Core Insights - The article discusses the effectiveness of ITM (In-The-Money) covered calls and protective puts (collar strategy) as hedging techniques in bear and volatile market conditions, using NVIDIA Corp. as a case study [1][9]. ITM Call Strikes - ITM call strikes have intrinsic value, which lowers the breakeven price point more than ATM (At-The-Money) or OTM (Out-Of-The-Money) call strikes, providing limited downside protection [2]. - The downside protection comes at the cost of eliminating additional income from share price acceleration [2]. Protective Puts (Collars) - Protective puts add costs to covered call trades, but they can be structured to provide a net option credit, resulting in a positive initial return and downside protection [3]. - The collar strategy protects against catastrophic share price declines, with a defined risk range [3]. Real-Life Example with NVIDIA - The example uses a 1-month option chain for NVIDIA, with a current stock price of $208.93. The selected ITM call strike is $195.00 with a bid price of $20.30, while the protective put is at $210.00 with a bid price of $11.85 [4][6]. - The net option credit for the collar strategy is calculated at $6.10 [6]. Return Calculations - The ITM call lowers the breakeven price to $188.63, while the collar lowers it to $202.83, providing different levels of protection against share price declines [11]. - The initial time-value return for the ITM call is 3.27%, annualized at 38.46%, while the collar has a return of 2.92%, annualized at 34.38%, with an additional upside potential of 0.51% [11]. Conclusion - Both ITM calls and collars offer significant downside protection, allowing investors to choose based on their risk tolerance and strategy goals [11].

So, can today's announcements get its shares moving again. Let's ask Dan Ies. He's head of technology research at Wedbush.Great to have you here, Dan. Appreciate you coming in in studio with us. Um, maybe let's just start with this question we started to get into a little bit last hour, but this competition with Google, you know, when if Google can answer questions with Gemini really well and fast and they're using their own chips and their TPUs, how does Nvidia answer that.>> Yeah, look, the reality is, I ...

Market Overview - U.S. equity markets are experiencing significant downward pressure due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, impacting investor sentiment and energy prices [1][3] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average has dropped approximately 764 points, or 1.6%, trading near the 48,000 level, while the S&P 500 has retreated by 0.7% to 6,845 points, and the Nasdaq Composite is down only 0.3% [2] Geopolitical Impact - The ongoing conflict between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran has triggered volatility, with Brent crude rising 3.8% to $84.52 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) increasing nearly 6% to $79.07 [3] - Concerns over "energy-push" inflation are leading to sell-offs in price-sensitive sectors such as industrials and consumer discretionary [3] Economic Data - Domestic economic data shows a mixed but generally stable picture, with weekly initial jobless claims rising less than expected, indicating a tight labor market [4] - Fourth-quarter nonfarm productivity rose more than anticipated, suggesting potential efficiency gains to offset rising costs [4] Federal Reserve Outlook - The bond market is reacting to inflationary risks from higher oil prices, with the 10-year Treasury yield climbing to a three-week high of 4.15% [5] - Markets are pricing in a 97.3% likelihood that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged at its upcoming March meeting [5] Corporate News - The technology sector is highlighted by Broadcom's stock jumping 6.6% after reporting first-quarter results that exceeded analyst estimates, driven by AI revenue more than doubling year-over-year [6] - Trade Desk's shares surged nearly 20% due to advanced talks with OpenAI for advertising solutions, while Veeva Systems rose over 5% after a positive fourth-quarter report and strong fiscal 2027 guidance [7] Retail and Consumer Sector - Kroger reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.35 per share with identical sales growth of 2.4%, but shares traded flat due to rising logistics costs [8] - American Eagle Outfitters fell 4.5% after warning of potential tariff impacts reaching $60 million in the first half of the year [8] Notable Movers - Microsoft and Salesforce are among the few gainers in the Dow, while Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and Walmart are leading the index lower [9] - Nvidia and Amazon continue to attract high trading volume as key players in AI-driven momentum [9] Upcoming Events - Market participants are anticipating the release of the comprehensive February jobs report, which will be crucial for the Federal Reserve's future decisions in a complex global environment [10]

Market Overview - Stock index futures are sharply lower, with Nasdaq 100 futures down -2.3%, S&P 500 futures down -1.7%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures down -1.6% due to weakness in the tech sector [5] - The KOSPI index in South Korea saw significant declines, with major chip stocks like Samsung and SK Hynix dropping nearly -10% and -11.5% respectively [6] Company-Specific Developments - Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported physical damage to its infrastructure in the UAE and Bahrain due to drone strikes, leading to service disruptions and elevated error rates across multiple services including Amazon EC2 and Amazon S3 [7][9] - OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman stated that the company "shouldn't have rushed" its recent deal with the U.S. Department of Defense, indicating a need for amendments to the contract to prevent misuse of AI for domestic surveillance [10][12] - MongoDB shares crashed in premarket trading following mixed guidance compared to Wall Street's expectations, contributing to the overall weakness in the tech sector [6][13] Economic Indicators - Crude oil prices increased by 7% to $76, while Bitcoin decreased by 2.8% to $66,000, and gold prices fell by 1.3% to $5,253 [13] - The FTSE 100 and DAX indices experienced declines of 2.7% and 3.7% respectively, reflecting broader market trends [14]

