Stocks were mixed on Tuesday morning as investors digested new economic data. New orders for durable goods fell 6.1% in January, according to today's U.S. Census Bureau data, with a 16.2% drop in transportation equipment orders leading the decline. Excluding defense, orders fell 7.3% and excluding transportation new orders slipped 0.3%. The Confidence Board said that its consumer confidence index fell to 106.7, which was lower than the downwardly revised 110.9 in January. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index reported a 5.5% annual gain in December, up from a 5.0% rise in the previous month. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city house price index rose 0.2% in December compared to the previous month. Home prices in the 20 major U.S. metro markets were up 6.1%. The S&P 500 was down less than 0.1%, the Dow fell 0.4% and the Nasdaq was up 0.1%. Crude oil traded above $78 per barrel and gold was up $5 to $2044 per ounce.

Vickers Stock Research, a subsidiary of Argus Research Group, analyzes insider trading and institutional stock ownership. Form 13-Fs, which institutions must file to report their holdings, are due 45 days after the end of calendar quarters and have come in for 3Q23. We review 13Fs of major activists to determine core holdings and new purchases. Activist investing is now less about generating a short-term return and more about achieving long-term returns through an active management/investor partnership. Activists recently made progress with investments into companies such as FedEx and Union Pacific. Based on Vickers data, here are some recent new purchases and key holdings of activist investors, as well as other high-profile money managers.

Stocks fluctuated in volatile trading on Thursday morning, but were nearly flat at midday. Disney shares rose 7% after the company reported better-than-expected fiscal 4Q EPS and announced plans to cut an additional $2 billion in expenses. Disney and other content providers, including Netflix and Paramount, also benefited from a tentative agreement ending the Hollywood actors strike. On the employment front, first-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell by 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 217,000 for the week ended November 4, slightly below the Reuters consensus forecast. The Dow was flat, the S&P rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.2%. Crude oil rose 1% to $76 per barrel, while gold traded near $1968 per ounce.

The country's biggest banks kick off earnings season this week. For sure, this sector has suffered this year following the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and the downward spiral that followed. The KRE (S&P Regional Bank Index) is down 29% year-to-date versus a rise of 12% for the S&P 500. We see opportunity here and have an Over-Weight rating on the sector. We believe the worst is over after the March/April bank failures and that the risk associated with these failures has been factored into share-price valuations. In the earnings reports that start flowing on Friday, we'll be focused on updates in the following areas: loan growth, where we expect growth to have slowed to low single-digits as higher interest rates weigh on consumers and businesses; loan loss provisions, where we see the gauge moving higher as net charge-offs trend toward normal; commercial real estate, where higher interest rates and new post-pandemic social, work, and shopping behaviors magnify the exposure of banks to commercial real estate, and; investment banking, where we are starting to see recovery in M&A and IPO activity. Yes, banks have challenges. Overall, we feel the banks are on solid footing and that valuations at current levels are attractive. Here's a list of our favored banks, broken down by niche.

Hot July: Our Monthly Survey of the Economy, Interest Rates, and Stocks

Vickers Stock Research, a subsidiary of Argus Research Group, tracks and analyzes insider trading and institutional stock ownership trends. Form 13-Fs, which institutions must file to report their holdings, are due 45 days after the end of calendar quarters, and have now come in from 1Q23. We review the 13Fs of the major activist investors, including Carl Icahn, Trian Fund Management, Jana Partners and ValueAct Holdings, among others, in order to determine their core holdings and new purchases. Activist investing has evolved in recent years and is now less about generating a short-term return on an underpriced stock and more about achieving long-term returns through an active management/investor partnership. Activists have made progress in the past year with high-profile investments into blue-chip companies such as FedEx Inc. and Union Pacific. Based on Vickers data, here are some recent new purchases and key holdings of Activist investors, as well as other high-profile money managers such as Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway and Ken Griffin of Citadel Advisors LLC.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

