[video_player type=”embed” style=”1″ dimensions=”640×360″ width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ ipad_color=”black”][/video_player] The S&P 500 has been drifting for a few weeks in a 100-point range that has yet to be broken. Even today, S&P 500 futures (ES) finished down 0.90%… on light volume. The market as a whole has held up, but interest-rate-sensitive parts of the market are starting to break. Utilities, for instance, were off 2.3% today on above average volume. NextEra Energy (NEE) was particularly hard hit – a leading loser in the S&P 100. By the time the bell rang and smoke cleared this afternoon, Energy was the only positive sector. Now, with Hurricane Milton steaming toward landfall, the dynamic is in play. We’ll look at this in-depth tonight. Higher oil prices are a major contributor to weakness in the Utilities sector, and Consumer Staples also beat the S&P 500 to the downside at -0.99% In fact, the

[video_player type=”embed” style=”1″ dimensions=”640×360″ width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ ipad_color=”black”][/video_player] The S&P 500 moved higher today… to finish out the week basically unchanged! It’s stuck right now, but not for long. I talked this morning about a buildup in gamma risk that raises serious questions about how to get in position for the weekend – more on that in a second. The S&P is stuck, but the thing is, most of the other key markets – bonds, currencies like the dollar and yen, gold, and more – are making monster moves right now. That’s not a coincidence, and tonight we’re going to look at just what you should do about it. Let’s get going…

[video_player type=”embed” style=”1″ dimensions=”640×360″ width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ ipad_color=”black”][/video_player] We need to get real about inflationary pressures; they haven’t gone away. This economy offers us high prices and pinched supply chains that are likely to push prices even higher. The trend in oil and gas is no exception – prices are rising, creating a new uptrend that could see them push higher by 20% or more. The net effect is squeezed consumers with limited disposable income. That’s why I’m betting on oil stocks… and timing consumer discretionaries. We’ll look at healthcare and utilities tonight, too. Let’s jump right in…

[video_player type=”embed” style=”1″ dimensions=”640×360″ width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ ipad_color=”black”][/video_player] The S&P 500 has been practically asleep, but I’m looking for volatility to pick up in a big way – starting with everyone’s favorite retail stocks. This is what you need to know…

[video_player type=”embed” style=”1″ dimensions=”640×360″ width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ ipad_color=”black”][/video_player] A category 4-equivalent typhoon is barreling toward some of Taiwan’s most important semiconductor factories… Ground war is spreading in the Middle East… Some of the biggest, busiest ports in the United States are frozen by strikes… The cherry on top: Fed Chairman Jerome Powell sounded ever-so-slightly hawkish when he said the Fed was in no rush to raise rates. So it’s no understatement to call these tense, uncertain times, and that was reflected in equities’ performance today. Even so, I think the NASDAQ has an opportunity to reassert its dominance in the coming weeks as the global market rediscovers its appetite for dollars. We’ll look at how we’re positioned there tonight. We’ll also keep the focus on China, where we’re opting for quality over quantity there. Let’s take a look…

[video_player type=”embed” style=”1″ dimensions=”640×360″ width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ ipad_color=”black”][/video_player] Anyone hoping to see a little more volatility finally got it today… but not necessarily in the shiny bearish package they were counting on. Indeed, the S&P 500 finished the day – and the third quarter – with an all-time high close. This comes barely two months after the market made its early August correction. It seems like the hope of Fed rate cuts propelled the market higher amid economic uncertainty… but I’m not so sure. Because, if we look at the market through an inflation-adjusted lens, we see through the bullish mirage, the veneer of strength. Ultimately, it’s been a weak dollar that’s lent the appearance of bullishness. Factor out the dollar… and you’re nowhere near highs. That being said, Powell’s statements today helped lift the dollar and the markets rallied off lows. He moderated the dovish tone a

[video_player type=”embed” style=”1″ dimensions=”640×360″ width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ ipad_color=”black”][/video_player] I hope everyone had fun snoozing through this week’s slop-tastic sessions. Hope everyone got their beauty sleep… …because it’s about to get wild in this market. If you know where to look (and I’ll show you) you can see the signs of imminent volatility. On Wednesday, I showed you how sector rotation and an increase in defensive posturing out there pointed to chop ahead. You don’t fill sandbags unless you’re expecting a flood, and that’s exactly what traders are doing with these positions. I’m going to show you even more signs of a wild ride coming up, and show you just what to do about it…

[video_player type=”embed” style=”1″ dimensions=”640×360″ width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ ipad_color=”black”][/video_player]   “Inflation’s under control, it’s normal. Not a problem.” The Fed told us this through most of 2021 when inflation was in fact ballooning… but this time they really mean it.  And to put a point on it, they slashed interest rates by 50 basis points.  And yet… nearly all assets other than crude oil are showing higher prices at faster rates. You know, inflating. The rise in commodities and basic materials seems to be putting wind in the sails of China and emerging markets – they’re moving in tandem.  Right now, I’m looking at basic materials, as tracked by the Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB). The sector is rising and breaking through key resistance levels.  That’s what we’re going to look at right now…

[video_player type=”embed” style=”1″ dimensions=”640×360″ width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ ipad_color=”black”][/video_player] If you didn’t know any better, looking at the market this afternoon, you’d think “Hm. Quiet. No volume.” And you’d be right… but this market is going to wake up. How do I know? You can tell a lot by following the flow of cash out of one sector and into another. Go figure. Right now I’m seeing a lot of defensive posturing going on – filling sandbags. Traders are dumping financials, scooping up utilities left and right, and getting back into the sector that was dead three or four weeks ago: tech. And when you look at the calendar, you can see the end of the quarter coming this week. Add it all up and you’ve got a hell of a volatile market on your hands. That could happen as soon as tomorrow or Friday, so listen to what

[video_player type=”embed” style=”1″ dimensions=”640×360″ width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ ipad_color=”black”][/video_player] Stocks enjoyed a decent day as tech and semiconductors led the crowd to the upside. Gold hit new all-time highs and silver surged, which is just more confirmation that we’re on the right track to be bullish here. Interestingly, crypto benefited from a strong bid, too. Both metal and crypto miners continue to offer us compelling ways to capitalize on this emerging strength. Bonds seem set for higher prices, too, but this week’s PCE report looms large. That’ll help confirm whether the bullish trend in fixed income is the real thing or a flash in the pan. There’s much more to talk about tonight…