Nicholas Santiago

Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) is by far the largest stock by market capitalization in the world. The company is now valued at more than $500 billion and climbing. AAPL stock is now more valuable than the entire retail sector combined and that includes WalMart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT). This company has taken over the world and they only have a handful of products. This morning, the i-Pad 3 went on sale ...

WTI oil has now traded above $90.00 a barrel since late October 2011. While high energy prices used to signal global economic demand and strength; it is still a direct tax on consumers. These days high oil is affected by geopolitical events, weather, and the obvious action in the U.S. Dollar Index. At this time, oil has a war premium built in due to the Iranian threats and sanctions in the Middle East. Since 2008, whenever oil has traded around the $100.00 level for any considerable amount ...

What Does It Take To Master The Markets? Many times in my career I have encountered new traders who believe they have the ability to master the markets after reading a book on trading, or even because they have obtained some form of degree. Most often the first question I ask them is; are you a fundamental trader? Fundamental traders are those who generally read a companies balance sheet, (example-EPS, PE, EBITDA, book value, etc.) or perhaps they are a technical trader which is someone who uses

All of the major stock indexes topped out in early May of 2011. At that time, the S&P 500 Index traded as high as 1370.58, meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average traded as high as 12,876.00. This morning the S&P 500 Index is trading around the 1220.00 area and the Dow Jones Industrial Average is trading around the 11,910.00 level. It is safe to say that the major stock indexes have come under some serious selling pressure during the second half of 2011. The main catalyst for ...

For the average person who invests or trades, saying the news is garbage is a sin. However, it is proven over and over again to be the case. The news is nothing more than a way to take money from the bottom 99% and distribute it to the top 1%. Those at the top control the news and release it to cause certain reactions. Those reactions are carefully calculated to achieve certain goals. Those controlling these avenues and directing the markets are the Federal Reserve banks around the world and ...

It is still amazing how the stock market reacts to all of the news coming out of Europe. The reaction from all of the Greek news is somewhat comical. Why in God's earth would the Greek government not default? It is absolutely in their best interest to simply go bankrupt. They have milked the European Central Bank (ECB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the American tax payer who is the largest contributor to the IMF for all they can. If the Greek government goes bankrupt at this ....

This stock market seems to have an illness called schizophrenia. In late September, the major stock indexes declined lower, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by over 1000.0 points only to recapture all of those declines in 15 trading days in the month of October. Ten percent rallies and declines are becoming normal trading ranges these days. In the past, the stock markets would rally higher or lower by ten percent in a year. These are certainly not normal times.

Sometimes stocks will break out or break down in a very sharp and steep angle on the charts. These type of patterns are often referred to as a parabolic move when they surge to the upside. When these patterns occur to the downside they will often be referred to as a falling knife or waterfall decline. The actual name is irrelevant, however, understanding the chart pattern is very important. As a general rule, if you ever put a protractor up to your screen from any pivot low or pivot top ....

The Wednesday before options expiration is usually one of the most volatile trading sessions of the month. As you may know, options expiration occurs on the third Friday of every month. During the trading week leading into options expiration there will usually be a lot of rumors and erratic price movements in many of the leading stocks. Just look at the false report by The Guardian newspaper yesterday as they said that there would be a €2 trillion European bank bailout. Later, reports ...

As we all know, the major stock indexes have surged higher since October 4, 2011. On that date the S&P 500 Index e-mini futures (ES Z1) undercut the August 9, 2011 low before staging a massive rally in the final 45 minutes of the trading day. That chart pattern will usually create a low for several days to several weeks before showing signs of weakness again. In any case, the snapback rally has been nothing short of incredible as the Dow Jones Industrial Average has surged higher by nearly 1100.