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Energy Jumps to #2

A big move for the energy sector last week as XLE jumped to the #2 position in the ranking, coming from #6 the week before. This move came at the cost of the Consumer Staples sector which was pushed out of the top-5 and is now on #7.

Because of the jump of Energy, the Financials sector was pushed down to #3. Healthcare and Utilities remain in the top-5 but have switched positions.

The New Sector Lineup

  1. (1) Communication Services – (XLC)
  2. (6) Energy – (XLE)*
  3. (2) Financials – (XLF)*
  4. (5) Utilities – (XLU)*
  5. (4) Healthcare – (XLV)*
  6. (7) Industrials – (XLI)*
  7. (3) Consumer Staples – (XLP)*
  8. (8) Real-Estate – (XLRE)
  9. (9) Consumer Discretionary – (XLY)
  10. (10) Materials – (XLB)
  11. (11) Technology – (XLK)

Weekly RRG: XLF and XLC remain strong

On the weekly Relative Rotation Graph, Communication Services and Financials remain strong inside the leading quadrant. From the big cluster of tails inside the improving quadrant, XLE has jumped to the front of the queue (almost) while XLU and XLV continue to pick up nicely.

The long tail on XLY at a negative RRG-Heading rapidly continues to push the sector to the lagging quadrant. The Negative RRG-Heading on XLK keeps the sector at the bottom of the list.

Daily RRG: Modest Pickup of Relative Momentum for XLK and XLY

On the daily RRG:

  • XLE jumps to the highest RS-Ratio reading while maintaining the highest RS-Momentum.
  • Utilities stall inside the lagging quadrant
  • XLV rotates into weakening but remains at an elevated RS-Ratio reading
  • XLF rotates back into the leading quadrant, signaling the start of a new leg in the already established relative uptrend.

Communication Services

XLC held above the rising support line and closed towards the high of the week, suggesting that a new higher low is now getting into place.

Relative Strength continues to be strong, and RS-Momentum bottoms against 100-level.

Energy

The Energy sector rapidly improved, jumping from position #6 to #2 in one week. On the price chart, XLE is breaking its falling resistance, which opens the way for a further rally to the horizontal barrier near 98.

The raw RS-line is close to leaving its two-year-old falling channel, which would signal a significant shift in sentiment and a turnaround into a relative uptrend.

Financials

XLF remains a strong sector in position #3, with relative strength continuing to rise.

Last week’s rally on the price chart brought the price back to the old rising support line, which is now expected to start acting as resistance. The former support from the low near 5o is also expected to start acting as resistance.

This means that the upside potential in terms of price seems limited for now, but RS is still going strong.

Utilities

Relative strength for Utilities continues to creep higher, enough to keep the sector inside the top 5.

Both price and RS remain within the boundaries of their trading ranges.

Healthcare

RS for the Healthcare sector stalled at the level of the previous low. The RS-Ratio and RS-Momentum combinations on the daily and weekly Relative Rotation Graphs remain strong enough to keep the sector in the top 5.

Portfolio Performance Update

In the portfolio, the position in Consumer Staples (XLP) was closed against the opening price of Monday morning (3/24). At the same time, a new position was opened in Energy (XLE) against the opening price.

The rally in Consumer Discretionary and Technology at the end of last week has put a small dent in the performance,e and RRGv1 is now 1.4% behind SPY since the start of the year.

#StayAlert, -Julius


Over the weekend it was announced that tariffs will be narrowing and possibly not as widespread as initially thought. Negotiations are continuing in the background and this seems to be allaying market participants’ fears. The market rallied strongly on the news.

Carl and Erin gave you their opinions of whether this rally has staying power. Carl began the program with a look at the current DP Signal Tables. Biases remain very negative but as we often say things get as bad as they’re going to get before they start turning it around.

After looking at the tables, Carl analyzed the market in general and then covered Gold, the Dollar, Yields, Bitcoin and more. Get a sense of market conditions with a review of this section.

The Magnificent Seven were next up on the agenda. Carl reviewed both the daily and weekly charts seeing many new rallies kicking in. Their improvements bode well for the market in general.

Erin took the reins and gave us a complete overview of sector rotation. She took a deep dive in the aggressive sectors with an under the hood view of Consumer Discretionary (XLY), Communication Services (XLC) and Technology (XLK).

