Winning and Losing in the Gorilla Game
June 7, 2001
Trying to pick the next Microsoft? Check out the battles of Cisco vs. Juniper and Intel vs. AMD.

Why Dividends? There Doesn't Seem to Be a Good Answer
June 4, 2001
Dividends have lost their importance as investors find better, more efficient ways to get returns.

Navigating a Dangerous Sea
Navigating a Dangerous Sea (cont'd)
May 31, 2001
The stock market and gold are stuck in the same little lifeboat together.

Proposed Tax Cut Isn't the Stimulant We Need
May 29, 2001
A cut in the capital gains tax would cure the current investment-led slowdown.

The Gold Game: Electrified by the Third Rail
May 23, 2001
The topic of gold has sparked disagreement, but that's what all trades are based on.

AT&T Wireless: Playing the Index Card
May 22, 2001
Indexers of the S&P 500 could contend with AT&T's exchange in a few different ways.

The Gold Game: Reasons for the Short Squeeze
May 21, 2001
Shorts aren't being squeezed at random: The reasons fit right into the end-of-deflation thesis.

Firms That Avoid the Knife Might Have a Brighter Future
May 18, 2001
In the communications equipment sector, if the cutting is too severe firms could suffer.

The Gold Game: Hedging Inventory Risk
May 18, 2001
The most important difference among gold companies is how they decide to handle this risk.

The Gold Game: Singing a New Tune
May 17, 2001
The recent gold breakout tells us that the Fed's finally turned this deflation around.

It's Not Enough
May 15, 2001
Nothing but the most aggressive, immediate and persistent easing by the Fed will do.

The History of 'Bull' and 'Bear'
May 15, 2001
Oh, and that Fed meeting? Don't get your hopes up for a huge celebration.

Wal-Mart: A New Economy Play
May 14, 2001
The key to its continuing dominance may be its precious market information.

Stuck in a Sensory-Deprivation Tank, the Hallucinations Begin
May 11, 2001
Want more proof of a bear-market rally? Check out Thursday's action after a semiconductor upgrade.

Hoping for Gold's Truth to Set Us Free
May 10, 2001
The recent move in gold just might be the catalyst we needed, but it's too soon to tell.

Cisco's Conundrum: A Broken Virtuous Cycle
May 9, 2001
If the company's going to produce strong returns, it needs productivity to grow.

Cisco's Upgrade Is Good -- for Extreme
May 8, 2001
No matter what it says later Tuesday, Cisco will rock the sector. And investors could capitalize with Extreme Networks.

Cisco Upgrade: A Matter of Capitulation?
May 8, 2001
The market's reaction will speak volumes about the health of the NASDAQ's recovery.

It Just Seems Too Easy
May 7, 2001
The markets need more than a technical snapback to keep the advance advancing.

The Bookends of the Now-Finished Rally
May 4, 2001
News of revenue stabilization marks the beginning -- and end -- of the latest market move.

Revisiting the NASDAQ, the Russell and That SOX Strangle
May 2, 2001
See how three previous ideas have played out over the past month.

Russell 2000's Breakout Might Signal the Real Thing
April 30, 2001
It's the first technical clue that this might be more than a bear-market rally.

Indexers: A Free Ride on Market Efficiency
April 30, 2001
Read an open letter to Lou Rukeyser and learn more about index funds.

Still Camping Out With the Bears
April 27, 2001
While some of the bulls' arguments are compelling, this is still a bear-market rally.

Money: Matching Supply With Demand
Money: Matching Supply With Demand (cont'd)
April 26, 2001
Don't let the money supply make you think the Fed has eased enough.

The Tape Trumps the Fed
April 25, 2001
Don't ignore the NASDAQ barometer just because it's giving you a weather forecast you don't like.

Getting a Hold on the SOX Strangle
April 24, 2001
As a hedge, this options play could give disciplined semiconductor investors an edge.

History Lessons: The Best 10-Day Rallies
April 20, 2001
Today's NASDAQ run and the 1932 S&P boom share important similarities -- and differences.

The Fed's Shock Therapy
The Fed's Shock Therapy (cont'd)
April 19, 2001
Rates have to be cut in big increments when they're not expected. Here's why.

A Cautionary Tale From Japan
April 18, 2001
Although the NASDAQ seems to be following the Nikkei's path, the U.S. and Japan are quite different.

Hope Is Not a Strategy
April 16, 2001
So what if it's a bear-market rally? You can still make money.

Morgan Analyst Proves His Mettle on Redback
April 12, 2001
Sometimes you need a wartime consigliere on your side.

Enjoy the Move While It Lasts
April 11, 2001
The market was simply due for a bounce, and we're finally getting one.

Let the Sunshine In and Cut Rates, Already
April 10, 2001
Don't get excited about the Sunshine Act notice. The Fed just held a regular closed meeting.

Geron Gets a Shot in the Arm
April 9, 2001
No longer an ideal short, this stock could benefit from new legislation on stem-cell research.

The Rules Are Changing
April 6, 2001
For this to be more than a bear-market rally, deep fundamentals will have to change, too.

