Trading

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Three stocks, two longs and a short idea in a pear tree

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas. Just like the ones I used to know. There’s over a foot of snow on the ground outside on Silver Fox Ranch here in Ruidoso, NM, and it’s still softly coming down. Makes trading stocks seem a little insignificant, except for

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Selling the last of the Akamai calls

It’s Christmas week, heading into a three-day Christmas weekend (no markets Monday) and we’ve got a bit of a rally on our hands today. FIO’s continuing its wildly volatile ways, now up nearly 20% from its recent lows which brings it back to where it was this

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Buying some puts in this name

Last week, I detailed the Apollo analysis for you guys. Today, I’ve been putting in some bids on some May 2012 puts with strike prices in the mid $40s right now.  I think APOL’s near-term earnings report, which will come in early January, is unlikely to spur much

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Near-term markets outlook and locking in profits on one trade

Howdy folks. It’s another range-bound into year-end day at the markets and that’s okay with us. As I’d hinted yesterday though, I do think we’re likely to finally see these markets break their trading range in coming weeks.  There will be year-end window-dressing by both shorts

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Updated and detailed analysis on LPS

Last week I told you about my newest short, Apollo Group, Inc. APOL +3.08% . New ideas are great but that doesn’t mean we take our eye off our slightly more vintage ones. With that in mind there are pretty significant developments at Lender Processing Services, Inc. LPS +0.

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Today’s Links: Great TA, Apple TV, and Ford vs Carter debate

Here’s what I was reading and thinking about this morning.  If you are a advocate for technical analysis in your trading, I highly suggest you start reading the first three guys I link to there. They are some of the best stock technical analysts on the planet.  Let’s

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Morning updates: Snowstorms, short stories and Xmas rock

It’s Monday and I can see the storm blowing over the mountains and enveloping the land around me. I meant the snowstorm here in Ruidoso — not making too much of an allegory there. Too much of one anyway. I’m doing a big update on LPS so stay tuned

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Today’s links: LPS, Cablevision Fitch and more

Here’s what I was reading and thinking about when I wasn’t out looking for a Christmas Tree at sunrise this morning. On my own land.  I love New Mexico. Financials Lead Despite Fitch Downgrade – It’s remarkable, truly astonishing, that anybody cares what the ratings agencies say anymore.

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Big trade update: LPS stands for Loser Processing Services

LPS has just tanked nearly 10% in the last few minutes as news hits that…well, here: LAS VEGAS –Nevada’s Attorney General has filed a lawsuit for consumer fraud against Lender Processing Services, or LPS, which is a company accused of robo-signing. “The robo-signing crisis in Nevada has been

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Wait for the right pitch

Good morning and welcome back to the dishwasher, where you better not forget to put in the detergent. Let’s talk RIMM first. Sigh. Stock is down today, after another horrid report, and I guess I was wrong to guess that the stock had priced it all in. Mea culpa.

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Markets and a couple trade updates

Not much action in the broader markets to write home about today.  It’s been a day of mild bidding and little selling, and traders finally seem to want to catch their breath.  Could be the quiet before the storm. Or it could be the quiet before the quiet before

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Risky earnings trade

You guys know that I had RIMM as a short in the Revolution Investing portfolio back when it was above $100. Yes, $100, nearly 10x it’s price today. And I’ve stayed away from the name as its continued to crash. But you know what…at a new 52-week