Million Dollar Portfolio Challenge:  Trades of the Day

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Nearly 3.2 billion shares traded yesterday in CNBC's Million Dollar Portfolio Challenge. Portfolio values are now up to a combined $67 billion. Here are the bets being made today...

The most widely held stock today remains Sirius as contestants continue to buy on hopes of news of the pending merger with XM , with over 1.13 Billion shares held, dwarfing the next widely held, E*Trade by over 800M shares

Financials continue to shore up their position taking over 30% of the top widely helds, followed by Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary both at 15% of the widely helds. Contestants are still betting that the volatility and beaten down prices in the Financial sector will work in their favor for large percentage gains. Note: The Financials are the worst performing sector in 2008 down almost 11% YTD.

Sample of Top Trades in the Leaderboard: Dominated by alternative energy and solar companies

  • Solarfun continues to be a top trade and holding in the Leaderboard assuming contestants are waiting on Solarfun's earnings due out Wed before the bell; if you bought on Friday before 4pET and held/sold on Monday, you made 10.25%.
    *Some of our leaders have held Solarfun since the beginning of the contest. SOLF is up 68.54% since May 12.
  • Canadian Superior Energy reported earnings last week. If you bought SNG on Friday before 4pET and held/sold on Monday, you made 5.88%
  • LDK Solar if you bought on Friday before 4pET and held/sold on Monday, you made 7.47%

Sample of Losing Trades from the Leaderboard:

  • First Solar one of the biggest losers in solar today - if you bought on bought on Friday before 4pET and held/sold on Monday, you lost -4.90%
  • MEMC Electronic Materials - if you bought on bought on Friday before 4pET and held/sold on Monday, you lost -4.43%
  • Volcom - if you bought on Friday before 4pET and held/sold on Monday, you lost -2.79%

Bets being made for today (May 20): Dominated by alternative energy plays

  • The9 Ltd
  • Dycom Industries
  • MF Global
  • MasTec
  • Suntech Power
  • Evergreen Solar
  • Canadian Solar
  • JA Solar

If you haven't registered yet, there are still great weekly prizes and it's not to late to go for the grand prize. Click here to play.

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