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Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) appears poised for an explosive breakout, both technically and fundamentally. While it remains to be seen whether this materializes by its Q3 earnings report on June 25, the setup suggests a high-probability move is about to happen, and soon.

The fundamental case for a breakout is backed by MU’s deep involvement in the AI memory boom. Its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) is powering Nvidia’s next-gen Blackwell chips, demand is outstripping supply, and prices are rising. With sold-out capacity for 2025 and earnings projected to surge 437% this year, MU’s Q3 report could be the next major catalyst.

In light of these forecasts, let’s put things into context and see where MU has stood over the past year in its comparative performance with VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH), our semiconductor industry proxy, Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK), for a sector comparison, and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), a stand-in for the Nasdaq 100 Index ($NDX).

MU vs. SMH, XLK, and QQQ: Tracking Relative Performance

Despite its recent rally, MU remains a relative laggard. Whether it breaks out will depend on how effectively it positions itself amid shifting industry dynamics.

FIGURE 1. PERFCHARTS OF MU RELATIVE TO ITS INDUSTRY, SECTOR, AND THE NASDAQ 100.  MU has been the big laggard over the past year. You need to take a closer and more detailed look to gain more insight into MU’s current upward momentum.

While analysts are optimistic about its role in the evolving AI-driven landscape, that thesis will be put to the test when the company reports earnings in the coming weeks.

A Shift in Momentum? What the MarketCarpets Are Revealing

While MU lags its industry peers, it might help you to get a more granular view of performance within the semiconductor industry. This is where the StockCharts MarketCarpets Semiconductors summary can be helpful.

FIGURE 2. MARKETCARPETS – SEMICONDUCTORS. In contrast to its peers, a 5-day view shows that MU is the strongest performer.

Though MU has trailed its industry peers over the past year, the 5-day MarketCarpets view reveals a shift in momentum. With a 13.32% gain over the past week, MU is rapidly narrowing the gap and beginning to outpace its peers.

Weekly Chart Levels: Resistance, Support, and Entry Zones

Typically, you’d drill down to a daily chart for more precision, but, with MU, the weekly chart alone highlights the key levels worth watching.

FIGURE 3. WEEKLY CHART OF MU. The weekly chart shows all key levels, from entry to profit targets and stop loss levels.

The weekly chart view clearly outlines support, resistance, and potential entry and exit points. Listed below are the key levels and scenarios to watch.

MU Price Scenarios: Breakout or Breakdown?

  • Watch the rectangle formation: MU is approaching a breakout above key resistance at $115, just ahead of its June 25 earnings report. A decisive move above the rectangle could trigger long entries from bullish traders.
  • Upside scenario: A beat on earnings and strong forward guidance could fuel continued upside—unless derailed by broader geopolitical risks.
  • Downside scenario: If the breakout fails, look for support near the bottom of the formation. The Volume-by-Price indicator shows a heavy concentration of trading at that level, reinforcing its significance as a support zone. However, a breakdown there may cast doubt on the current uptrend thesis.
  • Profit-taking zone: If MU continues its bullish trajectory, expect resistance and likely profit-taking between $127 and $137, an area marked by multiple highs and consolidation levels throughout 2024.

Why $127 to $137, when the weekly chart shows $130 to $135? Here’s where zooming in helps.

FIGURE 4. ZOOMING N TO A DAILY CHART OF MU. This shows, in much greater detail, the potential resistance levels above.

The top and bottom of this consolidation provide a clearer view of potential resistance, which may also serve as profit-taking levels for short-term traders, so keep an eye on this.

  • Last thing – watch the peak: A second round of resistance and potential profit-taking may occur near $155, a key level that previously marked the stock’s all-time high.

Momentum-wise—and note we’re looking at a longer-term time frame—the Relative Strength Index (RSI) suggests there’s still plenty of room to run before MU enters overbought territory. Volume-wise, however, you will want to see the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) levels increase once the breakout occurs, confirming that buying pressure is supporting the move.

