What to Watch in Today's Stock Market: A No-Nonsense Guide - May 22, 2024
Today’s stock market, ladies and gentlemen, is a tale of two cities. And I’m here to unravel it for you with no B.S. I’ve spent enough years on Wall Street to gain more experience than I’d like to admit. The only thing I’ve realized is that one must keep their head on a swivel. So, let’s see what’s what today.
Pay Attention to Earnings
First and foremost, earnings are what matter. Market moves start here, and today is no exception. There are plenty of names reporting, but who cares about most of them. After the bell today, watch Nvidia (NVDA): They are set to report some banner numbers, and the AI mania is raging: it makes sense. Nvidia has been on a roll this year. If they crush it, that stock will keep roaring higher. And they will. Besides that, keep Apple (AAPL) on your list since they are looking golden despite global supply-chain disruption. And Tesla (TSLA) because it’s Tesla.
Market Play
There are market play, too. The biggest market jump is MGO Global (MGOL); this stock is sitting pretty. The market’s biggest loser is Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service (CTNT). That one’s ugly. These two can get wild, but they are just a piece of the puzzle. Watch what else is moving in terms of volume, like Greenwave Technology Solutions (GWAV); that can give you an idea of what’s happening. Also, watch sectors; techs can get volatile on news stories of constraints, and health care may pop on the advances in medical tech and pharma.
My Opinion
There are a lot of opinions kicking around from the big guns. JPMorgan’s Kolanovic is the bear; he says that the S&P will fall by 20%. On the flip side, Wilson over at Morgan Stanley says a totally different thing. He’s a mister optimist, and on top of that, he is right. It’s all in the air since these market analyses are just that; nobody knows the future for sure. I would also add attention to the geopolitical angle; any given second, an unknown unknown could jump up and horn in on the global dynamics act.
Interest Rates – and Yours
And lastly, interest rates, the relative of the so-called bull killer. Today’s treasury rates look like the paint that dries out but will bite you in the tail if you ignore them. Interest rates influence everything, from your mortgage and car payment to that new business loan you were thinking about. Keep an eye on the yield curve too; it’s a good macro telltale. Plus, on the Fed statements due: a second-rate increase that occurs out of the blue could push the markets down since it would make borrowing more expensive, in turn hitting the consumer spending and corporate investment.
Personal Anecdote
I’ve been around this rodeo a few times, and if there’s one thing I can advise you with, it’s this: pay no attention to the bulls and the bears, trust your gut, but not to the last cent. I’ve watched hotshot Wall Street kids go belly-up because they thought they could beat the market. I remember the dot-com crash; back then, some thought that a tech stock can only go up, and it didn’t. The market is unpredictable and sometimes outright and ruthless. That’s why you should diversify and come up with your own born strategy.
Wrap-Up
In short, today’s market is a puzzle. So keep analyzing pieces, and don’t get them mixed up. Knowledge is your power in this game. So, now, you got a tad more of it. Stay sharp, and keep reading up, folks. Now, let’s play the slot and see what comes out!