5 Stocks Spiking on Big Volume

Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) is a provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, providing insights that enable patients and physicians to make better healthcare decisions. This stock is trading up 1% at $61.02 in recent trading.

Today's Volume: 2.54 million

Average Volume: 897,982

Volume % Change: 267%

Shares of DGX are trending up today ahead of the company's earnings report which is set for Wednesday, January 23, 2013.

From a technical perspective, DGX is moving modestly higher here with heavy upside volume. This move has started to push shares of DGX into breakout territory, since the stock has cleared some near-term overhead resistance at $60.51. Shares of DGX are now moving within range of triggering another major breakout trade. That trade will hit if DGX manages to take out its gap down day high from last October at $61.78 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in DGX as long as it's trending above its breakout price of $60.51, and then once it sustains a move or close above its gap down day high of $61.78 with volume that hits near or above 897,982 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then DGX will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone that started near $64.

J.C. Penny

J.C. Penny (JCP) sells merchandise and services to consumers through its department stores and direct channels. It sells family apparel and footwear, accessories, fine and fashion jewelry. This stock is trading up 3.4% at $18.77 in recent trading.

Today's Volume: 12.99 million

Average Volume: 9.64 million

Volume % Change: 180%

From a technical perspective, JCP is spiking higher here right above some near-term support at $17.36 with above-average volume. This stock has been downtrending for the last month and change, with shares falling from its recent high of $21.69 to its low of $17.36. During that move, shares of JCP have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of JCP are now moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade and reversing that recent downtrend. That breakout will hit if JCP manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at its 50-day of $18.90 and then more overhead resistance at $19.10 to $19.23 with high volume.

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