Quick Take: The Setup at a Glance

In a nutshell: Watch for a breakout above $115 ahead of MU’s June 25 earnings by setting an alert using the Technical Alert Workbench. Note that entering a position ahead of earnings is always a risky prospect. If you are planning to take any action at all, make sure it’s in alignment with your own personal trading strategy and criteria.

A beat on earnings and strong guidance could fuel further upside, but watch out! If Wall Street decides to “sell the news,” due to any detail that dampens investor or analyst sentiment, a sharp decline could follow. If MU moves strongly to the upside, look for confirmation via rising CMF levels, which would signal real buying pressure.

If the breakout fails, key support lies near the bottom of the current trading range. On the upside, expect potential resistance and profit-taking between $127–$137, with a secondary ceiling near $155. The RSI still shows room for further gains before MU becomes overbought.

Final Thoughts: Will MU Deliver on the AI Hype?

MU may be lagging now, but, as the MarketCarpets data shows, momentum is quietly shifting, and the shift may accelerate as MU approaches both a potential breakout level and its earnings date. With a critical breakout level in sight and earnings just days away, consider preparing for a potential surge in volatility, which could move the stock in either direction. If MU does break to the upside, whether it can maintain its momentum post-breakout will depend on volume, CMF strength, and how convincingly MU rides the AI memory wave.


Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

Unlock the power of divergence analysis! Join Dave as he breaks down what a bearish momentum divergence is and why it matters. Throughout this video, Dave illustrates how to confirm (or invalidate) the signal on the S&P500, Nasdaq100, equal‑weighted indexes, semiconductors, and even defensive names like AT&T (T).

This video originally premiered on June 10, 2025. Watch on StockCharts’ dedicated David Keller page!

Previously recorded videos from Dave are available at this link.

Unlock the power of divergence analysis! Join Dave as he breaks down what a bearish momentum divergence is and why it matters. Throughout this video, Dave illustrates how to confirm (or invalidate) the signal on the S&P500, Nasdaq100, equal‑weighted indexes, semiconductors, and even defensive names like AT&T (T).

This video originally premiered on June 10, 2025. Watch on StockCharts’ dedicated David Keller page!

Previously recorded videos from Dave are available at this link.

The U.S. stock market has been painting a subtle picture recently. While the broader indexes, such as the S&P 500 ($SPX), Nasdaq Composite ($COMPQ), and Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU), are indeed grinding higher, the daily movements have been relatively subdued. This is a noticeable shift from the more dynamic action we observed in April.

Investors may be waiting for Wednesday’s May Consumer Price Index (CPI), the results of the U.S.-China trade talks, or the next market-moving news headline. What’s encouraging is the underlying strength in market breadth. We’re seeing a healthy number of one-month new highs across most broader indexes (with the exception of Dow Utilities), Bullish Percent Indexes signaling bullish tendencies, and investors gravitating toward offensive sectors vs. defensive ones.

On the surface, everything points to a continuation of the bullish trend. However, as astute investors, our primary objective is to protect our capital. This means we mus always consider the possibility of a downside correction and be prepared to adapt.

This is where the StockCharts Market Summary page becomes an indispensable tool for your market analysis.

Let’s dive into how the Market Summary page can help you gain a unique perspective on market dynamics.

Beyond the Headlines: Uncovering Global Trends

One of the powerful features of the Market Summary page is its ability to provide a global snapshot. If you navigate to the Global Snapshot tab in the Equities panel and sort the “+/- SMA(200)” column in descending order, you’ll notice something fascinating: the Eurozone occupies the top spot while the Total US sits at the bottom (see image below).

FIGURE 1. A GLOBAL SNAPSHOT. The Eurozone is trading well above its 200-day simple moving average (SMA) while the Total US is only 4.37% above its 200-day SMA.Image source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

This insightful view suggests that global markets have been trending well above their 200-day simple moving average than the US market. This insight is worth a deeper dive.

Consider the daily charts of the iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU) and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) which serve as proxies for these regions.

Since April 8, EZU has been on a steep ascent, demonstrating upward momentum. This price action is similar to the S&P 500, but if you consider the relative performance of the SPDR S&P 500 (SPY) vs. EZU, SPY is underperforming EZU (see bottom panel in the chart below).

