July 3, 2025 • 7 mins
Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1282.
Welcome back to Spy Trader, your goto podcast for navigating the unpredictable tides of the stock market! It's 6 am on Thursday, July 3rd, 2025, Pacific time, and I'm your host, Market Maverick Max, ready to dive into today's crucial financial updates. Let's make some sense of these charts and headlines, shall we? First, a quick look at how the market's shaping up. The US stock market is showing a mixed bag this morning. The S&P 500 is modestly up, gaining about 0.47% to 6,227.42 points, extending its recent recordsetting run. The Nasdaq Composite is also showing strength, up around 0.94% to 20,393.13 points. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is slightly in the red, down about 0.02% to 44,484.42 points. Interestingly, the Russell 2000, which represents our smallercap stocks, is having a great day, up another 1%, suggesting a broadening rally beyond the megacaps. Looking at sectors, Energy, Materials, Technology, and Consumer Discretionary are leading the charge this morning, showing strong gains. On the flip side, Health Care, Utilities, Financials, and Communication Services are currently underperforming. Now for some of the key news items moving the markets. On the trade front, President Trump announced a new trade agreement with Vietnam, which allows US goods dutyfree entry in exchange for a significantly lower 20% tariff on Vietnamese goods. This follows last month's finalized trade understanding between the US and China, which also helped fuel recent market rallies. Plus, Canada rescinded its proposed digital services tax, easing tensions there. A big piece of news impacting market sentiment came from the ADP job report for June, which unexpectedly showed a decline of 33,000 private sector jobs. This is the first decline in over two years and was quite a surprise, especially with expectations for a 100,000 increase. This soft reading is definitely putting tomorrow's official monthly payrolls report under a microscope. On the company front, Coinbase Global shares are up 5.7% after they acquired a tokenmanagement platform called Liquifi. Moderna gained 5.5% on promising results from its experimental mRNA flu vaccine. Tesla inched up 0.6% ahead of expected delivery data, after a notable drop yesterday following President Trump's threat to cut subsidies for Elon Musk's businesses. Apple climbed 1% after an upgrade by Jefferies, citing strong iPhone sales and hopes for strong earnings, even with some lingering concerns about their AI development. Unfortunately, Centene plunged over 30% after withdrawing its 2025 guidance, and Adobe dropped 1.4% after a downgrade. However, shares of large US banks generally climbed after announcing dividend increases or share buyback plans following the Federal Reserve stress tests. So, what does all this mean for us? The market's mixed performance, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq continuing their upward trend while the Dow lags slightly, points to ongoing strength in tech and growth sectors. The Russell 2000's strong showing is a positive sign, indicating that the rally might be expanding beyond just the biggest companies. The shift in sector leadership towards Energy and Materials, along with continued strength in Tech and Consumer Discretionary, suggests investors are reacting to commodity prices and maintaining their appetite for innovation and consumer spending. The big macroeconomic story right now is that unexpected decline in the ADP job report. This soft data strengthens the case for potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in the second half of 2025. Lower rates are generally a good thing for stocks, as they make borrowing cheaper for companies and increase the attractiveness of equities compared to bonds. While inflation, as measured by core PCE, is currently the lowest in four years, there's always an eye on potential upside risks from tariffs. Consumer expectations for inflation have plummeted, which i
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome back to Spy Trader , your goto podcast for navigating the unpredictable tides of the stock market !
It's 6 am on Thursday , July 3rd , 2025 , Pacific time , and I'm your host , Market Maverick Max , ready to dive into today's crucial financial updates .
Let's make some sense of these charts and headlines , shall we ?
(00:21):
First , a quick look at how the market's shaping up .
The US stock market is showing a mixed bag this morning .
The S&P 500 is modestly up , gaining about 0.47% to 6,227.42 points , extending its recent recordsetting run .
(00:42):
The Nasdaq Composite is also showing strength , up around 0.94% to 20,393.13 points .
However , the Dow Jones Industrial Average is slightly in the red , down about 0.02% to 44,484.42 points .
(01:03):
Interestingly , the Russell 2000 , which represents our smallercap stocks , is having a great day , up another 1% , suggesting a broadening rally beyond the megacaps .
Looking at sectors , Energy , Materials , Technology , and Consumer Discretionary are leading the charge this morning , showing strong gains .
(01:23):
On the flip side , Health Care , Utilities , Financials , and Communication Services are currently underperforming .
Now for some of the key news items moving the markets .
On the trade front , President Trump announced a new trade agreement with Vietnam , which allows US goods dutyfree entry in exchange for a significantly lower 20% tariff on Vietnamese goods .
(01:48):
This follows last month's finalized trade understanding between the US and China , which also helped fuel recent market rallies .
