Watchlist for January 19, 2006

Given that we’re so close to options expiration I’ll be playing real light, if at all, today. My focus will be on stocks that are moving on (big) news and may avoid being pinned to the obvious strikes.

I continue to be amazed at the differing opinions on AMD. It seems that every day some analyst downgrades it and another upgrades it. That happened again today with a Goldman downgrade and price target increases from Prudential, Morgan Stanley and Jeffries upgrade. If I didn’t know better I’d think certain firms had something against AMD. I’m just glad I use charts and don’t have to base decisions on what these guys say.

How about that recovery in AAPL? This is reminding me of what happened after last quarter’s earning’s report. I would try trading it today if it didn’t seem like such an obvious pin to 80…

Potential swing trades:

See one of the recent ‘Chart Reading‘ posts for some potential swing candidates.

Potential day trades:

(From Briefing.com)

Gapping Down

Gapping down on disappointing earnings/guidance: AAPL -1.2%, LOGI -10%, CHIC -7.6%, HTCH -4.5% (also downgraded to Sell at Hoefer), NVS -2.3%… Other News: RTK -8.2% (profit taking after recent move), EXAS -5.4% (FDA update), ENDP -4.2% (prices offering), DCN -3.8% (extends recent slide), AGIX -3% (Brean Murray initiates with a Sell and $2 tgt), FTE -2%, DIS -1.5% (WSJ says co may bid for PIXR).

Gapping Up

Gapping up on strong earnings/guidance: AMD +14% (also Soleil upgrade), STX +11%, LRCX +10% (also Bear Stearns upgrade), NITE +9%, FCS +4.3%, QLGC +3.7% (also Piper upgrade), PFE +3.3%… Tech stocks rebounding on AMD/STX/LRCX/QLGC earnings: MXO +12%, WFR +2.9%, TXN +2.5%, AMAT +2.4%, KLAC +2.3%, MOT +2.4%, CNXT +2.2%, SNDK +2.2%, MRVL +2.1%… Other News: DVAX +40% (clinical data), MICC +33% (co has received a high number of unsolicited approaches – Reuters), IVAN +25% (held conf call), LIFE +17% (to be acquired by PHG), GTE +9% (momentum), WIT +8.6% (CSFB upgrade), JVA +8% (momentum), SKS +6% (Mad Money mention; Citigroup upgrade), PIXR +5.9% (WSJ says DIS looking to acquire PIXR), ABS +5.8% (bidders revive deal talk – WSJ), ACLS +5.3% (Needham upgrade), GLW +5.2% (positive CIBC comments), KNOT +5% (announces litigation stay; Roth upgrade), BRCD +4.4% (files 10-K, finds no material weaknesses), HGSI +4.2% (Wachovia upgrade), IIJI +4% (to create joint venture), ANTP +3.9% (momentum), GIGM +3.6%, TS +3% (Morgan Stanley upgrade), MCD +2.9% (Piper upgrade), ESLR +2.6%, LLTC +2.6% (Goldman upgrade), GM +2.1%, MRVL +2.1%… Gold/mining stocks strong as gold prices higher in pre-mkt: AUY +3.9%, HMY +3.6%, GFI +2.5%, AU +2.2%… Under $3: HIV +20% (introduces OTC test), GNBT +14% (announces scheduling of a meeting with Health Canada), ONT +11%, ZL +7.7%.

Disclaimer & How I use this list