Erin concluded the program by looking at viewer symbol requests that included SOFI, RIVN, F and SMCI.

01:18 DP Signal Tables

03:42 Market Overview

13:24 Magnificent Seven

22:05 Sector Rotation

28:31 Symbol Requests

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Technical Analysis is a windsock, not a crystal ball. –Carl Swenlin


(c) Copyright 2025 DecisionPoint.com


Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional. Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.

DecisionPoint is not a registered investment advisor. Investment and trading decisions are solely your responsibility. DecisionPoint newsletters, blogs or website materials should NOT be interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any security or to take any specific action.


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SCTR Ranking

Bear Market Rules


Markets surged out of the gate Monday morning, with all three major U.S. indexes notching early gains. But after a bruising two-week rout on Wall Street, the question facing investors is whether stocks can sustain the rebound.

If Monday’s bounce is driven more by short-term bargain hunting than long-term conviction, then certain scans, like StockCharts’ Strong Uptrends to New Highs can help cut through the noise — flagging the outliers breaking key levels and showing enough momentum to possibly hold the upward move.

How I Scanned the Market at the Open

First stop: A high-level sweep of the S&P 500 using MarketCarpets to catch the early movers. From there, I drilled down into the sectors to see where real strength, or weakness, was taking shape.

FIGURE 1. MARKETCARPETS S&P 500 AND SECTOR VIEW. The S&P 500 view gives you a sea of green, but zooming into sectors, Consumer Discretionary (XLY) stands out above the rest.

Consumer Discretionary is outpacing all sectors, a signal worth noting. Instead of looking for leadership, I considered stocks hitting new highs, and then checking to see if any Discretionary names stand out from the pack.

So, next, I ran a Strong Uptrends To New Highs scan (you can find it in your scan library).

FIGURE 2, IMAGE OF THE SCAN AS IT APPEARS IN THE LIBRARY: This is one among numerous bullish scans you can run in StockCharts.

Only four stocks came up as a result. The most recognizable figure is Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI).

Darden Restaurants Stock: A Tasting Menu of Profits or Bloat

Even if you’re unfamiliar with the stock, you know Darden. Here’s a short list: Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Chuy’s, Bahama Breeze, and a few more. Sound familiar?

DRI jumped after reporting strong fiscal Q3 results, with sales and EPS rising. The company also raised its full-year outlook and declared a $1.40 dividend; analysts also gave it an upgrade.

On the technical side of things, DRI also showed up on several other scan engines which appeared in the StockCharts Symbol Summary:

  • Moved Above Upper Bollinger Band
  • Moved Above Upper Price Channel
  • P&F Double Top Breakout
  • Moved Above Upper Keltner Channel
  • New 52-week Highs
  • P&F Spread Triple Top Breakout

Let’s take a look at DRI’s relative performance against its sector (XLY) and the S&P 500 using PerfCharts.

FIGURE 3. PERFCHARTS OF DRI, XLY, AND $SPX.  DRI’s outperformance is very recent, according to this chart.

This chart tells an interesting story. DRI has been the laggard for most of the last 12 months, though it began picking up steam as XLY began outpacing the S&P 500. As tariff fears brought XLY valuations down toward S&P levels, DRI maintained its valuations, and after a two-week dip, shot higher.

Let’s take a longer-term look using a weekly chart.

FIGURE 4. WEEKLY CHART OF DRI. The dotted line shows this week’s breakout to all-time highs.

So, what does this chart tell us relative to the PerfCharts above? First, while DRI has been underperforming XLY and the S&P over the last year (and longer than that if you extend the PerfCharts analysis period), the stock has been chugging along on a slow and steady, albeit volatile, uptrend, staying well above its 200-period simple moving average (SMA).

The StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) line shows you that DRI has had periods fluctuating from technical strength to weakness. I consider the 70-line signal, more or less, to be the strength threshold, and right now, the stock is at 92, an extremely bullish level. The question now is whether it can maintain its trajectory and if so, might there be an entry point for those who are bullish on the stock?

For that, let’s shift over to a daily chart.

FIGURE 5. DAILY CHART OF DRI. Watch the momentum and volume.

