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Geopolitical Jitters and AI Power Plays · The SPY Trader

• 0:00
  Good morning , everybody !
• 0:02
  It’s 6 am on Thursday , April 23rd , 2026 , out here on the Pacific coast .
• 0:08
  I’m your host , Penny Pockets , and you’re listening to Spy Trader , your goto briefing for navigating the market waves .
• 0:15
  We’ve got a lot to unpack today , so grab your coffee , sit back , and let’s look at why the market is feeling a bit of a geopolitical hangover this morning .
• 0:24
  Yesterday was one for the history books .
• 0:27
  We saw the S&P 500 , that’s the SPY , and the Nasdaq100 , or the QQQ , hit fresh record highs .
• 0:35
  The S&P closed at a staggering 7,137.90 .
• 0:40
  But as we wake up today , the mood has shifted .
• 0:43
  Futures are trending lower , down about pointfive percent .
• 0:47
  The VIX , our favorite fear gauge , is creeping up toward 19 , which tells us that the calm we saw yesterday is starting to fade .
• 0:56
  The big story is the mixed bag of highstakes earnings and some very concerning news from the Middle East .
• 1:02
  While Technology , the XLK , jumped over two percent yesterday thanks to the AI boom , we are seeing a major energy shock .
• 1:11
  Brent Crude has climbed above 105 dollars a barrel .
• 1:15
  Why ?
• 1:15
  Well , despite a ceasefire extension , reports are coming in that Iran seized two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz today .
• 1:24
  The Pentagon is warning it could take six months just to clear mines from that waterway .
• 1:28
  This is keeping inflation high and investors on edge .
• 1:32
  Looking at specific sectors , GE Vernova , ticker GEV , was a superstar yesterday , soaring eight percent because data centers need massive amounts of power for AI .
• 1:43
  On the flip side , the airlines are feeling the heat .
• 1:46
  American Airlines , AAL , reported record revenue today , but they had to slash their 2026 profit forecast .
• 1:54
  Why ?
• 1:55
  A fourbilliondollar spike in fuel costs .
• 1:58
  It’s hard to stay airborne when your gas bill doubles .
• 2:01
  In the macro world , the Federal Reserve is staying put , holding rates between 3.5 and 3.75 percent .
• 2:10
  Don't expect a rate cut until at least December 2026 , as core inflation is stuck near 3.3 percent .
• 2:18
  This makes the 10year Treasury yield hover near 4.3 percent , making those longterm bond ETFs like TLT look a bit unattractive right now .
• 2:28
  For individual stocks , keep an eye on Tesla , TSLA .
• 2:33
  They beat earnings , but the stock tumbled three percent after hours because they’re planning to spend 25 billion dollars this year on Optimus robots and AI factories .
• 2:44
  That’s a lot of pocket change !
• 2:46
  Meanwhile , Boeing , BA , is a rare bright spot with a massive 695billiondollar backlog .
• 2:53
  Today , keep your eyes on Intel and American Express , as they’ll tell us a lot about the chip industry and how much consumers are still spending .
• 3:01
  So , what do we do with all this ?
• 3:03
  Here are my four tactical plays for today .
• 3:06
  First , consider a defensive move into Gold .
• 3:10
  Specifically , the SPDR Gold Shares , or GLD .
• 3:14
  With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed , geopolitical risk is high , and gold is hitting new highs above 4,700 dollars as a hedge against inflation and conflict .
• 3:26
  Second , stay focused on AI infrastructure .
• 3:29
  Don’t just look at software ; look at the physical grid .
• 3:33
  The Technology Select Sector SPDR , XLK , or specific plays like GE Vernova , GEV , are great because data centers need power regardless of what the economy is doing .
• 3:46
  Third , it might be time to underweight or avoid the fuelsensitive transport stocks .
• 3:51
  I’m talking about American Airlines , AAL , or the JETS ETF .
• 3:57
  Until we have a clear timeline on that waterway reopening , high fuel prices are going to crush airline margins .
• 4:04
  Finally , for some income stability , check out the JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF , or JEPQ .
• 4:14
  Since the Fed isn't cutting rates soon , JEPQ lets you capture some of that Nasdaq AI upside while giving you monthly income to cushion the market's bumps .
• 4:24
  That’s it for this morning’s update .
• 4:26
  Remember to keep your eyes on the charts and your feet on the ground .
• 4:30
  I’m Penny Pockets , and this has been Spy Trader .
• 4:33
  Have a wonderful Thursday , and I'll talk to you in a few hours !