Being able to read MMs only helps in a few situations. If you're a scalper then it is imperative to understand this. When a MM is at the inside price and is the only market participant it is important to watch his share size and T&S. Rarely do you see prints in T&S match the inside decremented display share size at the same time. My point is if a MM (NITE) is at the inside bid by himself displaying 1,000 shares at 15.05 and you see prints ripping continuously at 15.05 then chances are good that NITE had and has many more shares that he wants to accumulate behind that 1,000 display size but doesn't want to tip his hand and show the entire size. Along those lines, he might display 1,000 and execute and decrement down to a 100 then auto refresh back to 1,000 and continue that until he accumulates his total position. When you see this don't go against the MM...in this example he is buying and this is called "soaking up the bid"....this is agreat short-term indicator for scalping. There will be a few times when the MM soaks the bid or ask then the market moves against him. That is when the MM is on the WRONG side of the trade and losses his pants unless he has a lot of backing and can wait it out. It's also important to realize which MMs are soaking...if you see Goldman (GSCO), Merrill (MSCO) Nite Trimark (NITE), Herzog (HRZG), ect; the big guys...you might want to follow their lead. I don't give as much weight to the smaller MMs since I know they won't attempt to control the market unless it has low volume. If one is soaking the bid at 17.50 for a lot of shares, you'll also see them post an ask size, usually small, because they have to since they make a market in the stock...don't think that's their exit point on the block they just soaked up.
I am holding short SUNW still and long SOX Apr 600 calls @ 42.20. Might close calls within the hour...... I will post my plays for the day soon!
This is an incredible rally. I bought LWIN at $5.10 and its trading at $10.90 right now, wish I held the whole 1,000 shares, paired down to 300 around $8.00. Now 100% from 90% long again, but the sellers will probably come in soon.
MLNM...........Millennium Pharmaceutical Speculative BUY: at current levels Confirming Indicators: oversold condition, MACD bullish divergence Support/Stop level: 19 1st upside Price target = 27 Long Term Trend = Neutral (needs to clear above 27 to set initial stage of upward trend) MU - Micron Technology Buy - at current levels Reasoning: Another strong semiconductor. Yesterday's dip approached the 21 day moving average. Stop: Aggressive stop @ 36.98. If penetrated, look for another buy opportunity at 35.50 Price Objective: 44 (August 2001 high) Long-Term Trend: Down. Intermediate Trend is up CPN - Calpine Action Suggested: Buy - at current levels Reasoning: I'm just playing the bounce here. It has finally broken out of a small base. Stop: close below 9.50 Price Objective: 13.50 Only my opinion, not a reccomendation.
Long: MLNM 2,000 @ 22.60 MU 2,000 @ 38.25 CPN 2,000 @ 11.40 Overnights: SUNW short @ 8.91 .SJXDT long @ 42.20
The Nasdaq finally moved above its mid-February high. Although bullish sentiment is finally catching up to the rally I think there is enough momentum to reach the next significant resistance levels before a serious correction. Buy any dips. I also think the market will rally today.