DRI has been marching steadily upward since the middle of last summer, with its recent push to all-time highs fueled by strong fundamentals. However, in terms of momentum and volume, the Money Flow Index (MFI), which is a volume-driven RSI of sorts, has been declining during DRI’s rise, signaling the potential for a pullback.

Whether DRI can sustain its current momentum remains to be seen. In the meantime, the Ichimoku Cloud can help anticipate and gauge any potential pullback, with a broad support zone forming below. The first key level to watch is $192, while $180 marks a critical support line — a close below that could open the door to further downside.

At the Close

This scan-driven approach began with a broad market view and drilled down to individual stocks that made new highs while others merely rebounded. DRI emerged as a standout: a fundamentally strong name hitting new highs while much of the market remains in recovery mode. Whether it continues to climb or pulls back toward support, tools like the Ichimoku Cloud and volume-based indicators can help you manage the risk and prepare for entry.


Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

In this video, Dave breaks down the upside bounce in the Magnificent 7 stocks — AAPL, AMZN, NVDA, and more — highlighting key levels, 200-day moving averages, and top trading strategies using the StockCharts platform. Find out whether these leading growth stocks are set for a bullish reversal or more downside. Will the rally hold?

This video originally premiered on March 24, 2025. Watch on StockCharts’ dedicated David Keller page!

Previously recorded videos from Dave are available at this link.

Puka Nacua just completed his second NFL season, but the Los Angeles Rams receiver has already identified a natural endpoint for his career.

‘I know I want to retire at the age of 30,’ Nacua said in an appearance on the ‘Join the Lobby’ podcast.

Nacua is 23 years old, which would put him on track to play about seven more seasons. It would also allow him to follow in the footsteps of his teammate Aaron Donald and head for an early retirement.

‘I think of Aaron Donald – to go out at the top, I think it would be super cool,’ Nacua said.

Nacua also noted his desire to retire early stems from his aspiration to have a big family. He said he wants to have at least ‘a starting five’ – ‘I need five boys for sure,’ he said – after growing up as one of six siblings.

‘I want to be able to be a part of their lives and be as active as I can with them,’ Nacua said, referencing his future children.

Nacua acknowledged that injuries ‘are something you can’t control’ but communicated that retiring at 30 would at least mitigate some of the injury risk.

‘Hopefully, the rest of the career can go healthy, but you have shoulder surgery, you have knee surgery, you have ankle. By the time my kids could be 18, I could be barely walking if you play the game and sustain all the injuries and stuff like that,’ Nacua said. ‘But I want to retire early.’

What would Nacua do after retiring? The 23-year-old is planning to get into real estate and will explore that avenue before his NFL career ends.

Nacua set the NFL’s all-time rookie receiving record in 2023 when he caught 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. He had 79 catches for 990 yards and three touchdowns across 11 games during the 2024 NFL season.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has been relatively mum about his chase of Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, preferring to discuss the postseason push of the No. 1 overall team.

That focus will be important Tuesday night as the Capitals visit the No. 2 overall Winnipeg Jets in a game that will have a big say in who gets home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

Ovechkin has 888 career goals and needs seven more in the team’s final 12 regular season games to top Gretzky’s 894.

That’s a pace of 0.58 goals a game and he has been clicking at a 0.55 rate since he returned on Dec. 28 from a fractured left fibula, giving him a chance to break the record before the end of the season.

The Capitals, who have clinched a playoff berth and lead the Jets by two points, will play eight of their final 12 games on the road. Ovechkin scored one goal during a three-game homestand that ended Saturday.

Here’s a look at Ovechkin’s remaining 2024-25 schedule, how he fared against those teams, which games are on national television and how to stream (broadcast info as of March 23):

