WINDERMERE, Fla. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Many times when above average volume moves into equity it precedes a large spike in volatility.
Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as
or
-- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."
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Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.
With that in mind, let's take a look at
several stocks rising on unusual volume today
.
Ariad Pharmaceuticals
Ariad Pharmaceuticals
(ARIA)
is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of drugs to provide therapeutic intervention in treating human diseases at the cellular level. This stock is trading up 4% at $15.67 in recent trading.
Today's Volume: 7.4 million
Average Volume: 3.1 million
Volume % Change: 256%
From a technical perspective, ARIA is advancing to the upside today with monster volume. This move has now pushed the stock within range of triggering a breakout trade. That breakout will hit once ARIA takes out some near-term overhead resistance at $15.98 with volume.
Traders should continue to look for long-biased trades if ARIA manages to close over $15.98 with volume that's near or well above 3,090,300 shares. If we get that action today or soon, then look for ARIA to continue to uptrend towards $20.
Ariad shows up on a recent list of
7 Cancer Drug Stocks to Know Right Now
.
CVB Financial
CVB Financial
(CVBF) - Get Report
is a bank holding company of Citizens Business Bank. The stock is trading up 4.6% at $11.86 in recent trading.
Today's Volume: 1.6 million
Average Volume: 601,869
Volume % Change: 269%
From a technical perspective, CVBF is gapping higher today and breaking out above some near-term overhead resistance on heavy volume.
Market players should continue to look for long-biased trades in CVBF as long as it's trending above that breakout level of $11.46 with strong upside volume flows.
CVBF was one of
12 Bank Stock Picks for 2012 by KBW
.
Saba Software
Saba Software
(SABA)
is a provider of learning and talent management solutions providing a set of People Cloud Applications that include enterprise learning, talent management, testing and assessment and collaboration solutions delivered through the Saba People Cloud. The stock is trading up 4.3% at $12.51 in recent trading.
Today's Volume: 717,000
Average Volume: 269,652
Volume % Change: 258%
Shares of SABA are ripping higher today after Benchmark upgraded the stock from hold to buy.
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From a technical perspective, SABA has started to trigger a breakout trade today now that this stock is moving above some near-term overhead resistance $12.30 to $12.36 with heavy volume.
Market players should continue to look for long-biased trades as long as SABA is trending above those breakout levels with strong volume.
Clean Energy Fuels
Clean Energy Fuels
(CLNE) - Get Report
, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of selling natural gas fueling solutions to its customers, primarily in the U.S. and Canada. The stock is trading up 6% at $24.00 in recent trading.
Today's Volume: 4 million
Average Volume: 1.9 million
Volume % Change: 164%
From a technical perspective, CLNE has started to
trigger a major breakout trade
today since this stock is tending above its 2010 high of $23.70 on monster volume. This move in CLNE has also pushed the stock into new
territory, which is bullish price action. That said, at last check CLNE is trading just under $24, which is a bit off its daily high of $24.75.
Traders should only look for long-biased trades in CLNE if this stock can continue to trend above that key breakout level of $23.70. Look for a close today that's above $23.70 and near its daily high of $24.75 to signal that this stock wants to continue its uptrend in the near-term.
Baidu.com
Baidu.com
(BIDU) - Get Report
is a Chinese-language Internet search provider. This stock is trading up 3.2% at $141.77 in recent trading.
Today's Volume: 6.1 million
Average Volume: 5.8 million
Volume % Change: 55%
From a technical perspective, BIDU is ripping higher today on strong volume. This move is quickly pushing BIDU within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit once BIDU takes out some near-term overhead resistance at $141.48 to $142.49 with volume.
Traders should look for a
and close above those levels to signal that BIDU wants to trend much higher. Look for volume on that move that's near or well above 5,759,890 shares. If we get that action today or soon, then traders should continue to look for long biased trades. A possible near-term target off that move is $145 to $148.
Baidu is one of
, and shows up on a list of
.
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
(GMCR)
is engaged in the specialty coffee and coffee maker businesses. This stock is trading up 11% at $56.32 in recent trading.
Today's Volume: 16.4 milion
Average Volume: 5.4 million
Volume % Change: 294%
Shares of GMCR are soaring today after the company said its expanding their partnership to make, market, distribute and sell Starbucks' Vue coffee packs for use in its Keurig Vue single-cup machines.
From a technical perspective, GMCR is bouncing big today right off some recent support near $50 on massive upside volume. This move is quickly pushing GMCR right near its 50-day moving average of $58.71.
Traders should continue to look for more upside once GMCR can manage to move and close back above its 50-day
with strong volume. Look for volume on that move that's near or well above 5.4 million shares. If we get that action today or soon, then look for GMCR to make a run at $65 to $70 in the near future. I would also point out that it would be bullish for GMCR to close near its daily high today of $57.57 to signal that a run over the 50-day is coming soon.
GMCR shows up on a list of
4 Battleground Stocks Fought Over by the Biggest Investors
.
Scholastic
Scholastic
(SCHL) - Get Report
, together with its subsidiaries, is a global children's publishing, education and media company. This stock is trading up 5.2% at $38.66 in recent trading.
Today's Volume: 448,000
Average Volume: 219,867
Volume % Change: 152%
From a technical perspective, SCHL is ripping big to the upside today on above average volume. This move how puts SCHL within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That breakout will hit once SCHL can take out some near-term overhead resistance at $40.17 with strong volume.
Traders should now watch for a sustained high-volume move and close over $40.17 to signal that SCHL wants trend much higher. Look for volume on that move that's near or well above 219,867 shares. If we get that action today or soon, then look for SHCL to make a run at $45 in the near future.
Scholastic, which shows up in the
, was also highlighted in "
6 Hot Stocks on Traders' Radars
."
Anika Therapeutics
Anika Therapeutics
(ANIK) - Get Report
develops, manufactures and commercializes therapeutic products for tissue protection, healing and repair. This stock is trading up 4.7% at $12.95 in recent trading.
Today's Volume: 100,000
Average Volume: 66,063
Volume % Change: 102%
From a technical perspective, ANIK has started to trigger a big breakout trade today now that this stock is moving above some near-term overhead resistance at $12.75 with above average volume.
Traders should continue to look for long-biased trades as long as ANIK continues to trend over $12.75 with strong volume flows. Watch for a close today that puts the stock above $12.75 and near its daily highs. If we get that action, then ANIK should hit $15 or higher fairly soon.
To see more stocks rising on unusual volume, check out the
Stocks Rising On Unusual Volume
portfolio on Stockpickr.
-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Winderemere, Fla.
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At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.
Roberto Pedone, based out of Windermere, Fla., is an independent trader who focuses on stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. He is also an outside contributor to Beconequity.com and maintains the website Maddmoney.net, which he sold to Blue Wave Advisors in 2008. Roberto studied International Business at The Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany.
