Nicholas Vardy
A “Masterful” Bet on a U.S. Economic Recovery
Global stock markets endured a bad week, as the S&P 500 pulled back below key support levels at 1,220. As a result, you stopped out of your position in Celcom Israel (CEL) at a loss. Nevertheless, with the seasonality of the market positive, I am inclined to stay with my bullish bias through the end […]
European Troubles Holding Back a Rally
Markets ended the past five days lower with the S&P 500 Index falling 1.41% and emerging markets down 3.69%. Despite posting gains for five of the last six weeks, the S&P 500 is flat for the year and currently trapped in a narrow trading range. Markets have remained choppy through November, consolidating their […]
Protecting your Downside in Greece
You have two positions in European banks, Bank of Ireland (IRE) and National Bank of Greece (NBG). I always have noted that these positions are best treated as “options without expiration.” If Europe gets its act together, these positions have the potential to be big winners. As it stands today, of the two banks, […]
A Bullish Bet on the U.S. Market for the Rest of 2011
For the week, the S&P 500 dropped 2.5%, snapping a four-week winning streak. The Dow pulled back 2%, after five straight up weeks. The Nasdaq shed 1.9%. Your position in Spreadtrum Communications, Inc. (SPRD) bucked the trend, gaining another 7.30%, and is now up a whopping 38.09% since you entered it. Your position in […]
Risk On, Risk Off
It was yet another “Risk-On, Risk-Off” week in the markets. Traders opened the recent five-day trading period by piling into “risk-on” assets, like equities and commodities. They ended the week with a flight into “risk-off” instruments, such as U.S. treasuries and the dollar. Neck-snapping swings in the S&P 500 meant that volatility, as measured […]
A Discounted Play on the Holyland
For the week, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 each advanced 3.8%. With only a day of trading left in October, the U.S. major indexes have gained between 12% and 15% for the month. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is up over 20% this month. Last Thursday, you took profits in Spreadtrum Communications (SPRD) […]