Plus , Canada rescinded its proposed digital services tax , easing tensions there .
A big piece of news impacting market sentiment came from the ADP job report for June , which unexpectedly showed a decline of 33,000 private sector jobs .
(02:15):
This is the first decline in over two years and was quite a surprise , especially with expectations for a 100,000 increase .
This soft reading is definitely putting tomorrow's official monthly payrolls report under a microscope .
On the company front , Coinbase Global shares are up 5.7% after they acquired a tokenmanagement platform called Liquifi .
(02:38):
Moderna gained 5.5% on promising results from its experimental mRNA flu vaccine .
Tesla inched up 0.6% ahead of expected delivery data , after a notable drop yesterday following President Trump's threat to cut subsidies for Elon Musk's businesses .
Apple climbed 1% after an upgrade by Jefferies , citing strong iPhone sales and hopes for strong earnings , even with some lingering concerns about their AI development .
(03:09):
Unfortunately , Centene plunged over 30% after withdrawing its 2025 guidance , and Adobe dropped 1.4% after a downgrade .
However , shares of large US banks generally climbed after announcing dividend increases or share buyback plans following the Federal Reserve stress tests .
(03:30):
So , what does all this mean for us ?
The market's mixed performance , with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq continuing their upward trend while the Dow lags slightly , points to ongoing strength in tech and growth sectors .
The Russell 2000's strong showing is a positive sign , indicating that the rally might be expanding beyond just the biggest companies .
(03:55):
The shift in sector leadership towards Energy and Materials , along with continued strength in Tech and Consumer Discretionary , suggests investors are reacting to commodity prices and maintaining their appetite for innovation and consumer spending .
The big macroeconomic story right now is that unexpected decline in the ADP job report .
(04:17):
This soft data strengthens the case for potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in the second half of 2025 .
Lower rates are generally a good thing for stocks , as they make borrowing cheaper for companies and increase the attractiveness of equities compared to bonds .
While inflation , as measured by core PCE , is currently the lowest in four years , there's always an eye on potential upside risks from tariffs .
(04:44):
Consumer expectations for inflation have plummeted , which is a very positive signal .
The trade deals with Vietnam and China are also reducing uncertainty and improving overall business sentiment .
However , we're keeping an eye on the US national debt , which continues to climb rapidly , though its daily impact on market fluctuations is more subdued .
(05:08):
Given these dynamic conditions , here are some concrete recommendations .
First , consider a balanced approach to your portfolio , but with a slight tilt towards growth and cyclical sectors .
That means maintaining exposure to Technology and Consumer Discretionary , given their continued strength .
Also , with Energy and Materials leading today , a tactical allocation to these areas could be beneficial if that trend continues .
(05:36):
And don't forget those smallcap stocks in the Russell 2000 ; their recent outperformance suggests some exciting growth potential for those comfortable with a bit more risk .
Second , keep a close watch on interest rate expectations and inflation .
While rate cuts are anticipated , the pace will depend on incoming economic data .
(05:57):
For more conservative investors , focusing on midterm Treasuries might offer value .
Also , remember to stay informed on key macroeconomic data , especially tomorrow's nonfarm payrolls report .
A surprisingly strong report could temper those rate cut expectations , while further weakness could solidify them .
Fourth , always exercise due diligence on individual companies .
(06:22):
Companyspecific news , earnings , and guidance can significantly impact performance .
Focus on businesses with strong fundamentals and clear growth strategies .
Lastly , remember the golden rule (06:33):
diversification and risk management are crucial .
With mixed signals and potential volatility from economic data and geopolitical events , spreading your investments across sectors and asset classes remains your best defense .
Regularly review and rebalance your portfolio to align with your risk tolerance and financial goals .
(06:56):
That's all for today's Spy Trader .
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice .
Investment decisions should always be made based on individual research , risk tolerance , and consultation with a qualified financial advisor .
Stay tuned for our next episode , and happy trading !
Welcome back to Spy Trader , your goto podcast for navigating the unpredictable tides of the stock market !
It's 6 am on Thursday , July 3rd , 2025 , Pacific time , and I'm your host , Market Maverick Max , ready to dive into today's crucial financial updates .
Let's make some sense of these charts and headlines , shall we ?
(00:21):
First , a quick look at how the market's shaping up .
The US stock market is showing a mixed bag this morning .
The S&P 500 is modestly up , gaining about 0.47% to 6,227.42 points , extending its recent recordsetting run .
(00:42):
The Nasdaq Composite is also showing strength , up around 0.94% to 20,393.13 points .
However , the Dow Jones Industrial Average is slightly in the red , down about 0.02% to 44,484.42 points .
