General Motors or Ford? Credit Suisse Doesn’t Particularly Like Either

When it comes to Ford Motor (F) and General Motors (GM), investors have stated a clear preference for the former over the latter. So do the folks at Credit Suisse, although it’s fair to say they don’t really like either of the major automakers.

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Credit Suisse analysts Dan Galves and Shreyas Patil explain:

For General Motors and Ford, we don't expect much earnings growth, short of what is already relatively assured (non-recur of restructuring / recalls, return to profit in Europe). The biggest gap to the Street is likely in NA, where we believe trend mid-cycle earnings levels could be well-below 2014. We believe that US trend demand is lower than the market thinks, even a modest rise in rates could have a meaningfully negative impact on US pricing, and regulatory costs to meet fuel economy targets are accelerating…

If we were bullish on OEM's, Ford would be high on the list. In the next 1-2 years, Ford will approach 100% of volume off 9 high-volume, versatile platforms and their vision years ago to shrink vehicle size and go full -bore into downsized, turbocharged engines is exactly what consumers are demanding today. But our cautious view on US demand/pricing, and our belief that NA EBIT will not snap back as quickly as the market thinks drives our Neutral rating on Ford…

[In regards to General Motors, it's] always something. With General Motors on the cusp of meaningful European improvement, it now appears that NA margins are peaking much earlier than expected, with headwinds ahead. And soon after General Motors instituted a meaningful dividend in January, a series of recalls put $2.5 bln out the door, lowering the likelihood of a meaningful buyback in the near future.

Shares of General Motors have dropped 1.2% to $33.55 at 11:39 a.m., while Ford Motor has fallen 0.7% to $17.30.

3 Biotech Stocks Breaking Out With Big Volume

DELAFIELD, Wis. (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. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

>>5 Stocks Ready for Breakouts

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

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.

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With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume recently.

Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals

Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE), a development-stage biotechnology company, focuses on the identification, acquisition, development and commercialization of various products for the treatment of rare and ultra-rare diseases in the U.S. This stock closed up 7.8% at $43 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 674,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 201,471

Volume % Change: 242%

From a technical perspective, RARE ripped sharply higher here right above some key near-term support levels at $39.21 to $37.77 with strong upside volume. This sharp spike higher on Friday is quickly pushing shares of RARE within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if RARE manages to take out Friday's intraday high of $43.44 to some more key overhead resistance levels at $44.59 to $46 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in RARE as long as it's trending above some key near-term support at $39.21 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 201,471 shares. If that breakout materializes soon, then RARE will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels $50.91 to $50.93. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give RARE a chance to tag $60.

ImmunoGen

ImmunoGen (IMGN), a biotechnology company, develops targeted anticancer therapeutics. This stock closed up 8.8% to $11.74 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 3.82 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 924,583

Volume % Change: 354%

From a technical perspective, IMGN surged sharply higher here right above its 52-week low of $10.65 with monster upside volume. This sharp spike to the upside on Friday is quickly pushing shares of IMGN within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if IMGN manages to take out its 50-day moving average of $10.82 to some more near-term overhead resistance levels at $12 to $12.17 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in IMGN as long as it's trending above its 52-week low of $10.65 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 924,583 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, the IMGN will set up to re-fill more of its previous gap-down-day zone from June that started at $13.78. If that gap gets filled with volume, then IMGN could easily tag its next major overhead resistance levels at its 200-day moving average of $14.33 to $14.80.

Bluebird Bio

Bluebird Bio (BLUE), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, focuses on developing gene therapies for severe genetic and orphan diseases. This stock closed up 10.2% at $33.91 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 1.03 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 509,689

Volume % Change: 115%

From a technical perspective, BLUE exploded higher here right above some key near-term support levels at $30.33 and its 50-day moving average of $29.60 with above-average volume. This monster move to the upside on Friday is quickly pushing shares of BLUE within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if BLUE manages to take out Friday's intraday high of $34 to some more near-term overhead resistance at $34.69 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BLUE as long as it's trending above $32 or above $30.33 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 509,689 shares. If that breakout kicks off soon, then BLUE will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $38 to $40, or even $41 to its 52-week high at $41.75.

To see more stocks rising on unusual volume, check out the Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

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At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.