The Trading Post | 01.29.26

Good morning,

The Fed hit pause (again), the S&P flirted with 7,000 like it knew photographers were watching, Meta ripped while Microsoft got punished for spending too much money on the future, gold and silver went full meme-stock mode, oil caught a geopolitical bid, and earnings leadership is quietly rotating beyond mega-cap tech.

Brandon Wendell is hosting a free class revealing how futures trading can give you more flexibility, require less capital, and help you trade on your own schedule—even with a full-time job. 

Let’s jump in.

Pre-Market Performance

As of 01.28.26 market close.

Market News

• Fed holds rates steady; S&P 500 tags 7,000 intraday for the first time — Powell stuck to the “meeting‑by‑meeting” script, VIX stayed pinned near 16, and futures still price two cuts by year‑end. Translation: liquidity vibes intact, but nobody’s in a rush. Pullbacks > breakouts here. Reuters

• Meta rips, Microsoft slips as AI spending math gets scrutinized — META surged on strong guidance and clear AI monetization, while MSFT sold off on margin pressure and heavy capex. Market message: spend big and show receipts. Stock‑picker tape, not ETF tape. Reuters

• Gold clears $5,500, silver goes parabolic as dollar cracks — Precious metals are vertical on USD weakness and rate‑cut expectations. Momentum traders are eating; late chasers are volunteering as exit liquidity. Daily charts are stretched to the point of comedy. Barron’s

• Oil jumps on Iran risk premium, Brent back above $70 — Middle East headlines added $3–$4 of fear premium fast. These moves work…until they don’t. Treat crude strength as tactical, not spiritual. Reuters

• Earnings breadth improves outside mega‑cap tech — Southwest’s turnaround plan excited investors, AT&T guided higher, and cyclicals quietly caught bids. Under‑the‑hood rotation > index headlines. CNBC

A Message From Wealth Builders HQ

Trade Futures on Your Terms—Free Class with Brandon Wendell 

If you've ever felt stuck trading only during market hours, frustrated by account size limitations, or exhausted from being chained to your screen, this free training is for you. 

Brandon Wendell, CMT—a 20-year futures veteran and former hedge fund manager—is hosting The Emini Revolution, a complimentary class that reveals how futures trading can transform your approach to the markets. 

Inside this training, you'll discover: 

• The Flexibility of Futures Trading – Trade outside regular market hours, whether you're a night owl or juggling a 9-to-5 

• How to Grow a Smaller Account – Learn to leverage futures without tying up thousands in single positions 

• Professional Risk Management – Discover how prioritizing protection leads to consistent, scalable results 

Brandon doesn't just teach theory—he trades these markets daily and has trained thousands of students worldwide. As a Chartered Market Technician® (a credential held by less than 1% of traders), he brings institutional-level insight to everyday traders. 

This class is perfect if you: 

• Struggle to trade consistently due to time constraints 

• Feel limited by your account size 

• Want to learn spreads but they seem too complicated 

• Jump from strategy to strategy without clear results 

Register now for The Emini Revolution and discover why futures may be the most overlooked opportunity for today's traders—offering you flexibility, lower barriers to entry, and a safer path to consistent results. 

Spots are limited, so reserve your free seat today. 

Earnings We’re Watching

• Ameriprise Financial Inc (AMP) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Caterpillar, Inc. (CAT) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Lockhead Martin Corp. (LMT) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Mastercard Inc (MA) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Nokia Corp. (NOK) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Sherwin-Williams Co. (SHW) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Xerox Corp. (XRX) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Apple, Inc. (AAPL) - Thursday (AMC) 

• SanDisk Corp. (SNDK) - Thursday (AMC) 

• Selective Insurance Group Inc. (SIGI) - Thursday (AMC) 

• Stryker Corp. (SYK) - Thursday (AMC) 

• Visa Inc (V) - Thursday (AMC) 

• Western Digital Corp. (WDC) - Thursday (AMC) 

Trade Ideas

Want to learn how we trade these? Learn the setup we call the “High Volatility Switchback” trade.

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Daily Moment of Zen

Why It Matters:

Every trader loves posting returns. Nobody screenshots their max drawdown.

This quote is the quiet truth markets teach after tuition is paid. Returns are what you see in the mirror; risk is what’s happening behind your back. You don’t blow up because you aimed too low — you blow up because you sized too big, overstayed too long, or assumed volatility would behave because it’s been polite lately.

In a low-VIX, all-time-high environment, risk hides in plain sight. Tight spreads feel “safe,” parabolic commodities feel “inevitable,” and drawdowns feel theoretical… until they aren’t. The traders still standing a year from now won’t be the ones who chased the best returns — they’ll be the ones who managed risk when returns looked easy.

Markets reward patience eventually. They punish arrogance immediately.