The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

No changes

Open Position Notes:

ISIL finished about flat on the day, dropping in the morning but recovering from there.  This stock continues to hold above the breakout zone, so I’m staying with it while it’s resting here.  I’d like to see it accelerate higher, but with the overall market stagnating at the moment and with widespread light volume, I may have to wait.  My stop remains as-is heading into Tuesday’s session, as I’m allowing this one some freedom of movement until it can make further upside progress and warrant tightening.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

No changes

Open Position Notes:

ISIL edged higher again on Thursday to finish out the week looking respectable, and perhaps in the coming week we can see some upside acceleration.  I like the fact this one has tested the downside in recent days and prevailed, so let’s see if it can gather some better momentum and head toward the Targets.  I’ll leave my stop as-is for Monday’s session.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

No changes

Open Position Notes:

ISIL showed some weakness this morning and broke Tuesday’s low, but soon stabilized and rebounded enough to finish positive on the day.  While the day’s gains weren’t meaningful in themselves, I was encouraged by the fact that essentially this stock tested the downside successfully and found buyers.  I’ll be watching for some continuation on the upside in the days ahead, and will keep my stop as-is heading into Thursday’s session.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

AGU & ANR closed, ISIL triggered

Open Position Notes:

ISIL triggered a buy today as it moved up through the trend line at $15.05.  I would typically prefer to see volume expand along with a move like today’s, but being right in front of Christmas that’s harder to come by.  I did like the action in the stock though and the fact it finished above the trigger, so I’ll stick with it heading into Wednesday while waiting to see if we get some follow through.  I may make an intraday exit on this one if conditions warrant it, so keep an eye on the Twitter stream (@TheStockBandit) and/or your inbox for a possible email update.

Closed Positions:

AGU has failed to produce follow through since triggering a short entry with a break of rising support, but I’ve been patient with it to see if it would weaken.  Today the stock just seemed to have a bid beneath it, so shortly after the open I closed out the trade for a 2.2% loss rather than giving it all the way to the stop listed last night.  I was thankful to have done so, as the stock did eventually move on up through that level as well.  Shorts are difficult in a rising market, but I felt this one was worth taking.  Once it became clear it was headed higher rather than lower, I closed it out in order to reduce my loss.

ANR hit Target 1 yesterday and then gapped up this morning, indicating it might be ready to run again.  However, the stock came under early pressure and began to fill its gap so I took profits for a 2.7% gain as per my Tweet and the email alert sent out this morning.  The stock soon filled the entire gap and went negative on the day, only to turn back up and take out the morning highs.  Sometimes that happens, but for a trade I entered with the intention of booking fast profits, this one produced.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

ANR triggered & Target 1 hit & stop raised

Open Position Notes:

AGU marked a multi-day high early today but reversed to go negative on the day.  This stock has bounced on weak volume, and today’s downside reversal is encouraging that perhaps the bounce has run its course.  I’ve still got a stop in place should this one happen to head higher, but otherwise I’d like to see how it responds to a test of the $80.40 level again if reached.

ANR triggered a buy this morning as it gapped slightly through my intended entry of $52.45, opening at $52.59.  From there, the stock headed north, taking out Target 1 intraday for a quick gain of 2.6%.  Target 2 is now in sight and I’ve also updated my stop for remaining shares tonight in order to lock in a gain there if the stock should happen to reverse.  Keep an eye on the Twitter stream (@TheStockBandit) tomorrow for a possible exit notification if the stock happens to stall out beneath Target 2.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

ISIL & ANR added

Open Position Notes:

AGU got off to a weak start Friday with a test of the downside, but soon found its footing and moved into positive territory by day’s end.  This stock is still hovering beneath my stop, but I don’t like the fact it’s not gaining any traction as a short – especially after Thursday’s breakdown failure.  I’m going to stick with my existing stop loss for now, while waiting to see if this one can turn lower after a pair of advances on diminishing and weak volume.

Closed Positions:

No closed positions.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

AGU triggered, ATU & WYNN stopped

Open Position Notes:

AGU triggered a short entry for me today as it broke the rising trend line of support this morning at $80.40.  The stock moved slightly lower from there, stabilized, and then reversed to finish positive on the day and reclaim that broken support.  This may prove to be another head-fake, but for Friday I’m going to stick with my position and existing stop loss and see if this one shows any further signs of weakness.

Closed Positions:

ATU sold off hard at the open, triggering my stop to take me out of the trade for a 3.9% loss.  The head-fake breakout in this stock was violent, and today’s drop back beneath the base is a signal that the character of this stock has suddenly changed.  I’m out and will stay away from it for now.