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF EZU. The ETF is exhibiting a steep ascent and is outperforming SPY. Will the trend become less steep or continue its steep uptrend? Be sure to monitor the RSI.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is showing lackluster momentum. Generally, a steep trend loses its mojo after a while and reverts to a more normal trend.

Meanwhile, though VTI has also moved higher, its percentage rise was slightly less than EZU. Also, as EZU hit an all-time high, VTI is still trying to reach that milestone (see chart below).

FIGURE 3. DAILY CHART OF VTI. The ETF is also exhibiting a steep ascent but is trying hard to reach its all-time high.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

The RSI is showing lackluster momentum, similar to that of EZU, which could mean the steep ascent may be losing its steam.

Identifying Global Opportunities

It will be interesting to see how the global financial market evolves from here. Who will be the first to revert to a more normal sloping trend? Will EZU continue its outperformance, or will VTI take the lead?

And let’s not forget the global ETFs positioned in the middle of the pack. Regions like Asia (ex Japan), Latin America, or Emerging Markets could take the lead. For example, the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) has exhibited a more classic uptrend. Over the past year, it has outperformed SPY by around 127% (see chart below). The RSI is also showing greater momentum than the other charts we analyzed.

FIGURE 4. DAILY CHART OF VWO. This ETF is exhibiting a more normal uptrend and, over the last year, has outperformed SPY by a whopping 127%. RSI is also rising, suggesting there could be momentum here.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Empowering Your Stock Market Analysis

To stay ahead of market trends and uncover hidden gems, investors and traders should regularly monitor the charts in the Market Summary ChartLists. If you haven’t already, download the StockCharts Market Summary ChartPack (it’s free for subscribers).

Scrolling through the pre-built ChartLists will help you to:

  • Stay on top of the market’s price action across sectors, industries, and global regions.
  • Identify market internals, such as breadth and sentiment.
  • Uncover some hidden gems that could translate into favorable investment opportunities.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

A shooter opened fire at a high school in the Austrian city of Graz, authorities said Tuesday, killing eight people including teenagers.

Officers first responded to the reports of “several” suspected gunshots at the Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium Dreierschützengasse school in the northwest of the city at around 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET).

Several vehicles and a police helicopter were deployed to the site. The school was evacuated and the area was secured, with no further danger expected, the police said on social media.

Gun violence is rare in Austria, along with most central European countries. The country’s rate of firearm homicides was just 0.1 per 100,000 people in 2021, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, compared to 4.5 per 100,000 people in the United States.

But a small number of high-profile violent incidents have taken place there in recent years. Last October, the mayor of a northern Austrian town was shot dead, along with another victim.

In February, a 23-year-old man stabbed five passersby in southern Austria in what police said was a random attack.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

The United Kingdom and other Western allies have imposed sanctions on two hardline Israeli government ministers for “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities” in the West Bank, Britain’s foreign office announced Tuesday.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will face a travel ban and an asset freeze in the UK, the government said.

Ben Gvir and Smotrich both lead far-right political parties that help keep Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile government coalition afloat. Both men have faced criticism for their inflammatory comments about the occupied West Bank as well as their positions on the war in Gaza.

The sanctions are being jointly implemented by the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, according to a joint statement by the countries’ foreign ministers.

“We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution which is the only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long term stability in the region, but it is imperilled by extremist settler violence and settlement expansion,” the joint statement said.

“Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous,” the statement added. “We have engaged the Israeli Government on this issue extensively, yet violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity.”

While the sanctions are in relation to the West Bank, the Western allies’ statement added that “of course this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza. We continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid.”

Smotrich and Ben Gvir both live in settlements in the West Bank, which Palestinians and the vast majority of the international community hold as part of a future Palestinian state.

Ben Gvir, the leader of the Jewish Power party, reacted to the move Tuesday afternoon, saying that “the sanctions do not scare me.” He added: “I will continue to act for our country, for our people, I will continue to act and make sure that they do not let humanitarian aid into Hamas.”

