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The recent market downturn has been broad-based, with aggressive selling pretty much across the board. When the majority of stocks are falling uniformly, some stocks end up getting penalized perhaps too harshly. While the pundits are debating the increasing likelihood of slower growth or even another recession, it seems that stocks generally are priced very pessimistically already, with the overall valuations, as measured by P/E ratios, similar to where they were at the lows in early 2009.

Mark Wolfinger untangles how professional traders vs. individual investors hedge their risks As I catch up on All-Stars posts, I see I missed a few juicy observations by TradeKing forum regulars. Case in point: back on 8/18, when the markets were still roiling after the debt ceiling crisis, stoicathos asked the forums: What effect, if any, will options expiration this weekend have on the market? Can we expect some positive pressure tomorrow as options traders close their short stock positions that were covering the puts (now in the money) they sold?Hello Stoic,

Mark Wolfinger helps a trader weigh the question of how to react as options expiration day nears I'm catching up after a summer hiatus from my All-Star blogging and found an interesting question from TK maven Spshapiro. It's too late to inform his choice in advance for this particular trade - and I hope everything turned out well with that one! - but it did get me thinking. I thought maybe others might find the following scenario useful to consider. Spshapiro writes:  

Sideways action broken to the downside on heavy volume usually implies another leg down. Think Dow 9600.

Were you surprised the market sold off on Friday?  I wasn’t (although I’ll admit there’s little the market can do to surprise me at this point!).

Alan Brochstein screens for "deep value" stocks

After a rough stretch last week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average bounced back impressively. Is it time to buy?

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The “Uber” of the air is now available for passengers looking to hail a jet.

Thanks to Apartment List, renters now have the ability to take a three-dimensional “look” into listed apartments that functions similar to Google’s Street View.

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Michael Jordan has a reason to thank inflation. Adjusting for inflation, the six-time NBA champion's net worth now tops over $1 billion.

New eyewear technology may alert soldiers to threats before they can see them.

As the cost of college continues to rise, some students found unique approaches of paying down their tuition costs and avoiding getting buried under student loans.

When it comes to declaring a major, college students better pick wisely.

Bitcoin is a digital currency traded from person to person. In the northeast, this currency is taking off bit by bit, and you can buy anything from coffee to a car.

Students across the country are hiring interior designers to help transform their jail-cell like dorm rooms into a chic, decorative living space. And budding entrepreneurs are taking note of this trend. 

One well-seasoned commercial fisherman says Federal regulations are drowning New England fisheries.

What made VCs, CEOs, elder statesmen and the media buy into Elizabeth Holmes’ vision, sight unseen?