous Monday also saw a rally as Ben Bernanke gave major hope for QE3.



The markets do have some intriguing symmetry to them. For instance, last Monday, the rally took out the previous SPY 52 week high by approximately $0.50. Yesterday, the SPY did the same thing again. Each time…

The markets are down once again, falling for the third day in a row. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY) is trading at $139.28, -1.15 (-0.82%). This recent rally has been a monster, blasting the SPY from $120.00 in December to the recent 52 week high of $141.83. The move has seen little to no down days and has even pushed the retail investor into full on bullish mode.



While the pull back is solid today, the daily S&P 500 20 moving average is getting tagged. That level must…

After a substantial morning sell off, the markets are trying to bounce back. This is the classic buy the dip mentality that still prevails in this market. This shows us there is still retail money clamoring to buy as the institutions distribute. Overnight, China PMI data hit the futures hard. With Europe still a mess and China slowing drastically, the outlook for the U.S. economy is getting clouded. Institutions understand this and are selling slowly as the retail investor is buying. Retail,…

The markets are seeing some selling on worries stemming from China and Europe. China lowered its growth rate to 7.5%. This is bearish for the entire globe as most advanced economies rely on China. In addition, European issues have started to bubble up again. Things with Greece are getting messy and Spain has said they will not meet the spending cuts required by the bailout of 2011. These raise new concerns of a European defaults.



Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is also selling sharply…

The markets are floating higher as International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) leads the charge. The stock is hitting new all time highs at $198.86, +4.99 (+2.57%). This is accounting for about 20 points in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on the day. It is the biggest component and is making up a majority of the Dow move today.



In addition, the NASDAQ is leading today as all eyes are on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). At 1PM ET an investor meeting will get under way. Investors are…

The PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 (ETF) (NASDAQ:QQQ)  is trading at $59.96, +0.47 (+0.79%). This happens to be a double top from July 2011 and multi year high. Generally, this would be considered resistance on the charts. In addition, one must find it very interesting to notice this level getting tagged prior to major earnings from tech companies. After the markets close today, earnings from Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), International Business Machines…

As the markets hover on the flat line, some key names are heading towards master levels. International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) continues to be one of the strongest stocks in the market. It made a new all time high today at $194.50. At this point, the stock is extended but has its eyes set on $200.00 per share. That will be the next resistance level that matters.



While Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) pauses today, the daily chart is setting up for another solid move higher. This…

The market is being held up by the Dow Jones Industrial Average today. The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSEARCA:DIA) is trading at $121.26, +0.31 (+0.26%) while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ are both flat to negative. Most average investors will not think anything of this disparity but a true pro will always take note.



Stocks that are in the Dow Jones Industrial Average are thought of blue chip, safe plays. Some of these Dow components are 3M Company (NYSE:MMM)  and…

Stocks have reversed off early losses to surge higher. The S&P 500 is trading at 1212. The move up has come in the face of poor earnings from International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM)  which sent the stock to $177.44, -9.15 (-4.90%). Poor earnings from IBM only kept the markets down for a fraction of the day. This morning, reports from bank stocks like Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) and Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) gave a brighter outlook. Earnings have been mixed but a…

This week countless companies will report their corporate earnings. When the major market moving stocks report earnings it will usually cause a lot of volatility and movement in the important leading stock indexes. Last week, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM), and Google Inc NASDAQ:GOOG) really kicked off the earnings season. Traders and investors must always realize that earnings season will usually make for a very volatile stock market.



Later this week on…

As the markets are holding the flat line, certain stocks demand direct attention. This can be key to seeing moves and profiting.



First, the double top on International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) is holding firm. Even with the markets inching up, IBM has fallen back below the double top level of $185.63. As long as the stock does not close above the high from yesterday, it could be viewed as a short. The high from yesterday was $186.63.



Next on the list of stocks…

As the markets are holding the flat line, certain stocks demand direct attention. This can be key to seeing moves and profiting.



First, the double top on International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) is holding firm. Even with the markets inching up, IBM has fallen back below the double top level of $185.63. As long as the stock does not close above the high from yesterday, it could be viewed as a short. The high from yesterday was $186.63.



Next on the list of stocks…