Washington Capitals schedule

All times p.m. ET

March 25 at Winnipeg Jets, 8

Streaming: ESPN+

Ovechkin career goals: 56 goals in 74 games

Ovechkin season goals: One goal in one game

March 27 at Minnesota Wild, 7:30

Streaming: ESPN+ | Disney+ | Hulu

Ovechkin career goals: 20 goals in 24 games

Ovechkin season goals: One goal in one game

March 30 vs. Buffalo Sabres, 3

Streaming: ESPN+

Ovechkin career goals: 41 goals in 66 games

Ovechkin season goals: No goals in one game

April 1 at Boston Bruins, 7

Ovechkin career goals: 29 goals in 68 games

Ovechkin season goals: No goals in one game

April 2 at Carolina Hurricanes, 7

Ovechkin career goals: 51 goals in 91 games

Ovechkin season goals: One goal in one game

April 4 vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 7

Ovechkin career goals: 15 goals in 25 games

Ovechkin season goals: Missed earlier game with injury

April 6 at New York Islanders, 12:30

National TV: TNT, truTV

Streaming: Sling | Max | ESPN+

Ovechkin career goals: 44 goals in 71 games

Ovechkin season goals: Missed earlier game with injury

April 10 vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 7:30

Streaming: ESPN+ | Disney+ | Hulu

Ovechkin career goals: 51 goals in 91 games

Ovechkin season goals: One goal in one game

April 12 at Columbus Blue Jackets, 6

National TV: ABC

Streaming: Fubo | Sling | ESPN+

Ovechkin career goals: 26 goals in 49 games

Ovechkin season goals: One goal in one game

Note: Ovechkin scored twice in his NHL debut in 2005 against the Blue Jackets

April 13 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 8

Ovechkin career goals: 26 goals in 49 games

Ovechkin season goals: One goal in one game

April 15 at New York Islanders, 7

National TV: ESPN

Streaming: Fubo | Sling

Ovechkin career goals: 44 goals in 71 games

Ovechkin season goals: Missed game with injury

April 17 at Pittsburgh Penguins

National TV: ESPN

Streaming: Fubo | Sling

Ovechkin career goals: 42 goals in 79 games

Ovechkin season goals: No goals in three games

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USC Trojans superstar JuJu Watkins’ season-ending knee injury drastically changes USC’s March Madness run.

Watkins suffered the knee injury during a women’s NCAA Tournament matchup between the No. 1 seed Trojans and the 9-seed Mississippi State Bulldogs. As the Trojans were up by double-digits in the first quarter, Watkins ran down the court, potentially pushing for her next score in transition to extend the lead. The sophomore guard and a Bulldogs defender were in lockstep when suddenly, she went down to the floor and immediately grabbed her right knee.

A hush fell over the crowd as Watkins winced in pain, and Trojans training staff ran to be by her side. She was down for several moments before being helped to her feet, unable to bear weight on her injured leg. Watkins was carried off the court and into the locker room and did not return during the Trojans’ 96-59 second-round win.

While USC advanced to the Sweet 16, the Trojans’ national championship chances are murkier. What will USC look like without Watkins? Who could replace her?

The answers to those questions aren’t easy. Replacing a generational talent is daunting.

Kiki Iriafen could play more important role

However, if USC wants to keep its championship hopes alive, it starts with forward Kiki Iriafen. Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb likely will call on her early and often, and ask the team to play inside-out, feeding Iriafen in the paint for quick, easy points, exploiting matchups and pushing her to lean into her rim protection duties. Gottlieb also might ask Iriafen to dig deeper into her skill set, drawing on her for more mid-range jump shots to help with the loss of Watkins’ production.

Additionally, although Iriafen is not typically a 3-point specialist, seeing her take more risks from beyond the arc wouldn’t be shocking. Replacing the Trojans’ star guard’s 3-point abilities potentially will take a village.

More help could come from trio of guards

The Trojans also will turn to the guards on their roster to replace Watkins. Oregon State transfer Talia von Oelhoffen is the likely choice to step into point guard duties instantly. The Trojans’ guard has the experience to handle being USC’s floor general, and while not the defender that Watkins is, she’s solid on the defensive as long as she stays out of trouble.

USC also might turn to freshman sensation Kennedy Smith, who has built a strong on-court chemistry with Watkins through the season as she found a spot in the Trojans’ starting lineup. Like von Oelhoffen, she’s also good on both sides of the ball.

Finally, Gottlieb also could ask Watkins’ current backup, Malia Samuels, to step into her role, keeping things as status quo as possible.

The Trojans have little time to think about a plan for life without Watkins. On Saturday, they play No. 5 seed Kansas State in the Sweet 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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The Sweet 16 field for the women’s NCAA Tournament is nearly complete, with 12 of the 16 second round games already complete.

Monday is the second day of the second round, where the last remaining spots for the regional semifinals will be determined. When the smoke clears, the 16 teams will be locked in and have a few days to take a collective breath before action resumes Friday.

