Price+Volume: UPS, Plains Exploration & Caterpillar (NYSE:UPS),(NYSE:PXP),(NYSE:CAT)

Today’s stocks making significant gains of heavy volume include United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS), Plains Exploration & Production Company (NYSE:PXP) and Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT).

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) really broke out today when it had a gap up open to $60.55 from the previous close of $60.17 and then just took off.  It finished the day at $62.82 (+$2.65/+4.40%) on massive volume of 13.7M shares trading hands versus the 4.3M average daily volume.  That is over 3X average daily for today.  The chart for the stock looks strong as it has solidly broke through the $59 resistance established in September and tested in December of 2009.  That is a bullish sign for investors of UPS.

Plains Exploration & Production Company (NYSE:PXP) had a great day as well, showing up with almost 3X average daily volume.  Shares jumped to $32.83 (+$1.34/4.26%) after gapping up at the open to $33.50 from the previous close of $31.49.  Afterhours trading is treating the stock a little rough as shares have dropped -$0.62 from today’s close (-1.89%).  The chart for Plains looks nice as the stock broke through $32 resistance today, which was established back on June 11 and July 24 of 2009.  Although shares have retreated some, it is a bullish sign the stock broke through the resistance.

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is one of the grand daddy’s of the DOW 30 and today it flexed its muscles for traders.  Shares spiked up today on massive volume for the stock as close to 22M shares traded hands today, which is approach 4X average daily volume of 6M shares.  Caterpillar started the day with a gap up open to $60.95 from the previous close of $60.34 (+$0.61/+1.0%) and then followed through to close out the day very strong at $64.13 (+$3.79/+6.28%).  Shares are currently holding fairly steady in the afterhours at $64.04 (-$0.09/-0.05%).  Caterpillar also makes a nice break out today, pushing above the near-term resistance of $60.  The great thing for investors of CAT is that the stock broke the resistance on such strong volume.  Watch for CAT to potentially make a strong move and continue the uptrend established between July and October of 2009.

Disclosure: No positions.