Friday, September 13, 2013

6 Stocks Moving on Unusual Volume

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside today.

pSivida (PSDV)

This company develops tiny, sustained-release, drug delivery products designed to deliver drugs at a controlled and steady rate for months or years. This stock closed up 6.6% to $4.04 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $3.78-$4.12

52-Week Range: $1.17-$4.12

Thursday's Volume: 785,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 180,467

From a technical perspective, PSDV ripped higher here and broke out above some near-term overhead resistance at $3.83 with heavy upside volume. This stock also flirted with another breakout above its former 52-week high at $4.08, before it closed just below that level at $4.12. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $3.15 to its intraday high of $4.12. During that move, shares of PSDV have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PSDV as long as it's trending above support at $3.80 or above its 50-day at $3.59, and then once it sustains a move or close above Thursday's high of $4.12 with volume that hits near or above 180,467 shares. If we get that move soon, then PSDV will set up to enter new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.81 to $5.23. Any high-volume move above those levels could easily send PSDV towards $6.

Pain Therapeutics (PTIE)

This is a biopharmaceutical company that develops novel drugs. It has four drug candidates in clinical programs, including Remoxy, Oxytrex, PTI-202 and a novel radio-labeled monoclonal antibody to treat metastatic melanoma. This stock closed up 0.75% to $2.70 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $2.59-$2.73

52-Week Range: $2.15-$5.86

Thursday's Volume: 165,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 399,812

From a technical perspective, PTIE moved modestly higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $2.48 with lighter-than-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of PTIE within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if PTIE manages to take out its 200-day moving average of $2.81 and then once it clears some more near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.84 to $2.90 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PTIE as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $2.48, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 399,812 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then PTIE will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $3.45. Any high-volume move above $3.45 will then give PTIE a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone from May that started above $5.

Conatus Pharmaceuticals (CNAT)

This company is engaged in the development and commercialization of novel medicines to treat liver disease. Its lead compound, emricasan, is applied in the treatment of chronic liver disease and acute exacerbations of chronic liver disease. This stock closed up 5.6% to $9.19 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $8.80-$9.46

52-Week Range: $8.26-$11.24

Thursday's Volume: 41,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 133,582

From a technical perspective, CNAT jumped higher here right above some near-term support at $8.51 with lighter-than-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of CNAT within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if CNAT manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $9.45 to $9.60 and then once it clears more resistance at $9.72 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CNAT as long as it's trending above Thursday's low of $8.80, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 133,582 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then CNAT will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $11.

China Recycling Energy (CREG)

This company engages in the recycling energy business, providing energy savings and recycling products and services. This stock closed up 12.5% to $2.42 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $2.15-$2.49

52-Week Range: $0.78-$2.49

Thursday's Volume: 355,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 95,671

From a technical perspective, CREG ripped sharply higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $2.12 with heavy upside volume. This move briefly pushed shares of CREG into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $2.45. Shares of CREG closed just below that breakout level at $2.42 with volume that was well above its three-month average action of 95,671 shares.

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Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CREG as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $2.12, and then once it sustains a move or close above Thursday's high of $2.49 with volume that hits near or above 95,671 shares. If we get that move soon, then CREG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $3.50.

Meru Networks (MERU)

This company provides a virtualized wireless LAN solution that optimizes the enterprise network to deliver the performance and operational simplicity of a wired network, with the mobility. This stock closed up 1.9% to $3.68 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $3.52-$3.69

52-Week Range: $2.06-$6.96

Thursday's Volume: 90,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 167,439

From a technical perspective, MERU jumped modestly higher here right off some near-term support at $3.50 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been trending sideways for the last month, with shares moving between $3.40 on the downside and $3.75 on the upside. Shares of MERU are now starting to move within range of triggering a breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern. That trade will hit if MERU manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $3.75 and then once it clears its 50-day at $3.95 and its 200-day at $4.07 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MERU as long as it's trending above some key near-term support at $3.40, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 167,439 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then MERU will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.75 to $5.33.

TravelCenters LLC (TA)

This company operates and franchises travel centers along the U.S. interstate highway system. Its products and service include diesel fuel, gasoline, truck repair and maintenance services and restaurants. This stock closed up 2.8% to $8.23 a share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $7.92-$8.39

52-Week Range: $4.18-$12.50

Thursday's Volume: 322,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 358,159

From a technical perspective, TA trended modestly higher here right off its 200-day moving average of $8 with decent upside volume. This stock recently gapped down sharply in August from $11.29 to under $8 with heavy downside volume. Following that gap, shares of TA went on to make a new low at $7.06. Shares of TA have now started to rebound sharply off that $7.06 low and it's now quickly moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if TA manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $8.59 to its 50-day at $9.11 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TA as long as it's trending above its 200-day at $8.80 or above more near-term support at $7.50, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 358,159 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then TA will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $9.50. Any high-volume move above $9.50 will then give TA a chance to re-fill its previous gap down zone from August that started at $11.29.

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher today, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS: >>5 Tech Stocks Spiking on Big Volume >>5 Stocks Setting Up to Break Out >>4 Red-Flag Stocks to Sell This Fall

 

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At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.


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