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:

STT edged slightly lower today, getting to within just 1 cent of my stop loss before climbing from its worst levels this morning.  This obviously validates that stop, so I’m sticking with it for now.  I did like the fact that today’s volume was lighter once again on the dip, so let’s see if this one makes an attempt to bounce from this support area in the coming days.  If not, of course I’ll exit once my stop is breached.

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.

PBR stopped, HOC triggered & stopped, KIM & NAV added

Open Position Notes:

STT reached a new recovery high early today, but reversed lower and finished in the red.  The positives from today in this one were that it did not trigger my stop, and that volume was lighter with today’s turn lower.  This may have been a headfake type of move, but given that my stop is only about 1% from current levels I’m going to stick with it heading into tomorrow and see if it can hold.  I do still like the pattern here, but today’s lack of follow through doesn’t make for a pretty bar on the chart.  Let’s see where it goes from here.

Closed Positions:

PBR turned higher this morning, stopping me out for a small 2% loss as it cleared the $49 level.  Not much later, the stock did reverse and turn lower, which is irritating to see after having been shaken out.  Nonetheless, abiding by my stop loss levels has saved me many dollars over the years, and there was no indication this time would be any different.  The stock is still struggling to overcome recent resistance, so I’ll keep it on the radar in case another well-defined entry appears on the chart.

HOC triggered a buy this morning as it cleared its bull pennant pattern with a breakout, but the strength was fleeting and the stock soon reversed hard.  Not only did it turn negative on the day, but it took out my initial stop loss.  This is known as a whipsaw to have a trade trigger an entry and soon be stopped out, and from time to time it happens.  It’s frustrating, but in this case I felt the risk/reward for the setup was worth taking.  I’m now out with a modest 2.3% loss and will stand aside from this one until a new pattern emerges.

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.

STT & PBR triggered, HOC added

Open Position Notes:

STT triggered a buy on Friday as it cleared the trend line at $45, opening the door for a new leg higher to begin.  Volume picked up with the advance in price, although the stock did finish off its best levels of the session.  Nonetheless, this appears to be a solid start, so I’ll stick with my existing trade parameters heading into Monday.

PBR triggered a short sale Friday as it undercut the rising trend line at $48, but ultimately the stock bounced back to finish back above that level and net positive on the day.  These failed-bounce candidates sometimes require some patience to change directions, so I’m going to leave my trade parameters as-is heading into Monday.  If the bounce continues, I’ll abide by my stop loss.

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.

FMCN & INFA stopped, STT & PBR added

Open Position Notes:

No open positions – currently 100% cash.

Closed Positions:

FMCN ran quickly higher on Monday and Tuesday, pushing through Target 1 to offer a nice chunk of partial profits on the first half of my position.  Yesterday’s price action indicated some short-term fatigue however, as the stock made a new high and finished negative on the session with increased volume.  My raised stop for remaining shares was triggered today as this one moved back down through $17, taking me out for a solid net gain of 6.1% on this trade.  Fast money is my favorite kind, and this one offered that.  I’ll keep it on the watch list in case it sets up again.

INFA cleared its trend line in timid fashion on Tuesday with price finishing off the session highs and volume lackluster.  I tightened my stop in order to reduce risk just in case the stock became weak, and today that raised stop was hit.  I’m now out of this trade for a very small 1.3% loss, and will wait for better price action before considering another entry in this one.  Sluggish breakouts are a sign of fatigue, so naturally I’m impatient with them.

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:

FMCN continued higher this morning, but did see some profit-taking which took it down from its best levels to finish down about 1% on the session.  It was able to hold 1 cent above my raised stop, which keeps me long the stock and also validates my stop.  I’ll stick with those same parameters heading into tomorrow, but it wouldn’t take much selling to check me out of this one.  It has already been good to me, so I don’t plan on giving back much ground on the 2nd half of this position.

INFA hit its best levels today since triggering an entry, and volume improved slightly.  It finished off its best levels of the day, but still in positive territory and in the green.  I’m still awaiting stronger volume and some better momentum, but have already tightened my stop and will stick with my existing trade parameters heading into tomorrow.

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.

LEAP stopped, INFA triggered, FMCN Target 1 hit & stop raised

Open Position Notes:

FMCN started out pretty well yesterday, but the volume failed to impress.  Nonetheless, it shot higher again today, pushing through Target 1 where I booked 1/2 profits for a quick 7.4%, and finishing only a short distance from its highs.  This one has now approached former resistance from December, so I’m going to tighten my stop aggressively in order to lock in a nice winner should it happen to reverse from here.  If it can push on through, we’ll see what it’s capable of in the days ahead.

