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Geopolitical Jolt: Energy, Gold, and Strategic Defensive Plays · The SPY Trader

• 0:00
  Good morning everyone and welcome to another episode of Spy Trader !
• 0:04
  I am your host , Barnaby ButterToast , coming to you live at 5 am on Friday , March 6th , 2026 , here on the Pacific Coast .
• 0:15
  Grab your mugs and settle in because the markets are navigating some pretty choppy waters today .
• 0:20
  We are currently staring down a period of significant volatility that many are calling a geopolitical shock .
• 0:28
  Our main benchmark , the S&P 500 , or the SPY as we like to call it , is trading near 6,801 .
• 0:37
  That is down about point four percent today and roughly two point four percent over the past month .
• 0:44
  The Dow Jones took a massive tumble yesterday , losing 785 points to land at 47,955 , while the Nasdaq100 , ticker QQQ , is testing its support levels after a six percent drop from its January highs .
• 1:02
  The main driver here is the USIran conflict , which is now in its seventh day .
• 1:08
  This tension has sparked a flight to safety , boosting Gold through the GLD ETF and the U.S.
• 1:14
  Dollar , but it is weighing heavily on riskier assets and transportation .
• 1:19
  Let us look at what is actually working .
• 1:21
  Energy and Defense are the clear winners .
• 1:24
  With Brent crude hitting 87 dollars a barrel , Chevron , ticker CVX , is up over twentythree percent for the year .
• 1:32
  In the Defense world , RTX Corporation and Palantir are seeing massive momentum .
• 1:38
  Palantir shares actually surged 14 percent in just the first week of March because of AI integration in military systems .
• 1:46
  Over in tech , it is a mixed bag .
• 1:49
  Broadcom , ticker AVGO , just reported stellar earnings with AI revenue doubling yearoveryear and a massive ten billion dollar share buyback program .
• 2:00
  However , the broader Tech sector is under pressure .
• 2:03
  We are also seeing people move into defensive retail stocks .
• 2:08
  Costco beat earnings estimates yesterday with an EPS of 4.55 , and Walmart is hitting new highs as families prioritize value .
• 2:17
  On the flip side , Financials are struggling .
• 2:20
  Goldman Sachs fell over three percent recently as geopolitical risks dampen the mood for big deals .
• 2:26
  Looking at the macro picture , everyone is holding their breath for the February NonFarm Payrolls report coming out today .
• 2:33
  We are expecting a modest gain of 45,000 to 59,000 jobs .
• 2:39
  If that report is weak and oil stays high , we might start hearing more about stagflation .
• 2:45
  The Fed is currently holding rates between 3.5 and 3.75 percent , and most expect them to stay there for now .
• 2:52
  So , what is the game plan for your portfolio ?
• 2:55
  First , consider hedging with Gold .
• 2:58
  I recommend buying or holding SPDR Gold Shares , ticker GLD .
• 3:03
  It is a necessary shield if oil moves toward 100 dollars .
• 3:08
  I would also stay overweight in Energy with something like Chevron , ticker CVX , because their onshore production is shielded from the chaos in the Strait of Hormuz .
• 3:18
  Second , look for defensive growth .
• 3:20
  The Health Care Select Sector , ticker XLV , is a great candidate right now because its valuations are much more attractive than tech .
• 3:28
  Also , keep accumulating Costco , ticker COST , as that membership model is incredibly resilient .
• 3:35
  Third , be very picky with your tech exposure .
• 3:39
  Stick with the hardware winners like Broadcom , ticker AVGO , but maybe exercise some caution on the broader QQQ index until it stabilizes above its 200day moving average .
• 3:51
  Finally , keep some core stability in the iShares Core U.S.
• 3:54
  Aggregate Bond ETF , ticker AGG , to balance out the equity swings .
• 4:00
  Remember , while I love talking shop , I am an analyst and this is for information , not a formal recommendation .
• 4:08
  Consult a certified professional before making big moves .
• 4:12
  Thanks for tuning in to Spy Trader , and I will see you in a few hours !