Episode Details

Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1284. Welcome back to Spy Trader, your goto podcast for navigating the markets! I’m your host, Moneybags Mike, and it’s 6 pm on Thursday, July 3rd, 2025, Pacific Time. The fireworks are already starting early in the market, even before the big Independence Day holiday tomorrow! The U.S. stock market is absolutely soaring, with major indices hitting or nearly hitting record highs, fueled by some fantastic economic news and a wave of optimism. Let's dive into the headlines. The S&P 500 closed at a new record high of 6,279.35 yesterday, gaining 0.8% for the day and marking its fourth record high in just five trading days. It’s up nearly 7% yeartodate and surged an impressive 10.6% in the second quarter of 2025. Not to be outdone, the Nasdaq Composite also hit a new record high of 20,601.10, up 1% for the day, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.8% to 44,828.53, nearing its own alltime high from December 2024. The second quarter was the best for U.S. stocks in over a year, and historically, July has been a strong month for the S&P 500. A big reason for this market cheer was the June jobs report, released yesterday. U.S. employers added 147,000 jobs, handily beating expectations of 110,000, and the unemployment rate unexpectedly dipped to 4.1% from 4.2%. This report really reinforced the resilience of our economy. We’re also seeing a boost from optimism around potential U.S.China trade deals and a new agreement with Vietnam, though everyone's watching that July 9th deadline for new tariffs. On the legislative front, President Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' that comprehensive tax and spending package, has cleared the Senate and is now headed to the House. In company news, Datadog, or DDOG, surged a cool 15% yesterday after announcing it will join the S&P 500 index on July 9th. Tesla, or TSLA, has seen some volatility recently, climbing 5% on Tuesday after its Q2 global deliveries figures, but then falling slightly yesterday and tumbling over 5% on Monday amid a publicized dispute involving Elon Musk. Apple, or AAPL, has notably underperformed the S&P 500 yeartodate, losing 17% through Tuesday, partly due to concerns about its AI progress. Goldman Sachs, or GS, was a strong performer within the Dow, rising 2.5% on Monday. Now, let’s talk macro. The annual inflation rate was 2.4% for May, and the next update on June data is due July 15th. Forecasts suggest a slight acceleration to 2.64% for June. The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 4.25% to 4.50% in June. That strong jobs report has really dampened expectations for a July rate cut, with market probabilities plummeting to just 5% from 24% before the report. The 10year Treasury yield rose to 4.35% yesterday, reflecting those revised expectations. So, what does all this mean for your portfolio? The U.S. stock market is definitely in a bullish trend right now. That robust jobs report signals a resilient economy, which is a great foundation for corporate earnings and consumer spending. The rally in AI stocks is also broadening out beyond just the megacap tech giants, with related sectors like electrification, data storage, and infrastructure benefiting. This expansion of growth is a very healthy sign for the market. Plus, the ongoing trade optimism and legislative developments are certainly boosting investor confidence. However, it's not all smooth sailing. That strong jobs report means a nearterm interest rate cut from the Fed is now highly unlikely. Higherforlonger rates can impact borrowing costs for businesses and consumers, so that's something to keep an eye on. Also, the threat of tariffs could reignite inflationary pressures, potentially forcing the Fed to maintain or even raise rates if inflation picks up significantly. And despite the recent gains, the first half of 2025 was quite volatile, and July historically can see a rise in the VIX. Geopolitical tensions, especially in the Middle East, an