ETFs That Focus On Military-Friendly Companies

Posted on by Matt Thalman

Most people would agree that military life isn’t an easy one, both while serving and once someone becomes a veteran. But there are a few companies that are trying to make our service members lives easier both while they are serving in the armed forces and after they hang up their uniforms.

Obviously, while someone is a member of any of the branches of our military, they are using tools, weapons, vehicles, and technology built by an aerospace and defense company which makes their lives easier and ideally their jobs safer. Let’s take a look at a few Exchange Traded Funds that operate in the development and manufacturing of these products.

One of the larger aerospace and defense ETFs, based on assets under management is the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA). The fund carries a 0.43% expense ratio, it holds 35 stocks, with the top ten representing 75.44% of the assets, (largely due to Boeing Company (BA) and United Technology (UTX) representing 22.97% and 15.52% of the fund respectively). ITA also has a nice 1.09% dividend yield, a weighted average market cap of $80.96 billion, and average trading volume of $30.15 million. The fund has also been in existence since 2006, and its ten-year average annual performance is a positive 19.44%, making this one of the better performing ETFs over the last decade. Year-to-date the fund is up 24.25%. Continue reading "ETFs That Focus On Military-Friendly Companies" →

Gold Hit First Target

Posted on by Aibek Burabayev

Last Wednesday gold had hit the minimum target of $1490 that we were waiting for since January when the price was at $1288. The target was clear, but the path was not and only this May the market eliminated one of three possible options. One month later, it has finally shown its real face leaving the single initial path to go.

Last month gold advanced quite well, but it failed ahead of the first target. I spotted the consolidation on the 4-hour chart and shared it with you to reassure disappointed bullish traders as to when the price doesn’t reach the target someone could start to exit early. Consolidations are tricky by nature, and I showed you three possible types it could unfold. Let’s see below which one you liked the most.

Gold Poll

The triangular type was your first choice; the simple correction was the second with a minor gap, and the complex flat was the least liked. And again the majority of you were right as this was a triangle. Let’s see it in the updated 4-hourly chart below. Continue reading "Gold Hit First Target" →

Weekly Futures Recap With Mike Seery

Posted on by Mike Seery

Gold Futures

Gold futures in the December contract is currently trading at 1,509 after settling last Friday in New York at 1,457 up over $50 for the trading week hitting a 6-year high as interest rates in the United States and worldwide continue to drop precipitously weekly. China devalued its currency this week to an 11 year low against the U.S dollar as there is sheer panic worldwide that is causing gold prices to move higher as I am not involved, but I do believe higher prices are ahead.

If you are long a futures contract place the stop loss under the 2 week low standing at 1,412 as the charge structure is terrible at the current time due to the run-up in prices, however, I also have bullish recommendations in silver and platinum as money flows continue to enter into these sectors.

Gold prices are trading far above their 20 and 100-day moving average as this is probably the strongest trend besides the bond market at the current time as I see no reason to be short especially with all this worldwide uncertainty so if you are long-stay long. If you are not involved in this market, I would not chase this as that is very dangerous as you have missed the boat so move on and look at other markets that are beginning to trend with less risk.

TREND: HIGHER
CHART STRUCTURE: EXCELLENT
VOLATILITY: INCREASING

Silver Futures

Silver futures in the September contract settled last Friday in New York at 16.39 an ounce while currently trading at 16.94 up about $0.55 as prices hit a 13 month high continuing its bullish momentum following the coattails of gold which is at a 6 year high.

Interest rates around the world continue to plunge to the downside as that is a fundamental bullish factor towards silver prices as I have been recommending a bullish position from the 14.93 level and if you took the trade continue to place the stop loss at 16.08 on a closing basis only as an exit strategy. Continue reading "Weekly Futures Recap With Mike Seery" →

What Does Life Insurance Have To Do With Options Trading?

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Generating smooth and consistent income month after month without predicting which way the stock market will move is the objective of options trading. Running an option-based portfolio offers a superior risk profile relative to a stock-based portfolio while providing a statistical edge to optimize favorable trade outcomes. Options trading is a long-term game that requires discipline, patience, time, maximizing the number of trade occurrences and continuing to trade through all market conditions. Put simply; an options-based approach provides a margin of safety with a decreased risk profile while providing high-probability win rates. Essentially, options are a bet on where stocks won’t go, not where they will go. Sticking to a set of fundamentals, this approach can provide long-term, high-probability win rates to generate consistent income while circumventing drastic market moves. In July, I posted a 96% (24/25) options win rate, and over the previous 10 months through both bull and bear markets that win rate percentage was 87% (199/230). Over the previous 10 months, the options-based portfolio outperformed the S&P 500 over the same period by a significant margin producing a 6.1% return against a 2.3% for the S&P 500.

What Does Life Insurance Have To Do With Options Trading?

Insurance companies sell policies based on actuaries and risk factors, then price these polices to their advantage. Insurance companies are betting on probabilities across insurance products and sell overpriced policies above their expected losses. The insurer agrees to pay out a specific amount of money for a specific loss (i.e., death). In return, the insurance company is paid monthly premiums, and based on this risk-based revenue model; it’s a very profitable business. Insurance companies sell policies with a premium cost level that maximizes a statistical edge to the insurance company’s benefit. The goal is to collect premiums over the course of the policy and never payout on the policies they sell to you. So, the probability of paying out on the policy is very low while the premiums received, over the policy lifespan will exceed your total benefit. Continue reading "What Does Life Insurance Have To Do With Options Trading?" →

Stocks Fall On Amplified Trade Fears

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Hello traders everywhere. Stocks fell Friday after President Trump suggested that a meeting with China on trade might be canceled, capping a tumultuous week driven by the trade war and emerging currency fight between the U.S. and China.

"We're not ready to make a deal, but we'll see what happens," President Trump told reporters Friday morning. "We will see whether or not China keeps our meeting in September."

The DOW slid -0.9% in midday trading on Friday losing over 200 pts. The S&P 500 dropped -1.1%, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ was down -1.4%. The indexes had been down to open the day and fell further as the president commented on trade progress.

For a weekly view the S&P 500 is down roughly -.9 for the week unable to erase the losses of the week, in fact, the DOW will lose -1.2% and the NASDAQ will lose -1% making for a tough week.

Gold and Bitcoin had great weeks posting weekly gains of +4% and +8% while crude oils struggle continued losing -1.4% on the week.

Key Levels To Watch Next Week:

Continue reading "Stocks Fall On Amplified Trade Fears" →