Gap Down & Chop

Richard Moglen
Richard Moglen

Stock Trader & Student of the Markets. I help traders improve their systems & performance at TraderLion & Deepvue

November 18, 2025
10 min read
Market Trend Status
Trend: 1 of 4 DOWN
✗ 10 EMA ✗ 21 EMA ✗ 50 SMA ✓ 200 SMA

Market Action

Gap down, follow through, then a rally before some fade into the close. Overall chop action. NVDA Earnings tomorrow AMC is key for the sentiment around the AI theme and could really get things going.

Not planning on doing much until we see that reaction. Bio & Oil themes leading. Not ideal for swing traders.

QQQ
Gap down and Upside Reversal, Below MAs
QQQ chart
IWM
Upside reversal in the downtrend
IWM chart
IBIT
Downtrend. Didn't undercut yesterday's low much
IBIT chart

Trends 1/4 Up – based on the QQQ

Shortest – 10 Day EMA –   Below
Short-term – 21 ema – Below
Intermediate term – 50 sma – Below Rising
Longterm – 200 sma – Up – Above Rising

Groups/Sectors

THEME TRACKER
Crypto Theme Bounce
THEME TRACKER
Bubble Chart
Semis Donw. Oil Theme Up
Bubble Chart
Deepvue Leaders HeatMAP
Oil & Gas, Health Care visually strongest
Deepvue Leaders HeatMAP
S&P Heatmap
Software & Semis Theme hit.
S&P Heatmap

Leadership Stocks & Analysis

TSLA
Forming a range here below the prior base low and MAs. Todays low is a short term key level. Bull want to see follow through up and break back into the base.
TSLA chart
AAPL
Sitting on the 10ema. Today's low is key to hold
AAPL chart
AMZN
Follow through down, not a great look for the market
AMZN chart
META
Upside reversal, still in a downtrend
META chart
GOOG
Upside reversal, back in this range. Acting reasonably well. Ideally follows though up.
GOOG chart
NVDA
A choppy mess before earnings tomorrow AMC. Break below the prior base pivot.
NVDA chart
AMD
Break below the 21ema. Today's low is key and 225.
AMD chart
PLTR
Inside the reversal bar. Looks weak below the MAs.
PLTR chart
INTC
Leaking lower a bit below the MA and Level
INTC chart
MU
Follow through down. Testing the 21ema
MU chart
VRT
Upside reversal near the 50sma. Choppy
VRT chart
BE
2nd tight day in between the 21ema and 50sma. Expecting expansion tomorrow.
BE chart
LLY
Trending. Not
LLY chart

Key Moves

RIGL
Biotech Breakout
RIGL chart
JAZZ
Biotech follow through
JAZZ chart

Setups and Watchlist

BTU
Tight against the 50sma. Watching for a range breakout higehr
BTU chart
SSRM
Some miners setting up. Key point, watching for a range breakout
SSRM chart
COMP
Watching for a range breakout. I like the weekly
COMP chart
ESTA
Watching for a post gap range breakout
ESTA chart
GMED
Watching for a post gap flag breakout
GMED chart
LMND
Choppy still and not ideal action after the gap, however holding the gap low and 21ema in this market. Watching for a range breakout and push off the 21
LMND chart
RCUS
Spec Biotech, not planning on trading this, just using for feedback. SNDX as well Cup w/ Handle
RCUS chart
APPN
Acting well post gap. 10ema pullback. TDC similar
APPN chart
BBIO
Watching for a range breakout
BBIO chart
ONON
Holding up well post gap. Watching for a range breakout
ONON chart
PAM
Watching for a consolidation breakout
PAM chart
STNG
Watching for follow through higher
STNG chart
GRAL
Watching for follow through higher & pop above the 21ema
GRAL chart

Watchlist & Themes

Daily Watchlist

BTU SSRM COMP ESTA GMED LMND RCUS APPN BBIO ONON PAM STNG GGAL TSLA AMD NVDA(EARNINGS)

Focus List

NVDA(EARNINGS) AMD COMP BTU

Universe List

AAPL ALAB AMD AMZN APLD ARM BABA BE BKKT CCJ CLSK CRDO CRS DELL FIX FLS FSLR GGAL GOOG GOOGL GRAL HOOD HUT INSM INTC LEU LMND MELI META MSFT MU NBIS NET NIO NVDA OPEN PATH PLTR QCOM RGTI RKLB RMBS SHOP SNDK SNOW SOUN STNG STRL STUB TAC TEM TER TWLO VRT MDGL RIVN SEDG TDC VCYT U QLYS NXT DDOG METC TXG ASTS CRWD FLY CSIQ COIN MSTR APPN

Recent Gaps

APPN TDC AKAM GCT FROG PGNY TDC QLYS VCYT RIVN U SANM CAH ILMN TWLO NET AMZN RDDT SLDP BE FLS YPF GGAL VIST AMD VICR ISRG PEGA INTC CRS PBF GTX LC MEDP QCOM DDOG LMND XMTR SITM DOCN COHR HAE APPN HCC EXPE PLNT PAM GH VIAV AMGN TXG ROK BBAI OPEN

Additional Thoughts

More of the same chop today. Strongest themes are Bio, Pharma, Health Care, Oil & Gas. Key earnings report after the close tomorrow with NVDA which could shift the tone about the AI space. Be ready but patient.

Recent Trade Lab Reports

  • xnapper 2025 12 19 16.43.14.png

    Reclaim of the Level to End the Week. Space Theme in Focus
    December 19, 2025
    14 min read

  • Gap Up and Hold. Choppy Action
    December 18, 2025
    14 min read
  • xnapper 2025 12 17 17.58.45.png

    Re-confirmation Down. TSLA GEV Reversals
    December 17, 2025
    13 min read

  • TSLA Breaks Out – Key Upside Reversal Day
    December 16, 2025
    14 min read
TraderLion Footer