12/18 Watchlist

No new signals on the indicators or the currency pairs since today's Morningline.

Among my holdings, the LVS January covered call  (-c16) continues to show a bear signal, with a small decline in price. Trading remains within yesterday's range.

A bit of a change in today's scan of high-volume stocks. Rather than listing all of the signals and then rejecting those that don't accord with my trend-following style, I'll list only those issues where the signal and the trend match my method. A shorter list.

High-volume stocks of $20 or greater:

• SBUX, bull signal on a 6.5% price rise, within an uptrend

The SBUX rise keeps above all prior highs. It's a blue-sky stock, with no upside price resistance. The uptrend has been in force since November 2008. An attractive bull play.

Next, a scan for possible covered calls. We're 28 days from expiration of the January options, so it's prime time for these instruments.

• GE, trading in a narrow range since November, currently in bear mode, stock 15.70, strike 16, premium 0.34; GE earnings are on Jan. 18, at the time of expiration.
  
• DELL, narrow range since September, bull mode, stock 13.76, strike 14, premium 0.37

It's hard to find decent covered call trades; premiums are low because volatility is low.