As technicians we adore pouring over hundreds of charts a night focusing purely on PRICE action. Over the years many find what kind of strategies work best for them. I tend to like the round numbers and ascending triangles, but today we will look at the gap fill and a few of the situations that came to be in the month of August. Below is the list and notice how diverse it is in sectors as the theory does not discriminate. We have tech plays, whose space has nicely rebounded as of late. There are healthcare plays which have also been pulling their weight, and we have retail as well. Notice how this gap fill play could be used as a nice risk/reward scenario.

In our Wednesday 8/23 Game Plan we looked at XLNX.    Stocks that can be bought as they recently filled in gaps are XLNX. XLNX is a semiconductor play higher by 2% YTD and 15% over last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 2.3%. Earnings have been mixed with gains of 7.3 and 1% on 4/27 and 10/20 and losses of 2.3 and 3.7% on 7/27 and 1/26. The stock is down 9 of last 13 weeks and on current 5 week losing streak and now is 11% off recent 52 week highs, but Monday recorded a bullish hammer at round 60 number and 200 day SMA, and successfully retested a double bottom breakout trigger of 60.61 taken out on 4/24. XLNX also filled in a gap from the 4/26 session too. Enter here.

Trigger XLNX here.  Stop 59.

Update: The semiconductor group has come alive and this name is up 8% the last 2 weeks beginning with the bullish engulfing week ending 8/25 off the round 60 number.

In our Tuesday 8/29 Game Plan we looked at FB.    Stocks that can be bought after recent gap fills are FB. FB is a FANG play higher by 45% YTD and 34% over last one year period. Earnings have been mostly lower with exception of most recent gain of 2.9% on 7/27 and the prior three all lost ground down .6, 1.8 and 5.6% on 5/4, 2/2 and 11/3. The stock is on 4 week losing streak but stock just 5% off recent all time highs and the last 4 weeks however have all traded within week ending 7/28 and consolidating 4 week winning streak that rose 13.5% ending between 7/7-28. Enter FB here on gap fill on 8/21 from the 7/26 session. Could be viewed as bull flag too and add to with break above 170.50 which has a measured move to 192.

Trigger FB here.  Stop 161.

Update: The stock rose 3.4% this week making up all the previous FOUR weeks losses. It rose every session this past week and is now just 2% off most recent all time highs.

In our Tuesday 8/22 Game Plan we looked at MAR.    Stocks that can be bought after recent gap fills are MAR. MAR is a leisure play higher by 20% YTD and 34% over the last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 1.3%. Earnings have been decent with gains of 6.4 and 2.7% on 5/9 and 11/8, an UNCH finish on 2/16 and a loss of 2.1% on 8/8. The stock is lower 5 of the last 11 weeks including an ugly bearish engulfing week ending 8/11 that lost 5.3% in heavy volume. Still a leader as it ran higher 24 of 32 weeks ending between 10/28/16-6/2. It is 11% off most recent all time highs but on Friday recorded a spinning top candle which often indicate a change in direction of preceding trend. MAR also filledin gap from 5/8 session as well on 8/18. Enter here and add to above 50 day SMA then through double bottom trigger of 107.73.

Trigger MAR here.  Stop 96.50.

Update: The stock has added 6% the last 2 weeks and is now comfortably back above the very round par figure. In the near term keep an eye on the double bottom trigger of 107.73.

In our Wednesday 8/16 Game Plan we looked at COH.    Stocks that can be bought as they fill in gaps are COH. COH is a best in breed retail play higher by 16% YTD and 3% over last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 3.2%. Its earnings reaction today was first drop in last four losing 15.2%. Prior three all rose by 11.4, 3.8 and 2.2% on 5/2, 1/31 and 11/1. The stock is higher 12 of the last 16 weeks, but now below nice weekly cup base breakout trigger if 43.81 taken out week ending 5/12. It is now 17% off recent 52 week highs and looking to fill gap from 5/1 session which would roughly equate to the round 40 number and successful retest of rising 200 day SMA. Enter COH here as the retail slump Tuesday could have accelerated its decline.

Trigger COH here.  Stop 39.

Update: The stock is up 4% the last 2 weeks and is up 3% from the recommended trigger and held the round 40 number firmly recently.

In our Monday 8/14 Game Plan we looked at ZG.    Stocks that can be bought after recent gap fills are ZG. ZG is a real estate play up 12% YTD and 10% over the last one year period. Earnings have been mixed with gains of 10.3 and 5.6% on 5/5 and 11/2 and losses of 9.1 and 7.6% on 8/9 and 2/8 (fell another 7.2% on 8/10 this week). The stock is down 5 of the last 7 weeks and by 10.8% this week. Prior to that rose 18 handles during 10 of 13 week winning streak ending between 3/31-6/23. Notice the recorded bearish inverted hammer Friday and CLOSED above 40 which was important as that number was unable to be CLOSED above dating back to weeks ending 11/21/14, 2/20/15 and 8/5/16 before breaking through week ending 5/5 jumping 13.8% in big volume. Enter ZG here on gap fill from 5/4 session and potential double bottom trigger of 48.80 if stock regains mojo.