WYNN broke support earlier this week and bounced back in a lazy fashion yesterday, indicating continued weakness once the buying fizzled out.  Today however, the stock got an upgrade which sent it gapping higher, triggering my stop to take me out right after the open for a 3.6% loss.  Headline-related stops are never any fun, but the stock finished another $2 higher from my exit, making me glad to be out.  I’ll keep this one on the radar in case it heads back down to challenge support, but for now the stock is trying to head higher and I have no interest in fighting it.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

RS & MTW stopped, ATU triggered, AGU added

Open Position Notes:

WYNN had put together a string of declines prior to today, and although they were minor, the stock was probably due for a bounce.  Today we saw some minor upside in the stock, but I was encouraged by the fact it finished well off its best levels.  Volume was up, but most likely just due to more churning with the stock crossing the $100 level again during the day.  So for the moment, the stock is clinging to support, but the price action isn’t suggesting a lot of strength here.  I’m going to stick with my existing stop heading into tomorrow.

Closed Positions:

RS attempted to move higher out of its base, but with a couple of weak finishes the stock just wasn’t showing much conviction.  Today we saw a little deeper pullback develop, taking me out of the trade for a modest 2.6% loss as it moved to a new pullback low.  I’m going to keep this one on the radar in case it sets up again, but for now this is a failed pattern.

MTW broke out on Monday and pulled in slightly on Tuesday, posting an inside day on lighter volume as it appeared to be just a technical test of the breakout zone.  Today however, we saw the stock fail in more spectacular fashion, moving decisively lower to negate the bullish pattern and stop me out for a 3% loss.  I’m going to leave this one alone for the time being due to the fact it’s not showing any follow through to the upside.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

WYNN triggered, PVH stopped, ATU added

Open Position Notes:

RS gave back a little ground today, but for now remains above my stop loss and within the pattern.  Monday’s breakout attempt and return to the base lacked volume, and today we saw activity taper off yet again.  Tonight I could re-draw my trend lines for the pennant, which remains a bullish pattern, but a multi-day high and some volume expansion will be needed to get this one back on the move.

MTW pulled back today to test the breakout area on reduced volume, and I like the fact it was able to finish again above that level.  Today’s dip looks like a test to me, so I’m going to wait and see what Wednesday’s session brings before considering any changes or adjustments here.

WYNN triggered a short sale today as it undercut support at the $100 level, and I was encouraged that the stock was able to finish the day beneath that level.  This stock has shown persistent relative weakness to the overall market, and volume picked up slightly today to indicate the presence of more sellers.  Let’s see if some follow through comes along in the next couple of days.

Closed Positions:

PVH triggered a buy on Friday but since then has shown nothing but weakness on expanding volume (which I noted here last night I didn’t like).  Today my stop was hit to take me out for a modest 2.5% loss.  This one just isn’t acting right after an attempt to move higher, so I’m going to leave it alone for now.

The Hit List is a look at our current swing trading positions. Stocks we are already in have “triggered”, while those we are considering for plays have not triggered. Click post title to view print-friendly link.

MASI stopped, RS & MTW triggered

Open Position Notes:

PVH tried to head higher this morning, but ultimately saw selling pressure drive the stock lower for the better part of the day.  I still have my stop loss in place, and will leave it as-is for Tuesday to see if short-term support is able to hold, but I didn’t like the weak finish here today in the stock or the fact that volume picked up on the downside.  Today’s bar was also a bearish engulfing bar, so it could be I get stopped out of this one on Tuesday, we’ll see.

RS triggered a buy today as it cleared the upper trend line of its pennant pattern, and for much of the day it held above that level despite the lack of upside momentum in the overall market.  In the afternoon however, the stock gave  back some ground alongside the market weakness.  It still finished positive on the session, but it finished back below the trend line and volume failed to impress.  I’m going to stick with my existing stop loss heading into Tuesday.

MTW triggered a buy today as it cleared the upper trend line at $13.05 to confirm the bull pennant pattern.  This one showed nice relative strength to the market with a solid gain on the day, as well as nice expansion in volume on the daily chart.  I’m going to leave my stop as-is for Tuesday while waiting to see if this one can head toward Target 1 where I’ll look to book 1/2 profits.  Nice start so far, let’s see if we get follow through.

Closed Positions:

MASI triggered a buy on Friday but wasn’t able to hold above the trend line.  Today the stock was weak from the beginning of the day, and it undercut support to stop me out for a modest 2.3% loss.  Taking a loss is never fun, but in this case it was a calculated trade with what I felt was minimal risk, and therefore well worth taking the trade.  This stock is no longer exhibiting short-term bullish action, so I’ll leave it alone for now.