Nuclear Deal with CCJ

A new U.S. deal with Cameco (CCJ) sent the stock up more than 23%. The agreement involves Cameco, Brookfield Asset Management and Westinghouse, with plans to build nuclear reactors across the U.S.

Buy the Rumor a 2nd Time

Dan breaks down why traders might be “buying the rumor twice” — and what to watch as the Fed, China and earnings all take the spotlight.

How to Use the DSPX Index

Markets were mostly flat today, but metals made things interesting. Gold’s up 60% this year — and down 6% today.

How to Identify Candle Clues

Candlesticks are one of the best momentum indicators. They track the distance between the open and close over any time frame.

Heavy Metal

Markets were mostly flat today, but metals made things interesting. Gold’s up 60% this year — and down 6% today.

A Meltdown

Ever feel like you just can’t seem to make progress in your trading — no matter how much you study, practice or tweak your strategy?

What Is Debasement?

Prices are up, but it’s not because things are getting better. It’s because the dollar is getting weaker. That’s debasement, and it quietly affects every chart you trade.

Remember to Have a Plan

Here is a quick reminder to plan out your trade management strategy before entering any trade.

Blue Horseshoe Loves…

You ever see the movie Wall Street? The market’s been feeling a little like “Blue Horseshoe loves Anacott Steel” lately — every headline sends stocks flying up or down.

Trading Inside Days

The S&P 500 climbed 1.5% today with SPY closing at 663.04 in what we call an “inside day.” That’s when today’s range sits inside Friday’s candle — a classic sign of indecision.

Making Sense

Next week kicks off with the banks — not quite full-blown earnings chaos yet, but it’s coming. Earnings will be the story to watch from here.

Your Trading Task Checklist

The road to becoming a well-rounded broker/trader/educator pressed me to develop a list of tasks that I use faithfully before recommending or entering a trade. Here is my checklist.

Gambling or Trading?

Big industry news: ICE is taking a $2 billion stake in Polymarket — a platform for event-based contracts tied to real-world outcomes like Fed moves or shutdown timelines.

Most Important Right Now

Right now, it’s all about earnings. That’s where traders should keep their focus in the days ahead.

Trading Resistance in PLTR and ITA

The market, as of late, has continued to try to move higher and we’ve seen no significant pullback. As I like to tell traders: Don’t fight the trend. Go with the flow and look for opportunities to put on bullish positions, like a break through a resistance level.

Setting Vol Skew on TOS

The market was flat today, but I want to cover something that can really matter for options traders: how you set up volatility in Thinkorswim.

ETFs or Stocks?

Options on ETFs work the same way as stock options, but volatility is lower because of diversification. That makes them cheaper to trade—but also less risky in terms of short strikes being hit.

Waiting…

The focus today is on Washington. With the government possibly shutting down tomorrow night, markets are in wait-and-see mode.

Prediction: 64%

Prediction markets show a 64% chance of a government shutdown by Oct. 1. If that drags on, it could weigh on stocks and bonds.

How to Use Pivots and Moving Averages

Moving averages are the most popular directional gauges. They are typically the first technical indicator in the novice trader’s toolbox. Many professional traders rely on them as well. Typically, the directional signals come when a short-term MA crosses a longer-term MA.

Retail or Pros?

S&P 500 gave back yesterday’s gains, down about 0.5% as the market battles between buyers and sellers. Retail trading is creating more noise and emotional moves, while professionals may be selling opportunistically.