Trigger ZG here.  Stop 38.

Update: The stock never hit its stop its stop on a CLOSING basis and is just below the recommended trigger but did gain 4.3% this week finishing above its 200 day SMA and just below the round 40 figure.

In our Thursday 8/10 Game Plan we looked at WST.    Stocks that can be bought as they fill in gaps are WST. WST is a healthcare play higher by 2% YTD and 6% over last one year period and sports a small dividend yield of .6%. Earnings have been mixed with gains of 10.3 and 2.6% on 4/27 and 10/27 and losses of .4 and 5.6% on 7/27 and 2/16. The stock is lower 7 of the last 9 weeks and now 14% off most recent 52 week highs, and notice how the round numbers came into play with par resistance on 6/5 and 80 support on 7/27. WST is holding near 200 day SMA and Tuesday recorded both doji and bullish harami cross and today recorded a hammer to CLOSE above the 200 day. Look to enter near gap fillfrom 4/26 session at 85.

Trigger WST 85.  Stop 82.75.

Update: The stock is on a current 3 week winning streak, but higher by just a combined 3%. The weeks ending 8/11-25 all CLOSED taut within just .50 of each other and it is now 3% above the recommended trigger.

In our Wednesday 8/2 Game Plan we looked at YNDX.    Stocks that can be bought on gap fills are YNDX. YNDX is a Russian internet play higher by 44% YTD and 34% over the last one year period. The name was due for an earnings miss as it dropped 4% on 7/28, after seven consecutive positive earnings reactions advancing 10.2, 5.8, 5.1, 2.9, 7.2, 4.8 and 6.7% on 4/27, 2/16, 10/27, 7/28, 4/28, 2/16 and 10/27/15. The stock is lower the last 2 weeks by a combined 6.7%, but still trading in huge range of week endings 20.4% gain after announcement company working with Uber. YNDX is now below cup base breakout of 29.23 trigger taken out on 7/13, but look to enter on gap fill at at 28 from 7/12 session, which doubles as 50 day SMA support.

Trigger YNDX 28.  Stop 26.80.

Update: Missed hitting its trigger by .13 but again shows the good performance of the gap fill theory at it has gained 8.3% this week and now shows a bull weekly flag formation with a buy stop above 32.50 which carries a measured move to 39.

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As technicians we adore pouring over hundreds of charts a night focusing purely on PRICE action. Over the years many find what kind of strategies work best for them. I tend to like the round numbers and ascending triangles, but today we will look at the gap fill and a few of the situations that came to be in the month of August. Below is the list and notice how diverse it is in sectors as the theory does not discriminate. We have tech plays, whose space has nicely rebounded as of late. There are healthcare plays which have also been pulling their weight, and we have retail as well. Notice how this gap fill play could be used as a nice risk/reward scenario.

In our Wednesday 8/23 Game Plan we looked at XLNX.    Stocks that can be bought as they recently filled in gaps are XLNX. XLNX is a semiconductor play higher by 2% YTD and 15% over last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 2.3%. Earnings have been mixed with gains of 7.3 and 1% on 4/27 and 10/20 and losses of 2.3 and 3.7% on 7/27 and 1/26. The stock is down 9 of last 13 weeks and on current 5 week losing streak and now is 11% off recent 52 week highs, but Monday recorded a bullish hammer at round 60 number and 200 day SMA, and successfully retested a double bottom breakout trigger of 60.61 taken out on 4/24. XLNX also filled in a gap from the 4/26 session too. Enter here.

Trigger XLNX here.  Stop 59.

Update: The semiconductor group has come alive and this name is up 8% the last 2 weeks beginning with the bullish engulfing week ending 8/25 off the round 60 number.

In our Tuesday 8/29 Game Plan we looked at FB.    Stocks that can be bought after recent gap fills are FB. FB is a FANG play higher by 45% YTD and 34% over last one year period. Earnings have been mostly lower with exception of most recent gain of 2.9% on 7/27 and the prior three all lost ground down .6, 1.8 and 5.6% on 5/4, 2/2 and 11/3. The stock is on 4 week losing streak but stock just 5% off recent all time highs and the last 4 weeks however have all traded within week ending 7/28 and consolidating 4 week winning streak that rose 13.5% ending between 7/7-28. Enter FB here on gap fill on 8/21 from the 7/26 session. Could be viewed as bull flag too and add to with break above 170.50 which has a measured move to 192.

Trigger FB here.  Stop 161.

Update: The stock rose 3.4% this week making up all the previous FOUR weeks losses. It rose every session this past week and is now just 2% off most recent all time highs.

