See article here: http://www.cnbc.com/id/44429067 

Two questions: 

1. How does extending the payroll tax break create 600,000 jobs?

2. How can a government that doesn't have two nickels to rub together afford this? 

Gold up $40.00 today yet the miners sell off into the close.  I know: mining costs are up. Big deal: they're no higher than they were yesterday, but gold IS $40.00 higher today and heading to $1700+.  Mining stocks should be soaring to all-time highs.  When will this nonsense (manipulation) end?????

I place stops on low priced stocks all the time.  I'm baffled why fidelity says different rules apply to SCEI.  Matt or Steve, any ideas?? 

They state a stop loss order cannot be placed for this security

Any idea why Fidelity won't allow me to place a stop loss order on this stock??

I'm out as well...@ $2.30/share.  In late yesterday at $1.85.  A cool 24% gain essentially overnight.  Thank you Matt for the posting.

Bought this stock for a core position at $0.62/share back in 2008....holding through thick and thin ever since.  When the stock went parabolic late last week, vaulting outside its upper Bollinger band Friday afternoon, I took 2/3rds of my position off the table, selling at $3.175...with the idea of buying back in a week or two after the "inevitable" pullback. Stock rocketed higher yet again today, and although I still own 1/3rd of my original position and made some more $$$, it feels like I tried to be too clever.  Still think I did the right thing - stock has risen like an elevator for too many days running.

Thoughts??

This is just to remind anyone planning to purchase USO through their retirement account that you will receive an end of year K-1 (and be required to pay tax on the earnings) if you make any money on the trade.  That's correct!!  USO is a Limited Partnership (LP) and there's a little known law on the books that trumps the fact that you're investing through a tax deferred account.  

Happened to me a few years back; I questioned Fidelity about it, they researched the issue and found that limited partnerships by law must issue all shareholders K-1's at end of year, regardless of whether investments are on a pre-tax or after tax basis.  Not saying therefore not to do the trade, just to be aware of the tax consequences if doing so through a profit sharing plan, 401k plan or IRA.

For what its worth, I prefer the former video format that allows the reader to scroll through the audio to match it with any screen within the newsletter.  Today's new format does not accommodate that option, though I do think the yellow highlight feature is a positive improvement.

Giant flag playing out for another highly speculative 1 or 2 day pop??  Thoughts

Laurey,

Your son may be eligible for the New England Regional Student Tuition Program where you pay in-state tuition (same as what a Massachusetts resident pays) if your home state (Maine) does not have a comparable program.  Check it out if you have not done so already:

http://www.umass.edu/admissions/financial_aid/NERSP/

Steve, Matt or anyone else:

I use a Fidelity Investments brokerage account for trading.  Often when setting stops I receive a warning message from Fidelity before they execute the order that says: "Stop orders placed for OTC securities may be cancelled at any time at the market maker's discretion."

Is that really true??  If so, what's a trader to do?  Is this their way of discouraging trading??

Help!  I'm finding it difficult placing stops on low priced ($1.00-$2.00) stocks that have done well for me (gains of 30-40%).  Most have large spreads between the bid & ask.  Want some protection but don't want to give up 1/3rd of the gain doing so if the market maker is willing to take me out.  For example, I bought a volatile Nasdaq stock with a rounding base at $1.06 about a month ago.  It ran to $1.60 over a few weeks time, then stalled (went sideways) on lower volume while digesting that monster gain.  The bid/ask frequently shows a $0.18-$0.20 spread (especially overnight).  So at $1.60 last price and not moving higher, it might show $1.46 bid, $1.64 ask.  I'm willing to accept being stopped out at around $1.54 in exchange for the upside potential (another burst of $0.20 or so), but fear if If I put in a stop loss at that price, I'll be immediately be taken out by the market maker before the stock reverses higher to meet the ask.

Looking for suggestions on better ways to handle large gains on low priced stocks.  Should I use last horizontal support, trend lines, moving averages, bollinger bands, or what?? 

Unfortunately, there's quite a few years to go on this one, Matt.  At least based on the fundamentals.  Have a read of this excellent article from Vanity Fair: 

http://www.vanityfair.com/business/features/2011/03/michael-lewis-ireland-201103?currentPage=all 

Obviously, there's no way to say for sure (whether BPT members are a factor in today's move).  My comments were actually a compliment to the great work you and Steve do.  Could you share what you saw in the chart last night that propelled you to put it on the watch list?  I assume it didn't hit your radar for the first time last night, but perhaps I'm wrong.  Obviously, there's a long base...but its been that way for 6+ months.  What factor(s) made it a watchlist candidate last night?  Just trying to learn as I go.  Thanks.

Matt: In your opinion, is this morning's move in ROIAK, a genuine move up or nothing more than a reflection of breakpointtrade members trying to pile in on a low priced stock BEFORE it hits the breakpoint??  Seems to me this phenomenon is occuring more frequently these days...then the stock sells off midday for super quick profit taking.  I know you're good with technical selections...but your timing seems too good sometimes, if you know what I mean...especially on stocks priced at under $2.00.