Volatility
Nektar’s plunge is a buying opportunity–so I’m adding more to my Volatility Portfolio
What we know about Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) is pretty clear. On Thursday of last week, August 8, trading in shares of Nektar were halted on news from the company had manufacturing problems that resulted in some patients enrolled in the clinical trials for the...
A fine volatility this is–just kind of strange
This post should be song to the tune of "A Fine Romance." (It helps if you can dance like Fred Astaire. Or sing like Ella.) "A fine romance, with no kisses A fine romance, my friend, this is We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes But you're as cold as yesterday's...
Selling my Parsley Energy call options out of my Volatility Portfolio
Shares of Permian Basin oil shale producer Parsley Energy (PE) were up 16.45% as of 3 p.m. New York time this afternoon. The company reported second quarter earnings of 32 cents a share (after adjusting for a one-time tax-related gain). Unadjusted earnings came to 41...
Trump’s new round of China tariffs freaks out financial–especially bond–markets
So much for any hopes that the resumption of U.S-China trade talks would put an end to the tariff war in anything like the near term. The new round of talks only began on Wednesday, was adjourned after a day, and was scheduled to resume in Washington in September....
Selling Pro Shares Short Treasury ETF out of my Volatility Portfolio
I bought this position in the Pro Shares Short 7-10 Year Treasury ETF (TBX) in my Volatility Portfolio on February 2, 2018, back in the days when it looked like the Federal Reserve was firmly locked into a policy of interest rate increases. An interest rate increase...
Using softness to add more Treasury exposure to Volatility Portfolio
Treasury prices have been a little weak over the last two weeks. As a consequence the Vanguard Intermediate Term Treasury ETF (VGIT) and the Vanguard Short Term Treasury ETF (VGSH), for example, have dropped from highs on June 25 of $66.03 and $60.94, respectively, to...
July interest rate cut from Fed looks like done deal after Powell testimony
Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell had an opportunity this morning to talk down the odds of an interest rate cut at the central bank's July 31 meeting in testimony in front of the House Financial Services Committee. He didn't--and I think that makes a 25 basis point...
Sangamo gets RMAT status for its hemophilia gene therapy
On July 5 Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO) and partner Pfizer (PFE) announced update results of a Phase 1/2 study of Sangamo's SB-525 gene therapy for severe hemophilia A. The companies also announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration had granted regenerative...
Head of Cleveland Fed argues against July interest rate cut–markets shrugs off her comments
In a speech today, July 2, in London Loretta Mester, president of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank, argued against an interest rate cut at the central bank's July 31 meeting. “Cutting rates at this juncture could reinforce negative sentiment about a deterioration in...
Bonus Dividend Pick for my Volatility Portfolio–DOW, a cash cow with a 5.5% yield
Today, June 28, I added Corteva (CTVA), one of the three stocks to emerge from the merger, reorganization, and then breakup of Dow and DuPont, to my Volatility Portfolio. Â . On Monday, Â I'll be adding another from that breakup to my Volatility Portfolio. This time...
Adding Palo Alto Networks, #6 in my 10 Best Picks for the Rest of 2019, to my Jubak Picks and Volatility Portfolios tomorrow
Today I made Palo Alto Networks (PANW) the sixth pick in my Special Report 10 Best Picks for the Rest of 2019. Tomorrow, June 28, I'll add these shares to my Jubak Picks Portfolio and my Volatility Portfolio with a target price of $260. The stock closed at $204.89...Jim’s Stock Alerts
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