Wall Street’s Worry Wall

Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1241. Hey folks, it's your pal Finny the Finance Fanatic here, broadcasting live! It's 12 pm on Monday, June 16th, 2025, and welcome to 'Spy Trader,' your midday dose of market mojo. Let's dive right into what's shaking up Wall Street today. So, the US500 closed up over 1% today, which is great! But let's not get too excited, there's a lot going on under the hood. We've got ongoing geopolitical tensions, trade talks with China, and a mixed bag of economic data. Seems like we are climbing a wall of worry here! First up, the market's keeping a close eye on the IsraelIran situation. Easing tensions seem to be helping risk appetite, but we're definitely not out of the woods yet. Oil prices are down a bit, and tech stocks are bouncing, so that's a plus. And, the US and China reached a trade agreement after highlevel meetings in London. Any good news on trade is always welcome. Now, let's talk about some specific companies. AMD is absolutely crushing it today, up nearly 10%! Chip stocks are having a party! Meta also climbed 3% after announcing paid advertising on WhatsApp. Chaching! On the flip side, Sarepta Therapeutics is getting hammered after another patient death during their Duchenne muscular dystrophy treatment. Ouch. Oracle shares skyrocketed after betterthanexpected sales and profits. Must be all that cloud computing magic! Tesla is trying to recover from that whole Elon vs. Trump drama. Drama never ends, does it? Also, Victoria's Secret shares are rising thanks to an activist investor. Someone's trying to spice things up! On the economic front, inflation is still a concern. The latest CPI numbers came in a bit lower than expected, but we're still dealing with tariffinduced inflation and a cooling labor market. Some experts are even whispering the word 'stagflation'. Not a fun word at all. The OECD thinks US GDP growth is going to slow down this year, and Moody's even downgraded the US government's credit rating. Double ouch. Alright, Finny's two cents? Given all this, my recommendation is, be careful out there! Diversify your portfolio, maybe look into some international stocks – they've been outperforming lately. Value stocks are still looking good, especially smallcap ones. Keep a close eye on the Fed's next move and how these trade negotiations are playing out. The Energy sector looks undervalued but also underperforming, so tread carefully there. With stagflation in mind, keep an eye on sectors like consumer staples and utilities that tend to be more resilient. And, with trade uncertainties, maybe focus on companies that do most of their business right here in the good ol' US of A. Tech and Communication Services might offer opportunities, but make sure you're getting them at a fair price. That's all for today, folks! Remember, I'm just a financial fanatic, not your financial advisor. Do your own homework and make smart choices. Until next time, keep those portfolios green and those spirits high!