In our Tuesday 8/22 Game Plan we looked at MAR.    Stocks that can be bought after recent gap fills are MAR. MAR is a leisure play higher by 20% YTD and 34% over the last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 1.3%. Earnings have been decent with gains of 6.4 and 2.7% on 5/9 and 11/8, an UNCH finish on 2/16 and a loss of 2.1% on 8/8. The stock is lower 5 of the last 11 weeks including an ugly bearish engulfing week ending 8/11 that lost 5.3% in heavy volume. Still a leader as it ran higher 24 of 32 weeks ending between 10/28/16-6/2. It is 11% off most recent all time highs but on Friday recorded a spinning top candle which often indicate a change in direction of preceding trend. MAR also filledin gap from 5/8 session as well on 8/18. Enter here and add to above 50 day SMA then through double bottom trigger of 107.73.

Trigger MAR here.  Stop 96.50.

Update: The stock has added 6% the last 2 weeks and is now comfortably back above the very round par figure. In the near term keep an eye on the double bottom trigger of 107.73.

In our Wednesday 8/16 Game Plan we looked at COH.    Stocks that can be bought as they fill in gaps are COH. COH is a best in breed retail play higher by 16% YTD and 3% over last one year period and sports a dividend yield of 3.2%. Its earnings reaction today was first drop in last four losing 15.2%. Prior three all rose by 11.4, 3.8 and 2.2% on 5/2, 1/31 and 11/1. The stock is higher 12 of the last 16 weeks, but now below nice weekly cup base breakout trigger if 43.81 taken out week ending 5/12. It is now 17% off recent 52 week highs and looking to fill gap from 5/1 session which would roughly equate to the round 40 number and successful retest of rising 200 day SMA. Enter COH here as the retail slump Tuesday could have accelerated its decline.

Trigger COH here.  Stop 39.

Update: The stock is up 4% the last 2 weeks and is up 3% from the recommended trigger and held the round 40 number firmly recently.

In our Monday 8/14 Game Plan we looked at ZG.    Stocks that can be bought after recent gap fills are ZG. ZG is a real estate play up 12% YTD and 10% over the last one year period. Earnings have been mixed with gains of 10.3 and 5.6% on 5/5 and 11/2 and losses of 9.1 and 7.6% on 8/9 and 2/8 (fell another 7.2% on 8/10 this week). The stock is down 5 of the last 7 weeks and by 10.8% this week. Prior to that rose 18 handles during 10 of 13 week winning streak ending between 3/31-6/23. Notice the recorded bearish inverted hammer Friday and CLOSED above 40 which was important as that number was unable to be CLOSED above dating back to weeks ending 11/21/14, 2/20/15 and 8/5/16 before breaking through week ending 5/5 jumping 13.8% in big volume. Enter ZG here on gap fill from 5/4 session and potential double bottom trigger of 48.80 if stock regains mojo.

Trigger ZG here.  Stop 38.

Update: The stock never hit its stop its stop on a CLOSING basis and is just below the recommended trigger but did gain 4.3% this week finishing above its 200 day SMA and just below the round 40 figure.

In our Thursday 8/10 Game Plan we looked at WST.    Stocks that can be bought as they fill in gaps are WST. WST is a healthcare play higher by 2% YTD and 6% over last one year period and sports a small dividend yield of .6%. Earnings have been mixed with gains of 10.3 and 2.6% on 4/27 and 10/27 and losses of .4 and 5.6% on 7/27 and 2/16. The stock is lower 7 of the last 9 weeks and now 14% off most recent 52 week highs, and notice how the round numbers came into play with par resistance on 6/5 and 80 support on 7/27. WST is holding near 200 day SMA and Tuesday recorded both doji and bullish harami cross and today recorded a hammer to CLOSE above the 200 day. Look to enter near gap fillfrom 4/26 session at 85.

Trigger WST 85.  Stop 82.75.

Update: The stock is on a current 3 week winning streak, but higher by just a combined 3%. The weeks ending 8/11-25 all CLOSED taut within just .50 of each other and it is now 3% above the recommended trigger.

In our Wednesday 8/2 Game Plan we looked at YNDX.    Stocks that can be bought on gap fills are YNDX. YNDX is a Russian internet play higher by 44% YTD and 34% over the last one year period. The name was due for an earnings miss as it dropped 4% on 7/28, after seven consecutive positive earnings reactions advancing 10.2, 5.8, 5.1, 2.9, 7.2, 4.8 and 6.7% on 4/27, 2/16, 10/27, 7/28, 4/28, 2/16 and 10/27/15. The stock is lower the last 2 weeks by a combined 6.7%, but still trading in huge range of week endings 20.4% gain after announcement company working with Uber. YNDX is now below cup base breakout of 29.23 trigger taken out on 7/13, but look to enter on gap fill at at 28 from 7/12 session, which doubles as 50 day SMA support.

Trigger YNDX 28.  Stop 26.80.

Update: Missed hitting its trigger by .13 but again shows the good performance of the gap fill theory at it has gained 8.3% this week and now shows a bull weekly flag formation with a buy stop above 32.50 which carries a measured move to 39.

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