Wall Street Weather Report

Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1095. Hey everyone, it's your pal Penny Pincher here, ready to navigate the wild world of Wall Street! It's 6 am on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025, and that means it's time for your morning dose of 'Spy Trader', your favorite financial news podcast. Buckle up, buttercups, because the market's been doing the chacha! Let's dive into the key news: the market's been a bit of a rollercoaster lately, mainly thanks to President Trump's tariff tango. Remember April 2nd? Global markets took a nosedive after those new tariffs were announced. Then, around April 9th, the S&P 500 did a happy dance, jumping 9.5% when some tariffs were eased. And let's not forget the Dow Jones losing 4,000 points in just 48 hours! Talk about drama! As of today, April 15th, things are looking a little brighter: the Dow is up 0.78%, the S&P 500 is up 0.79%, and the Nasdaq is up 0.64%. But futures are still looking a little soft as we wait for earnings. Inflation's still a worry, and everyone's watching the Fed like a hawk. And keep an eye on the European Central Bank – rumors are swirling about a potential interest rate cut on Thursday. So, what's been causing all this craziness? Well, tariffs are the big one. Any sniff of a new tariff or a potential pause sends the market into a frenzy. Tech stocks, like Apple, have been super sensitive to all this tariff talk. Autos rallied on hints of pauses, while major U.S. oil companies shares fell around April 9th. On the flip side, banking stocks are helping to lift things up, and gold is looking shiny as folks run for safety. The US economy, while dynamic in 2024, is showing signs of slowing down this year. Consumer spending is cooling off, and even though the job market's strong, there are some storm clouds gathering. Companywise, earnings season is in full swing! Keep an eye on reports from Bank of America, Johnson & Johnson, and United Airlines. Broadcom announced a share repurchase plan and Intel is selling a piece of their chip business. Analysts are being cautious, pointing to those trade tensions and the lessthanstellar expectations for earnings this season. Citi even cut U.S. equities to neutral, citing high prices and trade worries. Alright, Penny, what should we do with all this information? Given the market's mood swings, tread carefully! Diversification is your best friend right now. Keep a close watch on inflation, GDP, and employment numbers. Some experts are even suggesting holding a good chunk of your portfolio in cash. If you're looking at sectors, consider sticking with companies that mainly do business here in the US, like pharma, retail, and power. For bonds, consider lengthening the duration of your US Treasuries. And, be ready to pounce when the market gets oversold – that's when the bargains pop up! Oh, and speaking of bargains, here's a little something to lighten the mood: How do you know an accountant is on vacation? They relax the figures a bit. That's all the time we have for today, folks. Remember, this is just one person's opinion, so do your own homework before making any big moves. Until next time, keep those pennies pinched and those profits popping!