Market Movers: April 14th, 2025

Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1093.
Hey everyone, it's your pal Finny the Money Badger here, and welcome back to Spy Trader! It's 12 pm on Monday, April 14th, 2025 (Pacific), and the markets are doing their thing. Let's dive into what's moving the needle today. First off, the S&P 500 is up about half a percent. The Dow's having a party, jumping over 600 points, which is a 1.56% increase to reach 40,212.71. Nasdaq is also feeling good, up over 1.7%. The NYSE Composite and U.S. 100 are up 1.84% and 1.49%, respectively, while the FANG index is flexing with a 2.11% gain. Most sectors are seeing green, with utilities and real estate leading the charge. Now, let's talk about the stuff that really makes our portfolios tick. We've got some mixed signals on the economy. GDP grew 2.4% in the last quarter of 2024, but some are saying we might see that slow down to below 1% this quarter, maybe even negative growth. Yikes! Inflation is still a concern, with some forecasts bumping it up to around 4% for the year. Unemployment might creep up to around 5%. The Fed's holding steady on interest rates, but some folks are whispering about potential rate cuts later this year, though who knows what'll actually happen. Consumer spending might be cooling off, and trade stuff is still a bit of a headache. Speaking of trade, the White House is pumping the brakes on some tariffs on computers and electronics, which the market likes, but things with China are still tense. Also, it's earnings season. Analysts predict earnings growth of 7.3% for S&P 500 companies. This week, we're waiting on reports from the big boys like Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Citigroup, Johnson & Johnson, and Netflix. Keep those peepers peeled! So, what's my take? Trade policy is a biggie. Tariff pauses are good, tariff escalations are bad – pretty simple, right? The Fed's next move is crucial, and earnings reports will give us a sneak peek into company health. What do you call a market trend that moves sideways? A mehrket. Okay, okay, I'll stick to the stocks. With all this going on, here's what I'm thinking: Diversify, diversify, diversify! Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Keep an eye on trade news, because that stuff can move markets faster than you can say 'quantitative easing'. Focus on companies with solid financials and consider some defensive sectors like utilities. And, of course, stay informed. Know what's happening with GDP, inflation, and the Fed. That's all for today, folks. Remember, this is just my opinion, not a crystal ball. Do your own research, and happy trading!