This afternoon, the leading railroad stocks are declining lower. Traders and investors will look to the railroad stocks and the transportation stocks as an economic barometer. When this industry group declines or trades lower it is sign that things could be slowing down in the economy. The opposite is true when this sector rallies and trades higher, it is generally a sign of economic expansion.



Leading railroad stocks such as Union Pacific Corp (NYSE:UNP), CSX…

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has broken out of a range on the daily chart. This breakout has the stock on its way to a master gap fill of $640.00. This $640.00 is the close prior to the last quarterly earnings announcement by the company. For those of us that remember, it was a very disappointing earnings release. Should price head back into this level, it can be shorted. It is not a buy at the current price, just a short should it hit $640.00.



Gareth…

Gold and silver collapsed in epic fashion as the Dollar had a rare sharp spike intra-day. This was just one of the reasons for the market fall off new 52 week highs. In this article, I will show you why the markets are ready to fall and on the verge of a steep correction.



The collapse in gold and silver must be mentioned first. The SPDR Gold Trust (ETF) (NYSEARCA:GLD)  is trading at $167.10, -6.39 (-3.68%) and the iShares Silver Trust (ETF) (NYSEARCA:SLV)  is trading at $33.82,…

This morning, the U.S. Dollar Index futures (ES H2) have surged higher from the morning lows. As we all should know by now, when the dollar climbs the stock and commodity markets will deflate and trade lower. That is ecactly what we are seeing this morning as the major stock indexes such as the Powershares QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ), SPDR S&P 500 Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY), and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSEARCA:DIA) have faded from earlier highs.  



Some…

As we all know by now, the United States Gasoline Fund (NYSEARCA:UGA) has soared higher since December 19, 2012. At that time, the UGA was trading around the $45.50 level. Earlier this week, the UGA hit a new 52 week high at $57.22 a share before pulling back slightly. This morning, the UGA is trading higher by 0.46 cents to $55.95 a share. Traders and investors have to wonder if the high energy prices will start to affect the economic spending habits of consumers. Normally, high…

Once again, the U.S. Dollar Index futures (DX H2) sold off shortly after the opening bell rang at the New York Stock Exchange. Most traders should know that when the U.S. Dollar declines the major stock and commodity indexes will inflate and trade higher. That is certainly what has happened this afternoon. Earlier today, when the U.S. Dollar Index caught a strong bid higher the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSEARCA:DIA), and the SPDR S&P 500 Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) all declined…

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is once again battling the 13,000 level. This is the third consecutive trading day it has been above that level on an intra-day basis. The big question is, will it finally close above that master level? As it battles this level, psychologically it becomes bigger and bigger. All signals point to this day being the final chance for the Dow to close above 13,000.



The market is clearly being headed by technology. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), which makes up…

All of the leading natural gas stocks are coming under some selling pressure this morning. Lower natural gas prices are definitely not helping these stocks. This morning, natural gas futures are trading lower by more than 2.50 percent.



Leading natural gas stock Southwestern Energy Co (NYSE:SWN) is trading lower by $2.14 to 33.22 a share. Short term traders can watch for intra-day support around the $32.30 area. Should the stock decline below that important…

The home-builder stocks are now on everyone's radar. These stocks have soared since the stock market bottomed on October 4, 2011. The home-builder stocks have gone from laggard to leader as almost every talking head in the financial media continues to call for a low in the housing market.



This morning, the leading home-builder stocks are all trading lower to start the day. Toll Brothers Inc (NYSE:TOL) is considered the best of the home-builder stocks since it…

The Dow Jones Industrial Average again pushed above 13,000 intra day. This is the third time in the last week it has happened, yet each time the market has pulled back into the 4PM ET close. The big question is being asked, is the third time the charm for the Dow? In terms of understanding proprietary counts and levels, today is very important. Should the markets close back below that level it could actually mean a pull back is coming instead of further upside. Stay tuned and pay close…

The metal stocks have stalled and fallen sharply over the last few weeks, not confirming the market strength. This has to be a warning of possible economic weakness in the coming months. Look at the iPath Dow Jones-UBS Copper Subindex Total Return ETN (NYSEARCA:JJC) . This topped out in mid January and has since chopped sideways while the markets have gone higher. In addition, stocks like United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X)  topped out weeks ago and have been pulling back.



The…

Stocks recovered once again from an initial drop to turn positive. This has happened many times in this 2012 trading year as early selling has yielded to massive buy programs, triggered by powers most have no idea exist. The vertical nature of the move pushed the markets back to 13,000 on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY) is trading at $137.07, +0.14 (+0.10%). The big question for the day is whether or not the markets can close above the key 13,000…

This morning, all of the leading financial stocks are holding up after an early morning dip. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM) is considered the most important financial stock in the United States. As long as JPM holds up it is very difficult to see the major stock market indexes stage any meaningful decline. Traders that follow JPM stock can watch for intra-day resistance around the $38.25, and $38.50 levels.



Other important financial stocks that traders…

The leading base metal and mining stocks all started the day declining at the open. This is common to see when the U.S. Dollar Index is strong before the opening bell. Leading stocks such as Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc (NYSE:FCX), BHP Billiton Ltd (NYSE:BHP), Southern Copper Corp (NYSE:SCCO), and Vale SA (NYSE:VALE) will usually trade inverse to the U.S. Dollar. These stocks have rebounded off of their morning lows as soon as the U.S. Dollar Index declined. Nearly everyday…

This morning, the U.S. Dollar Index is declining and that is helping to inflate the major stock indexes once again. Normally, energy and commodity stocks will be the first equities to inflate when the U.S. Dollar declines, however, these days everything in the market including technology stocks will inflate as soon as the U.S. Dollar dips. It seems that the institutional traders simply have the computers set to buy the markets on any decline in the greenback.…

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…

There is simply no chart in the world that is more important than the U.S. Dollar Index. The U.S. Dollar Indexmeasures the performance of the U.S. Dollar against a basket of six leading currencies including the Euro(58.6%), Japanese Yen (12.6%), Pound Sterling (11.9%), Canadian Dollar (9.1%), Swedish Krona (4.2%), and the Swiss Franc (3.6%). Traders can follow CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust…

Almost everyone that trades energy or the oil service stocks is talking about the Iranian situation in the Middle East. The tensions in the region seem to be building on a daily basis. This event is certainly keeping a bid in the oil and energy markets. Normally, these geopolitical events will keep a bid under the oil service stocks, however, at some point that will change. That is why it is best to use charts and not rely on the news when trading.



The Market…

The EUR/USD (Euro Dollar) bottomed on January 13, 2012 at 1.262 from a severely oversold technical condition. Since that time, the EUR/USD has surged sharply higher and is now trading into the 1.329 level. This type of robust rebound is very common after such a steep downdraft. In fact, the EUR/USD still could have some more upside left in the tank before another major pullback takes place.



Currency traders must watch for near term daily chart resistance around…

The financial stocks have now lead the major stock indexes higher since late November 2011. Traders and investors that have followed the financial sector very closely know that every crisis over the past five years has been a banking crisis. Even today, the problems in the European Union are simply just more banking problems. This afternoon, the financial stocks are all trading slightly lower on the day. The popular and highly traded Financial Select Sector…