Smotrich said Tuesday that he “heard that Britain has decided to impose sanctions on me because I’m thwarting the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

“Britain already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland, and we will not let it happen again. With God’s help, we are determined to continue building,” said Smotrich, who leads the National Religious Party–Religious Zionism.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

The European Union announced a new package of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, saying that Moscow’s daily deadly attacks against Ukraine show that it is not interested in peace – despite recent diplomatic efforts.

The new package – the 18th since Russia launched its full-scale unprovoked invasion against its neighbor in 2022 – is designed to further target the Kremlin’s ability to make money from its oil and gas production.

The proposal includes lowering the price cap on Russian oil exports from $60 to $45 per barrel and introducing a full transaction ban on Russian banks and financial institutions in third countries that help Russia circumvent existing sanctions.

The EU said it is also proposing a ban on the use of Russian energy infrastructure, forbidding any EU operator from engaging directly or indirectly in any transactions that involve the Nord Stream pipelines.

The new package will need to be approved by the EU’s 27 member states. That could be complicated given previous concerns raised by some more pro-Kremlin governments, such as Hungary and Slovakia, about further sanctions targeting Russia.

While both those countries have previously threatened to block new rounds of sanctions, so far they have ultimately voted in favor of them.

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the sanctions were necessary “because strength is the only language that Russia will understand.”

“We want peace for Ukraine. Despite weeks of diplomatic attempts, despite (Ukraine’s) President (Volodymyr) Zelensky’s offer of an unconditional ceasefire, Russia continues to bring death and destruction to Ukraine. Russia’s goal is not peace, it is to impose the rule of might. Therefore, we are ramping up pressure on Russia,” von der Leyen said at a news conference in Brussels.

The leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland last month told Russian leader Vladimir Putin to agree to a 30-day ceasefire or face possible “massive” sanctions. Putin ignored the ultimatum, proposing instead “direct talks” between Moscow and Kyiv.

But two rounds of talks in Istanbul, Turkey, have made it clear Russia is sticking to its maximalist demands that would essentially equate to Ukraine’s capitulation.

Targeting Russian energy

Explaining why the EU has targeted Russia’s energy sector, the Commission chief said oil exports still represent one third of Russian government revenues.

“We need to cut this source of revenue,” she said.

The oil price cap was introduced by the EU and G7 countries in December 2022.

The cap, which applies to Russia’s seaborne oil exports, prohibits Western companies from providing shipping, insurance and other services needed to export the fuel unless it is priced below the threshold.

By enforcing a price cap, the EU and its allies have tried to diminish a key source of revenue for the Kremlin while still allowing its oil to flow to the global energy market – because cutting Russia’s supplies completely could destabilize the market and cause prices to shoot up.

Von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the price cap needs lowering because global oil prices had fallen since the cap was first introduced and now trade “very close” to the $60 level.

The price of a barrel of Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, has dropped 18% since the price cap on Russian crude took effect on December 5, 2022. It was trading at almost $68 a barrel late morning Eastern Time (ET) on Tuesday.

The bloc also wants to harden sanctions on Russia’s banking sector. Shortly after the invasion, the United States, EU, Britain and Canada jointly banned some Russian banks from the SWIFT messaging service – a high-security network connecting thousands of financial institutions around the world. That has made it far more difficult for those banks to send and receive money from abroad.

Now, the Commission wants to go a step further and prevent any EU operator, such a a business, from conducting a transaction with a list of sanctioned Russian banks. It also plans to add another 22 of Moscow’s banks to that list. Additionally, the bloc wants to extend the transaction ban to financial institutions in third countries that help Russia circumvent existing sanctions.

Von der Leyen said the latest package of sanctions will also broaden the current ban on materials and technologies that can be exported to Russia, adding: “We want to make sure that Russia does not find ways to modernize its weapons with European technologies.”

The sanctions will also include new measures against 22 Russian and foreign companies providing direct or indirect support to Russia’s military and industrial complex.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

France said it has received a letter from the Palestinian Authority that contains “concrete and unprecedented commitments” to reform as Paris prepares to co-chair a conference on Palestinian statehood in New York.