Market Overview - All three major indexes ended lower, with the Dow logging its biggest weekly drop since November, driven by uncertainty over costs and disruptions related to artificial intelligence, revived tariff uncertainties, and geopolitical tensions [1][5] - The S&P 500 lost 30.49 points (0.44%) to close at 6,878.91 points, the Nasdaq Composite fell 204.74 points (0.92%) to 22,673.65, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 521.69 points (1.05%) to 48,977.51 [5] Earnings and Corporate Performance - Corporate America is projected to see over a 14% gain in earnings for the fourth quarter, indicating a strong earnings season despite market volatility [2][5] - Financial stocks experienced declines due to concerns over potential losses related to the collapse of UK mortgage provider Market Financial Solutions Ltd, affecting banks like Barclays, Jefferies, and Wells Fargo [5] Sector Performance - Defensive sectors such as consumer staples, healthcare, and utilities outperformed during the session, indicating a risk-off environment where investors are favoring stability over growth [4][5] - Tech shares continued to decline, with concerns over AI impacting chip and software stocks, including Nvidia, which extended its previous drop despite solid earnings [5] Economic Indicators - A hotter-than-expected Producer Price Index reading has reinforced expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut interest rates in the near term [5] - The market is experiencing a shift, with defensive areas gaining strength while cyclical growth sectors lag [5] Company-Specific Developments - Zscaler reported a wider net loss in the second quarter, leading to a significant drop in its stock price [5] - Netflix's stock rose after its decision to exit the competition for Warner Bros Discovery, while Paramount Skydance, the likely buyer, saw its shares close sharply higher [5] - Block's stock surged after announcing it would cut nearly half its workforce to integrate AI into its operations [5] - Dell's shares increased after the company projected that revenue from its AI-optimized servers business would double by fiscal year 2027 and promised to return more cash to shareholders [5]

Market Overview - Wall Street's three main equity benchmarks closed mixed, with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) dropping over -17% after disappointing Q1 revenue guidance, while Super Micro Computer (SMCI) surged more than +13% following strong FQ2 results and an increased full-year revenue outlook [2] - The ADP National Employment report indicated that U.S. private nonfarm payrolls rose by +22K in January, below the expected +46K, while the ISM services index remained unchanged at 53.8, exceeding expectations [6] - U.S. rate futures show an 88.0% probability of no rate change and a 12.0% chance of a 25 basis point rate cut at the upcoming Fed meeting [8] Corporate Earnings - The fourth-quarter corporate earnings season is ongoing, with S&P 500 companies expected to report an average +8.4% increase in quarterly earnings for Q4 compared to the previous year [9] - Notable companies reporting earnings include Amazon.com (AMZN), ConocoPhillips (COP), and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) [9] Economic Data - Investors are focused on upcoming U.S. Initial Jobless Claims data, expected to be 212K, and JOLTs Job Openings figures anticipated at 7.200 million [10] - Germany's December Factory Orders rose +7.8% m/m, while France's Industrial Production fell -0.7% m/m, and Eurozone's Retail Sales decreased -0.5% m/m [14] International Markets - The Euro Stoxx 50 Index is down -0.15% as investors await monetary policy decisions from the Bank of England and the European Central Bank [13] - Asian stock markets closed lower, with China's Shanghai Composite Index down -0.64% and Japan's Nikkei 225 down -0.88%, primarily due to weakness in technology stocks [15][17]

Market Overview - US stocks mostly fell as Wall Street assessed earnings and awaited Alphabet's results, with the S&P 500 down about 0.5% and the Nasdaq Composite down over 1.5% [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4% as investors shifted from tech stocks to blue-chip names [1] AI Impact on Tech Stocks - Wall Street is struggling due to fears of AI disruption, leading to a sell-off in software stocks that affected global markets [2] - Major tech stocks like Nvidia fell over 3%, Google dropped nearly 2%, Amazon slid over 2%, and Tesla sank more than 3% [2] Earnings and Market Sentiment - Even better-than-expected earnings are insufficient to convince the market unless companies can demonstrate that AI will be beneficial [3] - Advanced Micro Devices saw its shares plummet due to a weak sales outlook, raising concerns about its competitiveness against Nvidia [3] Labor Market Insights - An ADP report indicated that employers added only 22,000 jobs in January, significantly below the expected 45,000 [4] - The delay in federal jobs data has made private data increasingly important, with the official jobs report rescheduled for next Wednesday [4] Commodity Movements - Gold gained amid US-Iran tensions but fell back below $5,000 an ounce after a significant slump [5] - Bitcoin losses accumulated, trading near $72,000 at one point [5] Pharmaceutical Sector Performance - Eli Lilly's stock surged after a positive 2026 profit forecast driven by high demand for weight-loss drugs [6] - In contrast, Novo Nordisk's shares tumbled after it forecasted a steep drop in sales, shocking investors [6]