INFA triggered a buy this morning as it cleared its trend line at $26.70, but it hesitated to keep running and ended the day just a few cents from that level.  Volume was also light on today’s breakout, which is a concern.  Because of this, I’m going to tighten my stop to just beneath today’s low, as a hesitant breakout is grounds for added caution.  Otherwise, I still like the overall setup and will be watching tomorrow’s action in this one to see if it can gather some strength.

Closed Positions:

LEAP truly leaped higher yesterday after triggering a buy, running more than 7% higher once it cleared the trend line.  It pushed through Target 1 where I took 1/2 profits, and attempted to make a run at Target 2, only to fall slightly short.  Last night I tightened my stop aggressively due to the close proximity to Target 2, and today I was stopped out of the trade at my raised stop.  This leaves me with a 4.5% net gain, which is nice for a 2-day trade, so I’ll take the money and run.  The stock showed no follow through today and actually ended up giving back about 1/2 of yesterday’s move.  I’ll keep it on the radar in case it sets up for another play, in which case I’ll re-list it, but for now I’m out with a quick profit.

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.

LEAP triggered, stop raised, Target 1 Hit.  FMCN triggered & stop raised. FLS & WYNN removed, INFA added

Open Position Notes:

LEAP triggered a buy this morning as it crossed the trend line at $17.85, and it never looked back.  Volume picked up along with the strength, pushing the stock to new recovery highs from its November low.  Today’s move took the stock not only through Target 1 where I booked 1/2 profits for a quick 4.5%, but it also nearly reached Target 2.  I’ve raised my stop tonight rather aggressively given the short distance from here to Target 2, and in order to lock in a solid winner should today’s move happen to falter, but so far this one is acting great.

FMCN triggered a buy this morning as it cleared its trend line at $16.20, and although it was able to push solidly higher, the volume wasn’t quite what I’d have liked to see.  Nonetheless, the stock is showing nice relative strength and turning higher after a multi-week pullback, so I’m going to tighten my stop to today’s low and see if it can build on today’s strength.

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.

LEAP, FMCN, FLS & WYNN added

Open Position Notes:

No open positions – currently 100% cash.

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.

CBT & VNO closed

Open Position Notes:

No open positions – 100% cash.

Closed Positions:

CBT tried to make some upward progress today, but couldn’t hold onto the early strength.  Ultimately it slipped enough to trigger my stop loss, taking me out for a 3% gain.  This one was never confirmed by volume and the move up was sluggish, making it not very trustworthy.  With that being the case, I’m pleased to have closed it out for a winner.  I’ll keep it on the radar in case it sets up again though.

VNO never showed the follow through I would have expected after a breakout from its bullish consolidation, so I tightened my stop last week in order to reduce risk.  On Friday, the stock dipped and took me out for a modest 1.4% loss.  This one isn’t ready to run, but I’ll keep it on watch in case it is able to exhibit some better strength.

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.

MDVN closed

Open Position Notes:

CBT had some pre-market prints below my stop loss level, but never traded down to the $25.80 level once it opened on the NYSE.  Stops with my broker are based on the primary exchange, in this case the NYSE, so I am still in this position.  Today’s action was very dull, although the stock was able to post a minor gain and exhibit a little bit of relative strength.  Overall though, it was a day of rest.  I’ll stick with my existing stop heading into tomorrow, as I still plan to keep it tight given the lack of strong upside volume since the breakout.

VNO slipped a little today, but no technical damage was done.  Overall, this one did a pretty nice job of shaking off the widespread market weakness and holding up rather well.  My stop did not change tonight, as I’m giving it a little breathing room while waiting for some follow through to arrive.  If not, I’ll be looking at a small and manageable loss.

Closed Positions:

MDVN climbed early in the session to push through Target 1 where I booked 1/2 profits for a solid 5.9% gain.  It then reversed and turned lower.  The stock was able to rebound from its worst levels, but not before triggering my stop loss right on the number to stop out my 2nd half.  Getting taken out on the low of the day is irritating, but this one still paid me well.  I’m now out of this position with an average gain of 4.8%, a pretty decent winner during a time when the overall market remained range-bound.  Volume never really confirmed the advance (as discussed last night), so I kept it tight and am pleased with the result.  I’ll wait for a new pattern to emerge before considering a reentry.