In this exclusive StockCharts video, Julius takes a look at asset class rotation on Relative Rotation Graphs. He then addresses the 6 sectors that are NOT in the “best five sectors” for this week. To conclude, he dives into the Technology sector to find some of the best performing (relative) stocks.
This video was originally published on January 13, 2025. Click on the icon above to view on our dedicated page for Julius.
Past videos from Julius can be found here.
#StayAlert, -Julius
In this video, Tony starts the week with a very different tone as he looks at how markets are currently playing out. He then shares individual trade ideas, pointing out which ones they continue to have a bullish or bearish outlooks on. He looks at some key stocks including META, NVDA, AAPL, and more. This segment is meant to be the foundation of all of the trade ideas that OptionsPlay sends to members throughout the week.
This video premiered on January 13, 2025.
Mali’s government has begun seizing gold stockpiled at Barrick Gold’s (TSX:ABX,NYSE:GOLD) Loulo-Gounkoto mine, enforcing a provisional order issued last week amid a dispute over changes to the nation’s mining rules.
The seizure was confirmed by Barrick in a memo to staff, according to a Monday (January 13) Reuters report. The military-led government continues to claim a greater share of mining revenues from foreign operators.
The enforcement began on Saturday (January 11), as per Barrick’s memo, which notes that the company may be compelled to suspend operations at the site if the issue remains unresolved.
Loulo-Gounkoto contributes significantly to Barrick’s global production, and is set to account for about 14 percent of its gold output for 2025. Barrick has an 80 percent stake, with the Malian government owning the remaining 20 percent.
While Barrick has not disclosed the exact volume of gold affected, internal estimates suggest that around 4 metric tons of gold, valued at approximately US$380 million based on the current spot price, are at stake.
Multiple sources told Reuters on Monday that around 3 metric tons had already been seized from the site by helicopter as of Saturday, with one source valuing the seized gold at US$245 billion.
The move comes amid ongoing tensions over the Malian government’s claims of unpaid taxes and dividends. Mali claims the company owes US$512 million in unpaid taxes and dividends, a claim Barrick has rejected.
On January 6, the company warned it would have to halt operations if the government continued to restrict gold shipments. Barrick is seeking arbitration through the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes.
The conflict has led to multiple detentions of Barrick executives, with the most recent occurring in November, after negotiations between broke down. In early December, the country issued an arrest warrant for CEO Mark Bristow.
Gold is Mali’s primary export, contributing over 80 percent of the country’s total export revenues in 2023. The West African country’s government has been led by the military since a 2021 coup.
In 2023, Mali introduced a new mining code that aims to raise its stake in mining operations from 20 to 35 percent. It also allows the government to collect 7.5 percent of sales revenue when the gold price exceeds US$1,500 per ounce.
Last year, following an audit into the mining sector, Mali began pursuing alleged back taxes and dividends owed by international mining companies working in the country.
Finance Minister Alousseni Sanou said Mali expects to collect 750 billion CFA francs, about US$1.2 billion, from miners in the first quarter of 2025, following a similar collection of 500 billion CFA francs in late 2024.
Some companies have already come to agreements with the Malian government. For example, B2Gold (TSX:BTO,NYSEAMERICAN:BTG) reached a new agreement last September for its Fekola operations. It includes financial settlements and a commitment from Mali to expedite permitting for the Fekola underground mine.
Australia’s Resolute Mining (ASX:RSG,LSE:RSG) resolved a tax dispute with the government in November 2024 by agreeing to pay US$160 million after its CEO and two other executives were detained in Mali.
Barrick’s dispute remains unresolved at this time.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Flynn Gold (FG1:AU) has announced Flynn Expands Key Gold Targets at Golden Ridge, NE Tasmania
Download the PDF here.
Stock futures are trading slightly lower Monday morning as investors gear up for the final month of 2024. S&P 500 futures slipped 0.18%, alongside declines in Dow Jones Industrial Average futures and Nasdaq 100 futures, which dropped 0.13% and 0.17%, respectively. The market’s focus is shifting to upcoming economic data, particularly reports on manufacturing and construction spending, ahead of this week’s key labor data releases.
November was a standout month for equities, with the S&P 500 futures rallying to reflect the index’s best monthly performance of the year. Both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average achieved all-time highs during Friday’s shortened trading session, with the Dow briefly surpassing 45,000. Small-cap stocks also saw robust gains, with the Russell 2000 index surging over 10% in November, buoyed by optimism around potential tax cuts.
As trading kicks off in December, investors are keeping a close eye on geopolitical developments in Europe, where France’s CAC 40 index dropped 0.77% amid political concerns, while Germany’s DAX and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 showed smaller declines.
S&P 500 futures will likely continue to act as a key barometer for market sentiment, particularly as traders assess the impact of upcoming economic data and global market developments.
This 15-minute chart of the S&P 500 Index shows a recent trend where the index attempted to break above the resistance level near 6,044.17 but retraced slightly to close at 6,032.39, reflecting a minor decline of 0.03% in the session. The candlestick pattern indicates some indecisiveness after a steady upward momentum seen earlier in the day.
On the RSI (Relative Strength Index) indicator, the value sits at 62.07, having declined from the overbought zone above 70 earlier. This suggests that the bullish momentum might be cooling off, and traders could anticipate a short-term consolidation or slight pullback. However, with RSI above 50, the overall trend remains positive, favoring buyers.
The index’s recent low of 5,944.36 marks a key support level, while the high at 6,044.17 could act as resistance. If the price sustains above the 6,020 level and RSI stabilizes without breaking below 50, the index could attempt another rally. Conversely, a drop below 6,020 could indicate a bearish shift.
In conclusion, the index displays potential for continued gains, but traders should watch RSI levels and price action near the support and resistance zones for confirmation.