Stocks rallied on Thursday as investors weighed strong earnings from Meta Platforms and new GDP and employment data. The Commerce Department said that the U.S. economy expanded at a 1.1% rate in 1Q, helped by strong consumer spending but hurt by weak business investment. Meanwhile, employment data pointed to a still tight labor market. First-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell by 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 230,000 for the week ended April 22, below the consensus forecast of 248,000. Meta shares jumped after strong first-quarter results, reaching their highest levels since January 2022. Amazon also reported stronger-than-expected sales and earnings after the close, sending the shares up in after-hours trading. The Dow rose 1.57%, the S&P 1.96%, and the Nasdaq 2.43%. Crude oil traded near $75 per barrel, while gold rose slightly to $1997 per ounce.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

Vickers Stock Research, a subsidiary of The Argus Research Group, tracks and analyzes insider trading and institutional stock ownership trends. Form 13-Fs, which institutions must file to report their holdings, are due 45 days after the end of calendar quarters, and have now come in for 4Q22. We like to review the 13Fs of the major activist investors, including Carl Icahn, Trian Fund Management, Jana Partners, and ValueAct Holdings, among others, in order to determine their core holdings and new purchases. Activist investing has evolved in recent years and is now less about generating a short-term return on an underpriced stock and more about achieving long-term returns through an active management/investor partnership. Activists have made progress in the past quarter with high-profile investments into blue-chip companies such as Walt Disney and Salesforce. Based on data from Vickers, here are some recent new purchases and key holdings of activist investors, as well as other high-profile money managers such as Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway and Ken Griffin of Citadel Advisors LLC.

There is a large dichotomy between sentiment when the stock market is in a bear market and sentiment when the stock market is in a bull market. For many, this is hard to grasp. But it happens, cycle after cycle.

One silver lining of a down market is that stocks become more affordable. During the very tough 2022 for almost all equities, the Technology sector was one of the hardest hit groups. Many Tech stocks, which are traditionally growth stocks, now offer both growth and value characteristics. When stock values pull back, especially far back, it usually is not a good time for investors to retreat. Rather, we advise that shareholders look for companies with strong managements, desirable products or services, and solid track records. For this week's list, we did exactly that in beaten-down Technology. We used the Argus Research Screening Tool and applied the following criteria: the stocks must be in the Technology sector; must be rated BUY at Argus; must carry an Argus Financial Strength rating of Medium-High or High; and must trade at least 30% below their 52-week high. Here are the top 10 results, suggesting attractive valuations.

There's an old saying about the stock market: 'The mid-December lows are the only free lunch on Wall Street.' In addition, December is strong historically. Unfortunately, the current market is not following the script. Indeed, you can throw all the studies in the trash during a bear market.

On Friday morning, investors will be focused on the Labor Department's October employment report. The current Reuters consensus calls for the addition of 200,000 payroll jobs, down from 263,000 in September, and a slightly higher unemployment rate of 3.6%. Stocks fell sharply on Thursday amid continued concerns about rate hikes and a potential recession, a day after Fed Chairman Powell said that rates at the end of the cycle could be higher than previously expected. The Dow fell 0.46%, the S&P 1.06%, and the Nasdaq 1.73%. Crude oil fell more than 2% to $88 per barrel, while gold fell $18 to $1632 per ounce.

Stocks rallied on Wednesday morning on signs of moderating inflation. The Labor Department said that its consumer price index rose 8.5% on a year-over-year basis in July, down from 9.1% in June with help from lower gasoline prices, and below the Bloomberg consensus forecast of 8.7%. The core CPI, excluding food and energy, rose at a 5.9% rate, unchanged from the June reading. The Dow rose 1.4%, the S&P 1.5%, and the Nasdaq 2.5%. Crude oil fell more than 2% to $88 per barrel, while gold traded near $1813 per ounce.

April was a brutal month for stocks, with few equities escaping unscathed. The S&P 500 fell almost 11%, the Nasdaq and the QQQs both plummeted 15.6%, the DJIA fell 7%, the Russell 2000 tumbled 12.6%, and the S&P MidCap 400 dropped 10%. It was the worst month for the Nasdaq and QQQs since October 2008.