History Lessons: Learning From Past Mistakes
History Lessons: Learning From Past Mistakes (cont'd)
April 5, 2001
If the worst happens, we could chart the same course as Japan in the '90s -- or the U.S. in the '30s.

History Lessons: Honing In on the NASDAQ
April 4, 2001
When this index's rubber band is stretched so far, can a snapback be far behind?

History Lessons: Looking at the S&P 500
April 3, 2001
If you think the worst is behind us, think again. It can get much worse than this.

Of Promises and Responsibility
April 2, 2001
Before placing blame for bear market performance, think of which funds kept their promises -- and which ones didn't.

Get Ready for the End-of-Quarter Whirlwind
March 30, 2001
A lot of forces will be moving the market, but none has much to do with stocks' real worth.

The Inner Monologue of Today's CEO
March 29, 2001
Because execs aren't talking out loud, markets are left to imagine the worst-case scenario.

The BlueArc Shark
March 27, 2001
The private company hopes its radical technology eats storage giants like EMC and Network Appliance alive.

Capitalizing on a Crisis With Capstone
March 27, 2001
With killer technology, Capstone looks like a win amid California's energy problems.

Passing Out the Bull and Bear Awards
March 26, 2001
Forget best direction. Our categories include technicals and macroeconomics.

By Definition, the Bear Debate Doesn't Matter
March 23, 2001
Who cares if we're really in a bear market? The only interesting effect is psychological.

Defining Deflation: The Gold Tell
March 22, 2001
When the Fed finally turns this deflation around, gold will let us know.

After Fed Cut, Little Optimism Is Left
March 21, 2001
The market is adjusting to the bleak reality of a gradual easing, which won't repair the deflation.

Is the Third Rate Cut a Charm?
March 20, 2001
If Greenspan takes the gradualist path, expect more from the bears.

Fighting the Shorts on Alexion
March 20, 2001
While people love to short its stock, this biotech company has plenty in its pipeline.

Charting History for the Major Indices
Charting History for the Major Indices (cont'd)
March 19, 2001
A look at the charts shows that we're in a serious pickle, sitting at a critically dangerous spot.

Your Options Are Up
March 16, 2001
Today is the day the March stock options, index futures and index options expire -- and the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 get rebalanced.

Showing Symptoms of a Crisis
March 15, 2001
With Japan's threat and McDonald's warning, we've got enough to start talking about a cure

NASDAQ: The Canary in the Mineshaft
March 14, 2001
With 'less-than-zero' visibility, is it any wonder the atmosphere feels poisonous?

Defining Deflation: Debunking the Greenspan Myth
Defining Deflation: Debunking the Greenspan Myth (cont'd)
March 13, 2001
Not even the Fed chairman and a rate cut will fix the market now.

Revisiting Geron: Still at Ground Zero
March 9, 2001
Despite a corrected report, this biotech company remains at the intersection of many negatives.

Biotech Scare Punctures Geron's Long-Term Prospects
March 8, 2001
Recent news and politics make this stem-cell researcher a candidate for shorting.

Hard Times, Cheap Stocks
March 8, 2001
After the Yahoo! news, corporate America revisits a retro '80s theme.

Closing the Loophole on a Buy Signal
March 7, 2001
One reliable indicator shows that a NASDAQ bottom may finally be close at hand.

Xbox Could Mark the Spot for a Microsoft Smash
March 6, 2001
No matter what analyst Henry Blodget says, the new gaming console has the makings of a hit.

Defining Deflation: The Ideal Indicators
Defining Deflation: The Ideal Indicators (cont'd)
March 6, 2001
Basic commodities signal inflation or deflation earlier and more reliably than the CPI's components.

Defining Deflation: The Unreliable CPI
March 5, 2001
This indicator has a fatal flaw in its methodology: It's inherently very, very lagging.

The Paradox of Index Funds and Tech Stocks
March 2, 2001
When tech stocks drop, an index buy program will actually have to purchase more shares.

Defining Deflation: Why Cash Is King
Defining Deflation: Why Cash Is King (cont'd)
March 3, 2001
The more the prices of things go down, the more urgently we want to get out of them. Sound familiar?

The Mouse That Roared
February 27, 2001
Abgenix not only has a better mousetrap -- it's got a better mouse.

Experimenting With Rate Scenarios
February 27, 2001
Find out what the markets and dead cats have in common in this Fed-related analogy.

And Now, a Few Kind Words for Tech Stocks
February 26, 2001
If the Fed lowers rates again this week, the NASDAQ might just be your best bet.

They Shoot on the Good News, Don't They?
February 23, 2001
There's nothing wrong at BEA, as the company's conference call proved. But it's getting killed anyway.

Futures: The Key to Predicting Fed Moves
February 23, 2001
If you can do simple algebra, you can read a lot into the fed futures contracts. Here's how.

Who Moved Brocade's Cheese?
February 22, 2001
In this efficient market maze, investors sniffed out the company's latest report and reacted accordingly.

Imagine There's No Panic
February 21, 2001
Tempted to sell all of your long positions right now? It might just be the pain talking.

