Market Movers: Trade Winds and Earnings

Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1096. Hey there, market movers! It's your pal Penny Pincher here, and welcome to 'Spy Trader'! It's 12 pm on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025, Pacific time, and the markets are giving us a bit of a bumpy ride today. Let's dive right into the headlines. The big story is still trade and tariffs. Remember that trade deal we were all hoping for? Well, it's still up in the air, causing some jitters. The Dow is down about 0.20%, the S&P 500 is off by about 0.13%, and the Nasdaq is taking the biggest hit, down around 0.21%. The NYSE Composite is a rare bright spot, up 1.84%. Breaking it down a little further, we're seeing some sectors doing okay. Healthcare, chemicals, metals & mining, hardware tech and commercial services are all hanging in there. Consumer Discretionary is really struggling, down over 15% year to date. Ouch! On the macro front, inflation is looking a little tamer, which is good news. The job market is still showing some strength. Looks like the fed might cut rates a couple times later this year. We'll be watching what they say at their meeting on May 7th. Now, some companyspecific news. Remember those tariffs on consumer electronics? They might be coming back. China has reportedly halted Boeing jet purchases because of all the trade drama. Speaking of Boeing, their stock is down as a result. Bank of America, Citigroup, and Johnson & Johnson all reported betterthanexpected earnings, but, it didn't give JNJ stock much of a boost. Netflix shares jumped after reports they are aiming to double revenue by 2030, and Palantir is extending gains after a NATO deal. So, what does all this mean? Well, with all the uncertainty, diversification is your friend. Earnings are expected to come from a lot of different places. We might be reaching a market bottom. Watch those trade headlines like a hawk, folks. They are really driving the market right now. Time for Penny's personal picks. Given the volatility, I'm leaning towards value stocks with strong fundamentals. I am also being careful with tech, as it's sensitive to tariff news. Remember, this is just my take, not gospel. Always do your own homework before making any moves. You should consult with your financial advisor before investing based on the information provided in this podcast. Oh, and before I forget, here's a little something to brighten your day. How do you make an accountant smile? Show them a clean audit! That's all for today's 'Spy Trader'! Until next time, keep those portfolios diversified and those risk tolerances in check!