The Trading Post | 02.03.26

Good morning,

US–India tariffs get slashed and light a fuse under Asian equities, gold and silver attempt CPR after a historic margin-call massacre, AI earnings deliver a mixed bag of proof vs. promise, Musk duct-tapes SpaceX to xAI at a $1.25T valuation, and traders brace for heavyweight earnings with the jobs report still stuck in government-limbo.

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 02.02.26 market close.

Market News

• US–India trade deal flips the switch to risk-on — Trump cuts reciprocal tariffs on India from 25% to 18% as India boosts US purchases and pivots away from Russian oil. Nifty +5%, Kospi +6.7%, Nikkei +3.9% as Asia erases Monday’s fear binge. CNBC

• Precious metals rebound… violently — Gold +4.8%, silver +7.3% after Friday’s historic wipeout (silver -30%, worst since 1980). CME margin hikes forced deleveraging; volatility now looks more Reddit than refinery. Expect chop, not calm. CNBC

• AI earnings: hits, misses, and narrative cracks — Palantir beats and pops; Teradyne explodes +20% on AI-driven test demand. Nvidia slips on reports its $100B OpenAI deal stalled as customers shop for alternatives. Proof of ROI now matters. CNBC / Yahoo Finance

• Big Tech gravity intensifies — Memory names rip (Sandisk +15%, WDC +7.9%, Seagate +6.2%) as traders rotate within semis, but mega-cap AI multiples are officially under interrogation after MSFT’s cloud wobble. Reuters

• Musk goes full Voltron — SpaceX acquires xAI, tees up IPO talk at a $1.25T valuation. Meanwhile Waymo raises $16B at $126B. Capital keeps flooding AI infra—suppliers stay in play, hype stays fragile. CNBC

• Earnings gauntlet + macro fog — AMD, PFE, MRK, CMG today; AMZN and GOOGL later this week. January jobs report delayed again by shutdown. Australia hikes rates to 3.9%. Fed cut expectations slide to July. MarketWatch

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

• Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) - Tuesday (BMO) 

• PayPal (PYPL) - Tuesday (BMO) 

• PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) - Tuesday (BMO) 

• Pfizer, Inc. (PFE) - Tuesday (BMO) 

• Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) - Tuesday (AMC) 

• Amgen, Inc. (AMGN) - Tuesday (AMC) 

• Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG) - Tuesday (AMC) 

• Clorox Co. (CLX) - Tuesday (AMC) 

• Electronic Arts Inc (EA) - Tuesday (AMC) 

• Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) - Tuesday (AMC) 

• Mondelez International Inc. (MDLZ) - Tuesday (AMC) 

• Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) - Tuesday (AMC) 

• Suncor Energy, Inc. (SU) - Tuesday (AMC) 

• Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO) - Tuesday (AMC) 

Trade Ideas

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Daily Moment of Zen

Why It Matters:

Every trader comes to the market wanting clean breakouts, instant follow‑through, and winners that behave exactly like the backtest. What they usually get instead is chop, fakeouts, premature exits, and the humbling realization that the market does not care about their thesis.

That gap — between expectation and reality — is where experience is forged. It’s earned by sitting through bad entries, respecting stops that feel stupid in the moment, and learning (again) that position sizing matters more than being right. Experience isn’t free. It’s paid for in small losses, scratched trades, and the discipline not to revenge trade when the market hands you a lesson instead of a payday.

Veterans don’t trade better because they predict more. They trade better because they’ve already paid tuition — and they refuse to pay it twice.