Lam Research Corp. (LRCX)

A planned infrastructure bill reportedly includes some funds for 5G and rural broadband spending, while another bill seeks to boost U.S. chip manufacturing capex.

NYSE will reopen the floor in a limited way, banks were in the headlines and Semis lead the rise.

The longer-term view remains positive.

Watching first-time jobless claims and trading volume, plus some thoughts on defense names like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, and tech names like Lam Research.

Trading volumes dropping on major indexes, U.K. teams begin human trials on a Covid-19 vaccine, and the U.S. Senate wants another stimulus package addition.

Let's review the charts and indicators.

More than 450 quarterly reports are on tap, including 105 S&P 500 constituents.

For now, chip equipment makers are still mostly seeing strong orders. But COVID-19 lockdowns and softer chip demand are potential headwinds.

It's a paradigm shift that all started with Zoom and Cisco's Webex.

While the arrival of additional bad news could lead markets to fall further in the near-term, investor sentiment will likely turn before conditions on the ground see big improvements.

Splitting one's bets between blue chips and a smaller basket of high-upside plays with more risk could work well over the long run.

Chip equipment and memory stock particularly look more attractive now.

I would rather stand aside from new commitments until the dust settles.

There is no political will on either side of the aisle to address ever expanding deficits.

It may not be too late to take part in the positive market action on semiconductor stocks, but be cautious. Here is how things stand.

TSMC issued a strong Q1 sales outlook amid heavy demand for its most advanced manufacturing processes. And it shared a capex budget that has given a boost to chip equipment stocks.

MagnaChip Semiconductor and Ichor Holdings have joined the ranks of industry firms to announce that their Q4 sales were better than previously expected.

I am simply respectful of the power of hope melded with the strength of so many parts of technology and I want to buy, not sell, these stocks when they get hammered.

Let's review 2019 performance of RMPIA in relation to stock indexes and see what's ahead.

Those long on LRCX could set their sights on rising price goals -- around $380 is our longer-term target.

There are several themes today. A suspension of critical factors? I would like to think a skepticism is taking over from ignorance.

This company made headlines in 2019, and I'm betting on it as a great play -- in many senses of the word -- for this new year.

A lot of the names that fell hard after the Clinton impeachment have been record earners since then.

Don't miss big moves in 2020, focus on how stocks can go up, especially big names that are beaten down.

Lam Research can continue to be traded from the long side, as it continues its run upward.

The PC giants said they now expect Intel CPU shortages to continue into 2020, with Dell indicating costlier CPUs are now also affected. That could spell a bigger opening for AMD.

Also, Fed Chairman Powell says there are no plans for a U.S. digital currency (for now), plus Tesla's electric pickup.