In Monday’s pre-market update, Stephen Whiteside from TheUpTrend.com noted a quiet start to the week, with futures slightly lower and no major economic events until mid-week. Key catalysts ahead include Wednesday’s Fed minutes, Thursday’s jobless claims, and Friday’s speech by Chairman Powell, where investors hope for hints of a September rate cut. Stephen cautions against expecting cuts given inflation concerns. The VIX remains on a sell signal across major indices, suggesting markets are still leaning higher unless that changes.
Reviewing ETFs and stocks, Stephen highlighted mixed results: Kinross and Bosch rallied, while Enbridge and Bird Construction weakened. U.S. markets showed cautious gains with the Dow Diamonds nearing resistance. UnitedHealth surged toward a target, while Cisco slumped. In the S\&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, winners included First Solar and PDD Holdings, but applied materials and KLA reversed lower. Commodities were mixed: crude dipped, natural gas showed strength, and precious metals remained weak. Stephen advised patience, risk management, and focusing on percentage moves rather than dollar values when trading stocks.
Stephen Whiteside
Monday, August 18, 2025