No Gods in the Executive Suite
February 20, 2001
We can't blame CEOs for the lack of visibility. We can only blame ourselves.

Bad News Bears Still Rule Sentiment
February 16, 2001
No matter what you hear, investor sentiment is still in the gutter.

The Right Side of the Nortel Panic
February 16, 2001
Lots of networking stocks will take a dive Friday morning -- but that should be an opportunity.

When the Fail-Safe Points Actually Fail
February 15, 2001
With charting, it has to be bad to be good. And the bulls' patience will soon be rewarded.

Bottoms Up: A Painful Process
February 13, 2001
Ahead of Greenspan's testimony, this irresolute market is trying to tell us something.

Philosophizing Amid the Market's Chaos
February 12, 2001
Reality didn't matter at the top. And it won't matter at the bottom, either.

Blame It on Washington
February 9, 2001
It's not Cisco's fault that we're slipping into a recession. Interest rates and taxes are just too high.

Short-Sellers Find Themselves in a New Squeeze
January 25, 2001
Playing expiring IPO lockups isn't easy money anymore. Score one for the bulls.

From Growth to Value, or Vice Versa
December 29, 2000
Today these members of the S&P 500 are being switched from one Barra Index to another.

The December Effect You Didn't Know About
December 20, 2000
Still hoping some of those once-hot newcomers you own will recover? Then read about Alternative Minimum Tax.

Winners and Losers from Reshuffling the NASDAQ 100
December 15, 2000
Buying pressure should push up the prices of stocks entering on Friday, and should push down the prices of those exiting.

Winners & Losers From S&P 500 Rebalancing
December 14, 2000
Here's a list of the stocks the indexers will be buying tomorrow -- and what they'll be selling.

What Biotech Bubble?
What Biotech Bubble? (cont'd)
December 7, 2000
Value the biotech industry on a reasonable yardstick -- market cap per potential drug -- and biotechs are no more expensive than the big pharmas.

Hunting Season on the S&P
December 6, 2000
Every time a stock joins the index, it's possible to make money by exploiting the index fund managers.

Out of the Valley of Death
December 5, 2000
The bearishness is so thick you can cut it with a chain saw.

The Implications Beyond Microsoft
November 24, 2000
If the court spares the software maker, the NASDAQ should take off.

The Microsoft Recount: Judge Jackson's Ruling Contains Fallacies
November 22, 2000
Two think-tank scholars explain why antitrust charges could be totally dismissed on appeal.

The Microsoft Recount
November 20, 2000
Too many investors are writing off the upcoming Microsoft appeal. Don't be one of them.

The Most Dangerous Trading Game?
The Most Dangerous Trading Game? (cont'd)
November 20, 2000
Playing the S&P 500 adds last week was a lesson in humility. Here's why, and how to better game the game.

Gaming the Add
November 14, 2000
Guess what? It's time for more fun and games with the S&P 500 additions/subtractions -- this time with Seagate-Veritas.

The Art of the Pairs Trade
November 3, 2000
They make sense when you are bullish on one company, and bearish on its competitor.

A Politicized Market
October 26, 2000
The market seems to follow the race for the Oval Office as much as earnings and tech-sector woes.

A Short Course in Not Losing Your Shirt
A Short Course in Not Losing Your Shirt (cont'd)
September 25, 2000
Friday's action was classic panic, but it doesn't mean you have to lose money.

Has Gilder Lost His Golden Touch?
September 25, 2000
By some measures, the futurist-cum-stockpicker has; by others, he remains an astonishing visionary.

Porkbellies and Politics
September 8, 2000
In Iowa's online futures market, you can bet the House -- and on the president.

More on Cleaning Up Discussion Boards
September 9, 2000
Emails pour in over the suggestion that professionals should be required to identify themselves in messages.

Yes, Message Boards Are Used to Manipulate Stocks -- By the Pros
August 30, 2000
Want to stop message board abuse? Strip away professionals' veil of anonymity.

The Great Inflation Hoax
August 29, 2000
If anything, the market is telling us it's deflation. Will the Fed respond by dropping interest rates?

Soros: A Reluctant Appreciation
August 15, 2000
The wildly successful financier has profited not by quelling panic, but promoting it.

So, You Wanna Be An Arb?
So, You Wanna Be An Arb? (cont'd)
August 3, 2000
There's a tempting spread in the pending merger of JDS Uniphase and SDL -- and a big risk too.

Who Said Indexing Was Simple?
July 25, 2000
In response to a flood of requests, more on the ins and outs of this week's changes to the S&P 500 Index.

Predictable Chaos
July 24, 2000
Changes to the S&P 500 this week will create problems -- and opportunities for the informed trader.

Fast Company
July 19, 2000
Short-term trading has gotten a bad rap. But who's pointing the finger, and why?

The Inner Circle
July 12, 2000
A small group wields the power to move tens of billions in a few stocks. Who are they?

The Rambus You Didn't Know
July 5, 2000 01:50 PM ET
Always good for a quick five-point trade, Rambus may have finally become a long-term love affair.

An Open Invitation
June 26, 2000
Not just a trendy phrase, open money management means finding great ideas away from the Wall Street cabal.