The post Stock Futures Lower after S&P 500 futures ticked down 0.18% appeared first on FinanceBrokerage.
Stock futures climbed on Wednesday, driven by strong performances from Salesforce and Marvell Technology, following upbeat quarterly earnings. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 215 points (0.5%), while S&P 500 futures gained 0.3%, and Nasdaq-100 futures advanced by 0.7%.
Salesforce surged 12% after reporting fiscal third-quarter revenue that exceeded expectations, showcasing robust demand in the enterprise software sector. Meanwhile, chipmaker Marvell jumped 14% after surpassing earnings estimates and providing optimistic fourth-quarter guidance, indicating resilience in the semiconductor industry.
This movement follows a mixed session on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed with small gains, while the Dow dipped slightly. The broader market has experienced a modest start to December, contrasting with November’s robust rally, but analysts anticipate a resurgence in momentum. LPL Financial’s George Smith pointed out that December historically sees strong market performance, particularly in the latter half of the month.
However, economic data introduced some caution. ADP’s report revealed that private payrolls grew by just 146,000 in November, missing estimates of 163,000. This signals potential softness in the labor market, with investors now awaiting Friday’s November jobs report for further clarity.
Based on the provided stock chart, which appears to be a 15-minute candlestick chart for the S&P 500 Index, here’s a brief analysis:
The chart shows a clear upward trend, with higher highs and higher lows indicating bullish momentum over the analyzed period. The index has steadily climbed from a low of approximately 5,855 to a recent high of 6,053.58, suggesting strong buying interest.
Key resistance is observed near 6,050-6,053 levels, as the price has struggled to break above this zone in the most recent sessions. If the index breaches this level with strong volume, it could lead to further upward movement. Conversely, failure to break out may lead to a pullback, with potential support around the 6,000 psychological level and 5,980, where consolidation occurred previously.
The candlestick patterns show relatively small wicks, indicating limited volatility, which could imply steady market confidence. However, the bullish rally could be overextended, warranting caution for traders, especially if any negative catalysts emerge.
In summary, the short-term trend is bullish, but traders should monitor resistance levels and volume for signs of a breakout or reversal. It’s also essential to watch broader market factors, as indices are often influenced by macroeconomic data and sentiment.
The post S&P 500 climbed 0.3%, and Nasdaq-100 futures jumped 0.7% appeared first on FinanceBrokerage.
The Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday said two related Robinhood broker-dealers agreed to pay $45 million in combined penalties to settle administrative charges that they violated more than 10 separate securities law provisions related to their brokerage operations.
The violations by Robinhood Securities LLC and Robinhood Financial LLC are related to failures to report suspicious trading in a timely manner, failing to implement adequate identity theft protections and failing to adequately address unauthorized access to Robinhood computer systems, the SEC said.
The two Robinhood entities also had longstanding failures to maintain and preserve electronic communications, failed to retain copies of operational databases, and failed to maintain some customer communications as legally required between 2020 and 2021, according to the agency.
The SEC said that Robinhood Securities alone failed for more than five years “to provide complete and accurate securities trading information, known as blue sheet data” to the agency.
According to an SEC order made public Monday, “During the [Electronic Blue Sheets] Relevant Period, in response to requests from the Commission, Robinhood Securities made at least 11,849 EBS submissions to the Commission that contained inaccurate information or omissions, resulting from eleven types of errors.”
“Those errors resulted in the misreporting of EBS data for at least 392 million transactions,” the order said.
Sanjay Wadhwa, the acting director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, in a statement, said, “It is essential to the Commission’s broader efforts to protect investors and promote the integrity and fairness of our markets that broker-dealers satisfy their legal obligations when carrying out their various market functions.”
“Today’s order finds that two Robinhood firms failed to observe a broad array of significant regulatory requirements, including failing to accurately report trading activity, comply with short sale rules, submit timely suspicious activity reports, maintain books and records, and safeguard customer information,” Wadhwa said.
Robinhood Markets General Counsel Lukas Moskowitz, in a statement, said, “We are pleased to resolve these matters. As the SEC’s order acknowledges, most of these are historical matters that our broker-dealers have previously addressed.”
“We are well-positioned to continue leading the industry in developing the innovative products and services our customers want and need to participate in U.S. and global financial markets,” Moskowitz said. “We look forward to working with the SEC under a new administration.”
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment announced on Monday a joint venture with Comcast Spectacor to build a new arena in South Philadelphia for the NBA’s 76ers and the NHL’s Flyers.
The deal represents a reversal from previous plans to build an arena in the Center City district of Philadelphia.
Harris Blitzer and Comcast Spectacor have entered into a binding agreement for a 50-50 stake in the project at South Philadelphia’s Sports Complex, which is slated to open in 2031. It will include the revitalization of Market East in Center City, the original proposed location for an arena. In December, the Philadelphia 76ers received approval to build a $1.3 billion arena downtown after more than two years of contentious negotiations.
The deal announced Monday will give Comcast a minority stake in the 76ers and naming rights to the arena. The Philadelphia-based company will also join HBSE’s bid to bring a WNBA team to the Liberty City.
Comcast Spectacor is already majority owner of the Philadelphia Flyers.
“From the start, we envisioned a project that would be transformative for our city and deliver the type of experience our fans deserve,” said HBSE’s Josh Harris, David Blitzer and David Adelman in a statement. “By coming together with [Comcast CEO Brian Roberts] and Comcast, this partnership ensures Philadelphia will have two developments instead of one, creating more jobs and real, sustainable economic opportunity.”
In committing to both investments, the companies say they will create thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in economic activity for the region.
“This has the potential to benefit our city for generations to come,” said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker during a news conference Monday.
Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of CNBC.