(01:03):
Interestingly , the Russell 2000 , which represents our smallercap stocks , is having a great day , up another 1% , suggesting a broadening rally beyond the megacaps .
Looking at sectors , Energy , Materials , Technology , and Consumer Discretionary are leading the charge this morning , showing strong gains .
(01:23):
On the flip side , Health Care , Utilities , Financials , and Communication Services are currently underperforming .
Now for some of the key news items moving the markets .
On the trade front , President Trump announced a new trade agreement with Vietnam , which allows US goods dutyfree entry in exchange for a significantly lower 20% tariff on Vietnamese goods .
(01:48):
This follows last month's finalized trade understanding between the US and China , which also helped fuel recent market rallies .
Plus , Canada rescinded its proposed digital services tax , easing tensions there .
A big piece of news impacting market sentiment came from the ADP job report for June , which unexpectedly showed a decline of 33,000 private sector jobs .
(02:15):
This is the first decline in over two years and was quite a surprise , especially with expectations for a 100,000 increase .
This soft reading is definitely putting tomorrow's official monthly payrolls report under a microscope .
On the company front , Coinbase Global shares are up 5.7% after they acquired a tokenmanagement platform called Liquifi .
(02:38):
Moderna gained 5.5% on promising results from its experimental mRNA flu vaccine .
Tesla inched up 0.6% ahead of expected delivery data , after a notable drop yesterday following President Trump's threat to cut subsidies for Elon Musk's businesses .
Apple climbed 1% after an upgrade by Jefferies , citing strong iPhone sales and hopes for strong earnings , even with some lingering concerns about their AI development .
(03:09):
Unfortunately , Centene plunged over 30% after withdrawing its 2025 guidance , and Adobe dropped 1.4% after a downgrade .
However , shares of large US banks generally climbed after announcing dividend increases or share buyback plans following the Federal Reserve stress tests .
(03:30):
So , what does all this mean for us ?
The market's mixed performance , with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq continuing their upward trend while the Dow lags slightly , points to ongoing strength in tech and growth sectors .
The Russell 2000's strong showing is a positive sign , indicating that the rally might be expanding beyond just the biggest companies .
(03:55):
The shift in sector leadership towards Energy and Materials , along with continued strength in Tech and Consumer Discretionary , suggests investors are reacting to commodity prices and maintaining their appetite for innovation and consumer spending .
The big macroeconomic story right now is that unexpected decline in the ADP job report .
(04:17):
This soft data strengthens the case for potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in the second half of 2025 .
Lower rates are generally a good thing for stocks , as they make borrowing cheaper for companies and increase the attractiveness of equities compared to bonds .
While inflation , as measured by core PCE , is currently the lowest in four years , there's always an eye on potential upside risks from tariffs .
(04:44):
Consumer expectations for inflation have plummeted , which is a very positive signal .
The trade deals with Vietnam and China are also reducing uncertainty and improving overall business sentiment .
However , we're keeping an eye on the US national debt , which continues to climb rapidly , though its daily impact on market fluctuations is more subdued .
(05:08):
Given these dynamic conditions , here are some concrete recommendations .
First , consider a balanced approach to your portfolio , but with a slight tilt towards growth and cyclical sectors .
That means maintaining exposure to Technology and Consumer Discretionary , given their continued strength .
Also , with Energy and Materials leading today , a tactical allocation to these areas could be beneficial if that trend continues .
(05:36):
And don't forget those smallcap stocks in the Russell 2000 ; their recent outperformance suggests some exciting growth potential for those comfortable with a bit more risk .
Second , keep a close watch on interest rate expectations and inflation .
While rate cuts are anticipated , the pace will depend on incoming economic data .
(05:57):
For more conservative investors , focusing on midterm Treasuries might offer value .
Also , remember to stay informed on key macroeconomic data , especially tomorrow's nonfarm payrolls report .
A surprisingly strong report could temper those rate cut expectations , while further weakness could solidify them .
Fourth , always exercise due diligence on individual companies .
(06:22):
Companyspecific news , earnings , and guidance can significantly impact performance .
Focus on businesses with strong fundamentals and clear growth strategies .
Lastly , remember the golden rule (06:33):
diversification and risk management are crucial .
With mixed signals and potential volatility from economic data and geopolitical events , spreading your investments across sectors and asset classes remains your best defense .
Regularly review and rebalance your portfolio to align with your risk tolerance and financial goals .
(06:56):
That's all for today's Spy Trader .
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice .
Investment decisions should always be made based on individual research , risk tolerance , and consultation with a qualified financial advisor .
Stay tuned for our next episode , and happy trading !
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