Episodes

  • The Data Blackout: Betting on the Fed

    The Data Blackout: Betting on the Fed
    Oct 5 2025
    Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1386. Markets are moderately bullish but highly volatile as a US government shutdown creates a key data blackout. All focus shifts to the FOMC Meeting Minutes on Wednesday for confirmation of rate easing, driven by recent weak jobs data. Strategy favors growth (XLK, QQQ) and tactical bets on dovish Fed (TLT), while cautioning investors against event risk in consumerfacing stocks like PepsiCo (PEP).
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    4 mins
  • New Records: Why the Shutdown Couldn’t Stop the Bulls

    New Records: Why the Shutdown Couldn’t Stop the Bulls
    Oct 4 2025
    Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1385. The market displayed remarkable resilience this week, hitting new record highs across major indices (S&P 500, Dow) despite a U.S. government shutdown. The rally is primarily fueled by a continued dovish outlook from the Federal Reserve, which investors believe will proceed with planned rate cuts through 2026, overriding political instability. Technology and AI sectors remain dominant, but Health Care showed surprising strength. Specific stock volatility included Fair Isaac surging 18% on disruptive news, while Palantir and Tesla experienced significant dips. Investors are advised to maintain core AI and broad index exposure (VOO, QQQ), utilize dips in fundamentally sound stocks like Tesla as buying opportunities, and look toward cyclicals (XLF, VNQ) and ratesensitive fixed income (TLT) to capitalize on future rate cuts.
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    4 mins
  • AI Highs and the Dovish Fed Pivot

    AI Highs and the Dovish Fed Pivot
    Oct 3 2025
    Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1384. The market is exhibiting robust upward momentum, hitting alltime highs fueled by AI euphoria and the Fed's dovish pivot, which is driving rate cuts and strengthening tech valuations. This episode analyzes the puzzling decoupling of strong GDP growth and minimal labor input, arguing that AIdriven productivity is justifying premium valuations. Key trades include maintaining core growth exposure (QQQ/XLK), overweighting policydriven healthcare (XLV), initiating positions in ratesensitive real estate (VNQ), and holding a small hedge in gold (GLD).
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    5 mins
  • New Highs & Rate Cut Hopes: The AI Fueling the Bull Market

    New Highs & Rate Cut Hopes: The AI Fueling the Bull Market
    Oct 2 2025
    Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1383. The S&P 500 continues to hit new highs, successfully shrugging off both a government shutdown and discouraging labor data. Market resilience is fueled primarily by the relentless AI boom driving the Technology sector and reinforced expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Strong gains were also seen in Health Care due to positive regulatory news. Recommendations focus on maintaining exposure to secular growth (QQQ, NVDA) and defensive growth (XLV), while favoring shorttointermediate bond funds over longduration assets (TLT).
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    4 mins
  • Q4 Chaos: Navigating Shutdown Risks and Rate Cut Expectations

    Q4 Chaos: Navigating Shutdown Risks and Rate Cut Expectations
    Oct 1 2025
    Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1382. US stock futures are down sharply as the Q4 market opens under the shadow of a government shutdown, immediately wiping out momentum from a strong Q3. While Q2 GDP was robust, softening labor data (unemployment at 4.3%) is driving the expectation of an interest rate cut next month. The immediate trading strategy calls for a defensive pivot, favoring Health Care (XLV) due to strong earnings and historical resilience, alongside continued core exposure to Technology (QQQ, XLK). Investors are advised to utilize fixed income (AGG) as a ballast against volatility and avoid highrisk sectors like Energy (XLE) and Financials (XLF) until political uncertainty resolves.
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    4 mins
  • Fed Cuts & AI Gains: The New Investment Playbook

    Fed Cuts & AI Gains: The New Investment Playbook
    Sep 30 2025
    Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1381. As the S&P 500 hovers near alltime highs, propelled by massive tech sector returns (38% YTD in QQQ), the market grapples with sticky inflation and decelerating growth. We analyze the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut and outline a strategy focusing on growth (AI, Cloud), quality defensives, and longterm duration (TLT) to navigate this latecycle environment.
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    4 mins
  • The Dovish Pivot Playbook

    The Dovish Pivot Playbook
    Sep 29 2025
    Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1380. Analyzing the market impact of the Fed's 25 BPS rate cut, we explore the duality of structural growth and sticky inflation. Learn how to maintain core AI/Tech holdings while rotating new capital into ratesensitive defensives like Utilities and Real Estate.
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    5 mins
  • Shutdown & Payrolls: The Extreme Risk Week

    Shutdown & Payrolls: The Extreme Risk Week
    Sep 28 2025
    Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1379. This week's market outlook calls for extreme volatility driven by two massive forces: the looming US government shutdown deadline and the highly anticipated Nonfarm Payrolls report. We also preview earnings from CCL and NKE, and Tesla delivery figures.
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    2 mins