“Hamas will no longer rule Gaza and must hand over its weapons and military capabilities to the Palestinian Security Forces, which will oversee their removal outside the occupied Palestinian territory, with Arab and international support,” the Élysée Palace cited Abbas as writing.

The letter France says it received comes as anticipation builds around whether President Emmanuel Macron might recognize the State of Palestine at a summit next week aimed at building support for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations. France is co-chairing the summit with Saudi Arabia.

France said Abbas pledged to organize presidential and general elections within a year in order to “rejuvenate the Palestinian governance.”

Abbas, 89, is deeply unpopular among Palestinians. He has led the PA since the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 2004 and has clung to power despite being seen by critics as lacking democratic legitimacy. Proposals put forth by Arab states for a post-war Gaza have excluded Hamas from governance and called for the reformation of the PA.

The Guardian reported on Saturday that France may be retreating from its plan. The conference “has weakened its ambition and will instead hope to agree on steps towards recognition,” The Guardian said, citing diplomats, adding that “French officials briefing their Israeli counterparts this week reassured them the conference will not be the moment for recognition.”

“We can clearly see that some have an interest in suggesting that we are not moving in the direction of recognition. That is false,” the source said Tuesday, adding that “we are determined to recognize a Palestinian state in order to create the conditions for the state’s existence.”

The source highlighted the importance of the upcoming conference at the UN.

“Recognizing Palestinian statehood is consistent with France’s position in support of the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people,” the source said. “As part of the June 18 conference, it must contribute meaningfully to the momentum behind implementing the two-state solution, based on the principles reaffirmed by the President of the Republic.”

France would be the most prominent Western country to recognize Palestinian statehood. Last year, Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognized the State of Palestine in a move that provoked backlash from Israel.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

A series of explosions were reported in the Colombian city of Cali on Tuesday morning.

The city’s mayor, Alejandro Eder, said authorities were “responding to two explosive devices in our city: one at the Meléndez police station and another at the Manuela Beltrán CAI.”

“Our law enforcement officers are already on site, and health teams are on standby for any eventuality,” the mayor stated on social media.

Several people were injured in the explosions, the sources said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

Here’s a look at the life Friedrich Merz, chancellor of Germany.

Personal

Birth date: November 11, 1955

Birth place: Brilon, Germany

Birth name: Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz

Father: Joachim Merz, judge

Mother: Paula Sauvigny

Marriage: Charlotte Gass (1981-present)

Children: Three

Education: Studied law at the University of Bonn and the University of Marburg, graduating in 1985.

Military service: 1975–1976

Religion: Catholic

Other Facts

Merz has a hardline stance on migration. He has called for asylum-seekers arriving from other European Union member states to be rejected at Germany’s land borders.

Merz has criticized liberal welfare benefits. He has promised to slash welfare spending, telling The Economist in a rare sit-down interview in the lead-up to the election that he wants to avoid “paying people who are not willing to work.”

In 2003, Merz argued that German tax rules should be simple enough to calculate on the back of a beer coaster.

Merz is an amateur pilot.

Timeline

1972 – Joins the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

1985-1986 – Judge at Saarbrücken District Court.

1986-1989 – Lawyer for the German Chemical Industry Association.

1989 – Is elected to the European Parliament.

1994 – Wins a seat in the Bundestag.

2000 – Loses to Angela Merkel in a CDU party leadership election.

2009 – Merz leaves the Bundestag and joins the private sector, working as a lawyer.

2021 – Returns to his previous seat in the Bundestag.

January 2022 – After two failed bids for CDU party leadership, in 2018 and 2021, Merz is selected to lead the party.

February 23, 2025 – CDU and its sister party wins the federal election. Merz will likely be the next chancellor of Germany.

April 9, 2025 – Announces he will form a coalition with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD).

May 6, 2025 – Merz is approved as chancellor of Germany. He had fallen six votes short earlier in the day.

This post appeared first on cnn.com