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AI Growth Amid Global Energy Pressures · The SPY Trader

• 0:00
  Good morning , market watchers !
• 0:02
  It is 6 am on Friday , May 1st , 2026 , here in the Pacific time zone .
• 0:08
  I am your host , Sunny Shares , and you are listening to Spy Trader , your quickhit guide to the markets .
• 0:14
  We are closing out a wild week where corporate profits are doing a heavylift against some pretty tough global headlines .
• 0:21
  Let us dive into the numbers .
• 0:23
  We just finished April with the strongest monthly performance in years .
• 0:28
  On Thursday , the S&P 500 , or the SPY , surged over one percent to hit a record high of 7,209.00 , while the Nasdaq Composite , the QQQ , climbed to over 24,800 .
• 0:42
  However , this morning things feel a bit more cautious .
• 0:46
  Investors are waking up to a world where the Federal Reserve is staying firm on interest rates and energy prices are jumping due to that ongoing naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz .
• 0:58
  In the world of business , it is a tale of two tech giants .
• 1:02
  Alphabet , ticker GOOGL , saw its stock surge ten percent this week after reporting that AI has basically doubled their profits .
• 1:11
  Meanwhile , Meta Platforms , that is META , took an eight point seven percent hit because investors are getting a little nervous about their massive onehundredandthirtybilliondollar spending habit on AI infrastructure .
• 1:25
  On the brighter side , Apple , ticker AAPL , hit a record revenue of onehundredandeleven billion dollars .
• 1:32
  People are really loving that iPhone 17 .
• 1:36
  Outside of tech , we are seeing a major rotation into the real economy .
• 1:41
  Industrials like Caterpillar , ticker CAT , and utility companies are winning because these new AI data centers need massive amounts of power and machinery .
• 1:52
  And in healthcare , Eli Lilly , ticker LLY , is seeing revenue skyrocket fiftysix percent because demand for their weightmanagement medications is simply off the charts .
• 2:02
  Now , let us talk about the big picture .
• 2:05
  The Federal Reserve kept rates steady between threeandahalf and threeandthreequarters percent this week , but it was not a unanimous vote .
• 2:13
  Four officials dissented , which is the most we have seen since 1992 .
• 2:19
  This shows a real split between wanting to support growth and fearing that inflation pulse coming from the USIran conflict .
• 2:27
  Gas prices are currently averaging four dollars and twentythree cents a gallon , which is starting to make the average consumer pull back a bit .
• 2:34
  So , how should we trade this ?
• 2:36
  I have four key recommendations for you .
• 2:39
  First , look for what I call defensive growth .
• 2:42
  Apple , ticker AAPL , is a standout here because of their disciplined hundredbilliondollar share buyback program .
• 2:50
  If you want something broader , the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF , ticker VTI , captures the shift into midcap and industrial stocks benefiting from the data center boom .
• 3:02
  Second , you have to hedge against the war trade .
• 3:05
  With oil prices over onehundredandten dollars a barrel , look at the Energy Select Sector SPDR , ticker XLE .
• 3:12
  It is a natural hedge while the Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint .
• 3:17
  You might also consider gold through GLD as a safe haven .
• 3:21
  Third , for some steady income , check out the iShares Core U.S.
• 3:25
  Aggregate Bond ETF , ticker AGG .
• 3:29
  With the Fed on an extended pause and rates at these levels , you can finally get a decent real yield on your investmentgrade bonds .
• 3:36
  Finally , stay selective with your tech exposure .
• 3:40
  Use the Invesco QQQ Trust , ticker QQQ , to stay long on the leaders who are actually turning AI into revenue , like Alphabet .
• 3:50
  Just be careful with firms that are spending billions without showing a clear return yet .
• 3:55
  The bottom line ?
• 3:56
  The market is bullish but fragile .
• 3:58
  Those corporate earnings are providing a solid floor , but that inflationenergy ceiling is the big threat we are watching today .
• 4:06
  That is all for this morning's update !
• 4:08
  I am Sunny Shares , and this has been Spy Trader .
• 4:11
  Grab your coffee , stay sharp , and I will see you at the closing bell .