Friday Market Feels: Mixed Bag Edition

Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1037. Hey everyone, it's your pal Penny Pincher here, and welcome to Spy Trader! It's 12 pm on Friday, March 21st, 2025, Pacific Time, and the markets are giving us a Friday feeling, alright, but is it good or bad? Let's dive in! Today, we're seeing a bit of a mixed bag. The market's been a little wobbly lately, potentially facing its fifth straight weekly loss, although some folks think we might be snapping that losing streak. As of right now, the S&P 500 is down about 0.2%, but barely holding onto a weekly gain. The Dow is down around 23 points, and the Nasdaq's also taking a slight hit, down about 0.1%. Seems like after hitting record highs in February, things have cooled off a bit. What's causing all this? Well, a few things. First, there's the ongoing trade war. President Trump has set an April 2nd deadline for imposing more tariffs, which is making everyone nervous about inflation and how it's going to affect businesses and consumers. The Fed recently held interest rates steady, but they also lowered their GDP growth forecast for the year to just 1.7%, which is a pretty big drop from last year. They're also expecting inflation to creep up a bit before it gets better. Now, let's talk about some specific companies. Nike's taking a hit because they're predicting a big drop in revenue, blaming it on geopolitical issues, tariffs, and worried consumers. FedEx is also down after lowering their profit outlook. On the bright side, Boeing is soaring because Trump announced they're building the Air Force's future fighter jet. And Johnson & Johnson is making a big investment right here in the US, which is good news! Technology stocks, which were doing so great last year, are now weighing the market down. Nvidia and Microsoft are specifically mentioned as experiencing losses. Airlines are also feeling the pressure because of that fire at Heathrow Airport. Financial stocks are facing uncertainty because of the Fed's interest rate decisions. So, what does it all mean? Well, experts are saying that there's a lot of uncertainty in the market right now. One analyst said, 'Investors are confused, but there's a lot less panic infusing the market.' Another one mentioned that this is a very uncertain time. There's a tendency to worry, and worry translates into selling. And one more said that there are increasing risks of a recession and bear market, depending on unpredictable policy decisions. So, what should you do? Well, I'm not a financial advisor, so I can't give you specific advice. But here are a few things to think about: Be cautious, diversify your investments, and maybe consider value stocks over growth stocks. Also, keep an eye on what's happening outside the US. There are some signs that equity markets might be doing better elsewhere. And of course, watch the key indicators like inflation data, Fed announcements, and any news about the trade war. Remember, everyone's situation is different, so do your own research and talk to a qualified professional before making any decisions. Oh, and before I forget, why did the hedge fund manager meditate? To find inner peace and outer gains. That's all for today, folks! Stay safe, stay informed, and I'll catch you next time on Spy Trader!