Group 1 - The recent selloff in global software stocks was triggered by the launch of a new AI "agent" by Anthropic, which surprised investors and highlighted the market's increasing discrimination between AI winners and losers [3] - Walmart became the first retailer to surpass a market valuation of $1 trillion, with its shares rising nearly 26% over the past year, positioning it among tech giants [2] - Novo Nordisk's shares fell almost 20% after the company warned about its profit outlook for the year due to intense competition in the weight-loss drug market [5] Group 2 - Major Wall Street indexes experienced a decline of about 1%, with Nasdaq futures remaining negative, indicating a broader market concern [4] - The ISM manufacturing index showed a sharp increase, suggesting signs of accelerating economic activity, alongside brisk business loan growth reported by the Fed [5] - Upcoming reports include ISM's service sector data and ADP's private sector jobs report, which are anticipated to provide further insights into the economic landscape [6]

Economic Outlook - U.S. rate futures indicate a 91.0% probability of no rate change and a 9.0% chance of a 25 basis point cut at the next FOMC meeting in March [1] - Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin noted that last year's rate cuts have supported the labor market while working to bring inflation back to target [2] - Fed Governor Stephen Miran suggested that the absence of strong price pressures indicates that interest rates should be lowered again this year, with expectations of more than a point of cuts over the year [2] Market Performance - Wall Street's major indexes ended lower, with significant declines in data services and software stocks following the release of an automation tool by AI firm Anthropic [4] - Notable stock movements included Thomson Reuters Corp. dropping over -15% and EPAM Systems falling more than -12% [4] - In contrast, Palantir Technologies rose over +6% after reporting strong Q4 results and issuing optimistic revenue guidance [4] Corporate Earnings - The fourth-quarter corporate earnings season is underway, with S&P 500 companies expected to report an average +8.4% increase in quarterly earnings compared to the previous year [7] - High-profile companies reporting include Alphabet, Eli Lilly, AbbVie, and Uber Technologies [7] Economic Data Releases - Investors are focused on the upcoming U.S. ADP private payrolls report, with economists forecasting a January Nonfarm Employment Change of 46K, up from December's 41K [8] - The U.S. ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI and S&P Global Services PMI are also anticipated, with expected values of 53.5 and 52.5 respectively [9] International Markets - The Euro Stoxx 50 Index saw a slight gain of +0.10%, driven by strength in energy and telecom stocks, while healthcare stocks faced declines [11] - Eurozone's January CPI rose +1.7% year-on-year, aligning with expectations, while the Core CPI rose +2.2%, slightly below the anticipated +2.3% [13] - Asian markets closed mixed, with China's Shanghai Composite Index up +0.85% and Japan's Nikkei 225 down -0.78% [14] Company-Specific News - Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) fell over -6% in pre-market trading due to underwhelming Q1 revenue guidance [19] - Enphase Energy (ENPH) surged over +22% after reporting better-than-expected Q4 results and strong Q1 guidance [19] - Nintendo's stock dropped nearly -11% after reiterating disappointing full-year guidance for Switch 2 sales [17]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. stock market is showing resilience with major indexes rebounding from earlier declines, driven by sector strength and cautious optimism as investors navigate corporate news and economic events [1][14]. Major Index Performance and Midday Momentum - The S&P 500 has increased by 0.5%, breaking a three-day losing streak, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 317 points (0.6%) and the Nasdaq Composite has climbed 0.6% [2]. - The market's recovery is broad-based, with specific strength in sectors such as computer storage, airlines, and cruise-ship operators, benefiting from easing crude oil prices [3]. Upcoming Market Events and Economic Outlook - A busy week ahead includes major technology earnings reports from companies like Amazon, Alphabet, Palantir, and AMD, which will be critical for market sentiment regarding the tech sector and AI investments [4]. - Key economic data, including the January employment report and the ISM Report on Business Manufacturing PMI, are anticipated, alongside a hawkish stance from the Federal Reserve, which maintained its federal funds rate at 3.5-3.75% [5]. Major Stock News and Corporate Developments - Oracle shares are up 2% after announcing plans to raise up to $50 billion in 2026 to expand its AI infrastructure capacity, driven by strong demand from major clients [6]. - Walt Disney's stock is down 6% despite beating fiscal first-quarter earnings and revenue estimates, attributed to higher costs impacting net profit [7]. - Nvidia shares declined 1.1% following reports that its commitment to invest $100 billion in OpenAI was not a firm commitment [8]. - Microsoft shares are down 1%, while Snowflake initially traded lower but gained 1.5% after announcing a $200 million deal with OpenAI [9]. - Twist Bioscience shares rose 7% after raising its FY2026 revenue outlook, while GameStop surged 6% amid speculation regarding merger plans [10]. Commodity Market Dynamics - Crude oil prices fell nearly 5%, trading over $3 per barrel lower, due to easing geopolitical tensions following comments from President Trump regarding Iran [12]. - Precious metals experienced volatility, with gold briefly dropping below $4,500 per ounce before stabilizing, while silver saw significant swings [13].