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Nvidia’s Space Odyssey and the Energy Surge · The SPY Trader

• 0:00
  Hello everyone !
• 0:01
  This is your host , Sunny Shareman , and welcome back to Spy Trader .
• 0:06
  It's 2:30 pm on Monday , August 17th , 2026 , here in sunny California .
• 0:14
  We are taking a little breather today after the markets hit record highs just a few days ago .
• 0:19
  Think of it like a quick pit stop for your portfolio .
• 0:23
  Today , the S&P 500 , which many of you track through the SPY or VOO ETFs , slipped about half a percent to settle near 7,745 .
• 0:33
  The Nasdaq , or QQQ , also took a small dip , even though it’s been recovering nicely lately .
• 0:40
  The big story on the scoreboard today was the bond market , where the 30year Treasury yield hit 5.3 percent , its highest level since way back in 2007 .
• 0:50
  Now , let’s look at why things are moving .
• 0:53
  The real winner today was the Energy sector , with the XLE ETF climbing about one percent .
• 1:00
  This happened because Brent Crude oil prices jumped to over 90 dollars a barrel .
• 1:05
  Why ?
• 1:06
  Well , a deal between the U.S.
• 1:08
  and Iran expired , and tensions are rising in the Strait of Hormuz .
• 1:13
  On the tech side , it was a bit of a mixed bag .
• 1:17
  Meta Platforms saw a three point six percent drop due to some insurance news at their Texas data centers , but chipmakers like Applied Materials and Micron showed some muscle late in the day .
• 1:28
  Over in the world of big names , Nvidia is still the talk of the town .
• 1:33
  They just announced a massive 500 billion dollar partnership with SpaceX to build AI infrastructure .
• 1:40
  That is some serious star power !
• 1:43
  Meanwhile , Apple fans are counting down to September 9th for the new iPhone 18 Pro and that rumored foldable iPhone Ultra .
• 1:52
  Even Tesla is catching a breeze , rising to about 339 dollars as people get excited about the new Roadster with its SpaceX package .
• 2:01
  So , what’s the game plan ?
• 2:03
  For core growth , I’m still looking at the Invesco QQQ Trust .
• 2:07
  Even with high yields , the AI trend led by companies like Nvidia and Microsoft is a powerful engine .
• 2:15
  If you’re worried about inflation from those rising gas prices , the Energy Select Sector SPDR , or XLE , is a solid way to get exposure to companies like Chevron .
• 2:26
  If you want a safety net , gold is back in style , with the GLD ETF trading near 4,475 dollars as a hedge against global uncertainty .
• 2:38
  For a specific stock pick , keep an eye on Nvidia ahead of their earnings on August 26th .
• 2:44
  That SpaceX deal shows the demand for AI is just getting started .
• 2:49
  Finally , be a bit careful with retail giants like Target and Home Depot .
• 2:53
  They report earnings this week , and high fuel costs might weigh on them .
• 2:58
  For now , a broad approach using the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF , or VTI , is a great way to stay diversified .
• 3:06
  Thanks for tuning in to Spy Trader .
• 3:09
  I’m Sunny Shareman , and I’ll see you in a few hours !