Matchups for the Sweet 16 are starting to take shape, and many national championship contenders remain, setting up what will be a very intriguing round. Here’s everything to know for the women’s Sweet 16 as the second round comes to a close:

Who’s in women’s Sweet 16?

Half of the field is set as we head into Monday’s action.

  • UCLA: No. 1 in Spokane Region 1
  • Ole Miss: No. 5 in Spokane Region 1
  • NC State: No. 2 in Spokane Region 1
  • LSU: No. 3 in Spokane Region 1
  • South Carolina: No. 1 in Birmingham Region 2
  • Duke: No. 2 in Birmingham Region 2
  • North Carolina: No. 3 in Birmingham Region 2
  • Maryland: No. 4 in Birmingham Region 2
  • Texas: No. 1 in Birmingham Region 3
  • TCU: No. 2 in Birmingham Region 3
  • Notre Dame: No. 3 in Birmingham Region 3
  • Tennessee: No. 5 in Birmingham Region 3
  • USC: No. 1 in Spokane Region 4
  • Connecticut: No. 2 in Spokane Region 4
  • Oklahoma: No. 3 in Spokane Region 4
  • Kansas State: No. 5 in Spokane Region 4

When is women’s Sweet 16?

The women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 will take place on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29.

Women’s March Madness Sweet 16 schedule

Friday, March 28

  • No. 2 Duke vs. No. 3 North Carolina, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
  • No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Maryland, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
  • No. 2 NC State vs. No. 3 LSU, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
  • No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 1 UCLA, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Saturday, March 29

  • No. 2 TCU vs. No. 3 Notre Dame, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
  • No. 1 Texas vs. No. 5 Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
  • No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 2 Connecticut, 5:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
  • No. 5 Kansas State vs. No. 1 USC, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Miami held its pro day on Monday. All eyes were on quarterback Cam Ward.

Many believe the Miami product is the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the 2025 NFL draft. Ward could be the top overall pick in this year’s draft.

Ward was the 2024 Davey O’Brien Award winner and became the first player in Miami history to win ACC Player of the Year after he posted a program single-season record for passing yards (4,313) and led college football in touchdowns (39).

The 22-year-old quarterback is now ready to take his talents to the next level.

“The tape says everything I believe and I’m honest to that,” Ward said at the NFL scouting combine. “What separates me from everybody is the way I approach it, the mindset that I have going onto the field each and every game.”

Ward showcased his skills at Miami’s pro day ahead of next month’s NFL draft. USA TODAY Sports breaks down Ward’s performance.

Accuracy: B

Ward delivered several nice intermediate and long passes.

Ward’s best pass came on a bootleg to the left when he threw a deep pass to Miami wide receiver Xavier Restrepo. The football dropped into Restrepo’s hands right as the receiver was in stride. The throw highlighted Ward’s arm strength and accuracy.

Ward had about five throws he’d like to have back. His worst pass came on an out route. The ball came out of his hand awkward. Another ball sailed on him on a corner route. Toward the end of his session, he threw three passes too high that went over the outstretched arms of the intended receivers.  

Aside from a handful of incompletions, Ward had an impressive session, which lasted roughly 45 minutes.  

Mechanics: A

Quarterback coach Darrell Colbert Jr. put Ward through drills that included three-, five- and seven-step drops. His throwing script also had bootlegs and off-platform throws. His footwork was fluid and precise.

The quarterback showed the ability to throw from multiple arm angles.

Ward seemed comfortable throughout his pro day workout and even ended the session with a reception.

Arm strength: A

Ward’s arm strength was on display throughout Monday’s workout.  

The 6-foot-2 quarterback warmed up tossing deep passes at half speed. He then proceeded to showcase his arm on out routes, post routes and go routes.

Ward’s release was quick and the football zipped off his hands.

Overall: A–

Miami’s pro day highlighted Ward’s strengths as a quarterback. He possesses the necessary arm talent to make all the NFL throws, while his athleticism allows him to make throws off-platform and from various arm angles.

He had a handful of inaccurate passes. But overall, Ward’s performance should solidify himself as the top quarterback in the 2025 draft.

The Tennessee Titans own the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi and head coach Brian Callahan, appropriately, were two of the notable attendees at Miami’s pro day.

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