Fresh news and strategies for traders. SPY Trader episode #1111. Hey everyone, it's your pal Barry Bonds Trader here, and welcome back to "Spy Trader"! It's 6 pm on Monday, April 21st, 2025, and boy oh boy, is the market having a Monday! So buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving deep into the red sea. First up, the big picture: the Dow Jones took a nosedive, dropping nearly 1,000 points. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are also feeling the pain. Apparently, this is the worst start to a presidency the S&P has seen in decades. Ouch! Breaking down the sectors, everything's down. And I mean everything. All 11 sectors of the S&P 500 are in the red. Tech, consumer discretionary, and energy are getting hammered particularly hard. Speaking of Consumer Discretionary, they are WAY down this year, meanwhile Consumer Staples are up just a smidge. Energy and Financials are also taking a beating. But not all is bad news, the Discover Financial Services and Capital One Financial merger got approved by the U.S. government. Now, what's causing all this chaos? Well, those trade tensions with China are still a major headache. China is not happy about countries cozying up with the U.S. on trade deals that hurt their interests. And, President Trump's been taking shots at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, making everyone nervous about the Fed's independence. On the macro front, things aren't looking much brighter. GDP growth seems to be slowing down. Inflation is expected to rise because of those tariffs, and the unemployment forecast is creeping up. Plus, folks are feeling gloomy – consumer sentiment has plunged, and smallbusiness uncertainty is skyhigh. So, what does all this mean? Well, that trade war is a real drag. High tariffs could lead to an economic divorce between the U.S. and China, which would be bad news for businesses. And this whole Fed situation is shaking investor confidence. People are starting to wonder if the Fed can really do its job without political interference. Investors worldwide are getting skeptical about putting their money in the U.S. right now. Okay, let's talk strategy. Given this market rollercoaster, please remember I am not a financial advisor and this is not financial advice, always consult with a professional. Given this crazy market, it might be time to think about playing defense. Consumer staples and healthcare tend to hold up better when the economy gets shaky. Make sure your portfolio is diversified across different areas and countries to spread out the risk. Keep a close eye on the news about trade talks, Fed policy, and company earnings. Gold has been climbing, which could be a safe place to park some cash. And remember, market corrections happen. Don't panic and make rash decisions. Think long term! And before I forget, Why did the investment banker go to Egypt? To see the futures pyramid! That's all for today's "Spy Trader." Stay safe out there, folks, and I'll catch you in a few hours!