📈 Market Wake Up Call

Good Morning!

The S&P 500 continues its slide, down 0.5% as tech stocks struggle, with Alphabet dropping 9% amid OpenAI’s new search engine launch. Looking to hit it big? Check out our top tech picks: Qualcomm, ASML Holding, and IonQ. These under-the-radar stars in AI and quantum computing could be your ticket to millionaire status.

New to trading? We’ve got the ultimate beginner's guide just for you. With markets buzzing over the Fed's PCE data on inflation and key earnings reports, this week's updates and insights are hotter than ever 🔥.

Let’s get into it 👇

🌡 Market Temperature Check

📉 S&P 500 Extends Decline by 0.5% as Tech Shares Fail to Rebound for Third Day
The S&P 500 couldn't shake off its slump, dropping 0.5% on Thursday, marking a three-day loss of nearly 3%. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq fell 0.9% following a 3.6% plunge the previous day.

😲 Alphabet Stock Tanks 3% as OpenAI Unveils Search Engine SearchGPT
Google had a tough week, dropping nearly 9% in value. First, a $23 billion takeover attempt failed, then their earnings report disappointed. To top it off, OpenAI launched SearchGPT, a new rival search engine. Shares of Alphabet fell 3.1% on Thursday, capping off a string of bad news.

🤑 3 Technology Stocks That Could Make You a Millionaire
No single stock is a surefire ticket to millionaire status, but a few tech gems could get you there. Check out Qualcomm, ASML Holding, and IonQ. These underrated tech companies are making big moves in generative AI and quantum computing, and they just might be your best bet for serious gains.

🎉 How To Start Trading Stocks As a Complete Beginner
My ultimate guide for beginners on how to trade stocks!

📰 What’s Moving Markets?

Fed's Favorite Inflation Gauge: PCE in the Spotlight

Hey, Wall Street’s got its sights set on some crucial data today: the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index. This is the Federal Reserve’s go-to measure for inflation, and it’s going to play a big role in whether they cut interest rates in September. Here’s the lowdown:

• What to Expect: June's PCE price index is forecasted to bump up by 0.1% for the month and 2.5% annually. That’s pretty close to the Fed’s 2% sweet spot. Core PCE, which leaves out food and energy, is expected to rise by 0.2% month-over-month, sticking to a 2.6% year-over-year rate.

• Why It Matters: With the Consumer Price Index (CPI) having dropped in June for the first time in four years, everyone’s buzzing about a possible rate cut. But don’t hold your breath for next week’s Fed meeting – it might be a bit too soon.

• More Numbers Coming In: We’ll also get a peek at Personal Income and Spending figures, plus some updates to the University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index for July. This will give us a fuller picture of where the economy is headed.

Stock Market Volatility: Tech Sector on a Wild Ride

This week’s been a rollercoaster for the stock market, with tech stocks taking a hit. Futures are looking up this Friday morning, but it’s been a rough ride overall.

• Futures Snapshot: Early Friday, Dow futures were up 210 points (0.5%), S&P 500 futures rose 35 points (0.7%), and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 170 points (0.9%).

• Weekly Wrap-Up: Despite today’s gains, the S&P 500 is down 1.9%, the Nasdaq has dropped almost 3.1%, and the DJIA is down about 0.9% for the week. On Thursday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq dipped lower, while the Dow managed a small 0.2% uptick.

• Earnings Ahead: Keep an eye out for earnings reports from Bristol Myers, 3M Company, and Colgate-Palmolive. These could shake things up further.

Apple’s Chinese Market Struggles

Apple is hitting some bumps in the road over in China. Their smartphone shipments and market share are taking a hit.

• Numbers Down: Apple’s smartphone shipments in China fell by 6.7% in Q2 2024, totaling 9.7 million units, down from 10.4 million units last year. This follows a 25% drop in Q1.

• Market Share Slip: Apple’s market share slid from 16% to 14%, dropping from third to sixth place among vendors. Chinese consumers are increasingly favoring local brands that are packing in generative AI features.

• Top Players: Vivo is leading with a 19% share, followed by Oppo, Honor, and Huawei with 16%, 15%, and 15% respectively. Apple’s got some serious competition on its hands in China.

European Earnings: A Mixed Bag

European companies are rolling out their quarterly earnings, and it’s a mixed bag of results.

• Mercedes-Benz: The luxury carmaker’s stock took a hit after they narrowed their annual profit margin forecast for their main car division, reflecting some sector-wide struggles.

• Capgemini: The French IT consulting group saw its stock drop 9% after forecasting a surprise revenue decline, pointing to ongoing weakness in the North American market.

• EssilorLuxottica and Hermes: On the brighter side, EssilorLuxottica enjoyed a 7% stock boost thanks to strong first-half performance, and Hermes reported a big second-quarter sales jump, showing continued strong demand for their high-end products.

📈 What I’m Trading

Market Update 🔥 

The market is on fire right now, and the momentum is building across various sectors. We've seen some strong signals indicating that it's time to start paying close attention and maybe even dive back into the action.

If you've been sitting on the sidelines recently, consider this your wake-up call 👇

Key Updates

ETH ETF Launch: Yesterday, we witnessed the release of the ETH ETF, which made quite the splash by surpassing $1.3 billion in trading volume. This is a big deal. The excitement and confidence around Ethereum are palpable, and this ETF is a testament to that.

BTC Conference: At the end of this week, all eyes will be on the BTC Conference. With heavy hitters like Trump and Kamala Harris on the roster, we expect some major market-moving news. Trump's genuine interest in our industry could be the catalyst for a significant bull run.

BTC Movements: Bitcoin has been dancing between $65k and $66k. This volatility is our playground. Remember, our strategy at TradingLab is all about leveraging market momentum to squeeze out every possible gain. Stay sharp and be ready to move.

Looking Ahead

Next week is crucial. We're expecting more confirmation on our current stage in this bull run. The excitement is real, and the opportunities are knocking. Make sure you answer!

Don't miss out on the action. If you're not already part of the TradingLab community, now's the perfect time to join us.

Get insider access to market insights, strategies, and a network of like-minded traders ready to seize the moment.

✍ TL;DR

What's Moving Markets

• Fed's Inflation Gauge: PCE data in focus, critical for potential interest rate cuts.

  • June PCE expected to rise 0.1% monthly, 2.5% annually.

  • Core PCE to increase 0.2% monthly, 2.6% annually.

  • CPI dropped in June, sparking rate cut speculation.

• Stock Market Volatility: Tech sector turbulence, futures show slight recovery.

  • S&P 500 down 1.9%, Nasdaq down 3.1%, DJIA down 0.9% for the week.

  • Upcoming earnings from Bristol Myers, 3M, and Colgate-Palmolive.

• Apple's China Struggles: Q2 shipments down 6.7%, market share drops from 16% to 14%.

• European Earnings: Mixed results, with Mercedes-Benz and Capgemini struggling, EssilorLuxottica and Hermes thriving.

Market Update

• ETH ETF Launch: Huge impact, $1.3 billion trading volume.

• BTC Conference: Major figures like Trump and Kamala Harris to speak, potential market-moving news expected.

• Bitcoin Movements: BTC fluctuating between $65k and $66k; TradingLab strategy leverages this volatility.

• Looking Ahead: Anticipate crucial confirmation of the bull run next week.

Stay ahead, stay informed, and most importantly, stay profitable.

‘til next time,

TradingLab