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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Big Upside in Insurers

By Doug Kass
06/19/09 6:36 a.m.

Deutsche Bank is out with a report on Hartford(HIG Quote) stating that the shares could double in the next year. From my perch, the entire specialty/life finance sector holds huge upside based on a return to economic/credit stability. As I have recently written, Hartford, Prudential(PRU Quote), MetLife(MET Quote), Lincoln National(LNC Quote), etc. represent my largest sector exposure in my hedge funds.

Long HIG, PRU, MET, LNC

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General Electric: Prospects Growing Dimmer

By Alan Farley
06/19/09 7:48 a.m.

General Electric(GE Quote) bottomed out at $5.73 in March, after posting the highest-volume session in its long history. The subsequent bounce lifted above the 50-day EMA but failed to reach the 200-day EMA, which made it a major underperformer during the four-month rally. The stock then ground out a symmetrical triangle near $14 and broke down this week, on increased volume. The selloff carried through the 50-day EMA, with price turning the corner on Thursday and posting a bull hammer reversal.

This downdraft likely marks the first stage in a continued decline that will eventually test the bear market low. There are a number of support levels going down, so the test might last into the late summer or early fall. In the meantime, this stock looks like a bad choice for investors and a great opportunity for short-sellers.