Top Takes From RealMoney

The RealMoney contributors are in the business of trading and investing all day on the basis of ongoing news flow. Below, we offer the top five ideas that RealMoney contributors posted today and how they played those ideas.

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1. What Will Influence the Dollar
By Marc Chandler
7:36 a.m. EDT

The dollar is enjoying strong follow-through gains after its recovery before the weekend. Two key issues are influencing the outlook:

1. What is the real state of the economy?
2. What does this mean for policy?

Generally the state of the U.S. economy is improving, though unevenly and it remains fragile. It is far too early to draw an implication from the stimulus spending. Last week two Fed officials talked about not wanting to wait too long to hike rates. But the market seems to have gotten ahead of itself in pricing in a hike before year's end.

No positions.

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2. Lubrizol (LZ) Greasing The Upside
By Alan Farley
8:48 a.m. EDT

Chemical manufacturers are looking good this week, with a number of these early cyclical issues challenging their recovery highs. Lubrizol (LZ Quote) is a top pick in the sector.

The stock topped out ahead of the broad market in early 2007 and fell to a seven-year low at $23 in March. It then surged higher, lifting above the 200-day moving average in April. The rally stalled at $46 about two weeks later, with the stock dropping into a triangle pattern. It's been congesting near the pattern highs for the last five sessions and could break out at any time.

Annotated chart here.

No positions.