Led by a steep decline in the formerly red-hot Semiconductor sector, the market had a somewhat “gross” five-day stretch. For the week, the S&P 500 fell 2.35%, the Dow rose marginally, and the Nasdaq lost 4.35%.

While I rarely highlight the gains/losses of the Russell 2000 (IWM) as the group has been mostly a dog for the last year-plus, last week the small-cap index came alive on Thursday and Friday, far outpacing its index peers with a gain of 5.25% on the week.

And while the other indexes couldn’t keep up with the IWM the S&P 500 gained 0.8%, the Dow rallied 1.5%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.35%.

The holiday-shortened week was mostly quiet outside of the AI/Semiconductors plays, which once again rose nicely. As for the rest of the market, by the numbers below it was a good week, though under the surface it feels like not many stocks are truly rallying.


For the week, the S&P 500 gained 1.35%, the Dow rose marginally, and the Nasdaq added another 2.9%.

Ahead of a holiday-shortened week, last week was mostly quiet as the S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq were all down marginally.

And while the market may be slow again this week headed into the Fourth of July, this is the start of the third quarter, which could bring some volatility ahead of the presidential election.

While the gains/losses in the three major indexes were mostly muted last week, there was some interesting rotation out of the AI/Semiconductor theme and into recent underperformers … though this is hardly anything to write home about as it was just two days of this type of action.

By week’s end, the S&P 500 gained 0.65%, the Dow rose by 1.75%, and the Nasdaq fell marginally.

Despite some troubling signs under the surface of the market, mega-cap tech once again led the indexes’ charge higher. And because of the heavy weighting of these tech stocks in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, those indexes gained 1.8% and 3.75%, respectively, while the Dow fell 0.4% on the week.

Despite some selling pressures early last week, the indexes rebounded nicely on nearly every small dip, and by week’s end the S&P 500 had gained 1%, the Dow was mostly unchanged, and the Nasdaq had risen by 1.8%.

It was a down week for the market as the Dow initially led the indexes lower early in the week, then was followed by the Nasdaq later in the week. Though on a positive note, the market rebounded nicely from its lows on Friday afternoon.

By week’s end the S&P 500 was down marginally, while the Dow and Nasdaq both lost 1%.

As I mentioned last week, this is a shorter version of the Weekly Review, focused on our open positions. Those are...

The stock market’s 5% swoon from several weeks ago has quickly become a distant memory as the indexes are back to their previous highs following another week of strong performances, as the S&P 500 gained another 1.3% last week, while the Dow rose 1%, and the Nasdaq added 1.75%.

Somewhat quietly, the Dow has rallied eight straight days, and is leading the market higher as of late. Such is the rotation of the market, especially during earnings season (which I touch on in this issue).

For the week the S&P 500 gained 1.4%, the Dow rallied 1.75% and the Nasdaq gained 1%.

Last week was full of ups and downs for the market, as the inflation/economic story continues to swing with every data point. And while there was volatility, by week’s end the S&P 500 and Nasdaq had risen marginally, while the Dow had gained 1%.

Options trading has its own vernacular. To know how to do it, you need to know what every options term means. Here are some of the basics.

Want to know how the big institutional investors use options? Here is an example of how one trader spent $132 million on three technology stocks.

A subscriber recently asked me if I keep a journal of my trades. Many traders keep journals so they can look back at their trades and evaluate what they did right and what they did wrong.

Using Options to Hedge a Portfolio


A few Cabot Options Trader subscribers have asked me about ways to protect gains in their portfolios, so I thought I would write to everyone with a couple of strategies using options to hedge your portfolio.

This guide will help you execute the options strategies recommended in Cabot Options Trader.

Guide to Options Trading

Worried about another market correction? This bit of options education should help you learn how to hedge your portfolio using puts.

Options education is one of my main goals for Cabot Options Trader subscribers. And here are three important lessons I’ve been telling people lately.

Options education is one of my main goals for Cabot Options Trader subscribers. And here are three important lessons I’ve been telling people lately.

In the wake of the second Boeing 737 plane crash Boeing stock, symbol BA, has become extremely volatile and of interest to Cabot Options Traders.

All options are a wasting asset whose time value erodes to zero by expiration. This erosion is known as time decay.

A protective put is used when a trader is bullish on a stock he is buying or already owns, but is wary of the stock’s short-term future. It is used as a means to protect unrealized gains, while giving the trader continued upside potential.

Combining Cabot Options Trader and Cabot Growth Investor

In mid-February I sent an Options Education article highlighting a trade Cabot Options Trader Pro subscribers had just executed. To refresh, this was in the midst of a steep market decline and the VIX was exploding higher.

Below is an article I wrote a couple years ago in response to a subscribers’ question regarding options and option volatility around earnings.

I’ve received a ton of great emails from subscribers over the last couple of days about huge profits this year. I’m thrilled that you are making lots of money. That said, while it’s great that we are making good money, we must remember the risks as well.

The S&P 500 is down 0.5% this morning, though well off the overnight lows (lower by 1.25%) following news that Gary Cohn, President Trump’s top economic advisor, is leaving his position. As the market has heated up, I’ve received many great questions from subscribers.