The Trading Post | 05.19.25

May 19, 2025

Good morning,

Moody’s downgraded U.S. credit for the first time since 1919, futures are reeling, Treasury yields are rising, tech stocks are cratering, and Trump’s tax proposal is making headlines for all the wrong (deficit) reasons.

Learn how to consistently beat the S&P 500 with Dale Zamzow's proven "set-it-and-forget-it" trading strategies that generate reliable cash flow in any market condition. 

Let’s jump in.

Pre-Market Performance

As of 05.19.25 market close.

Market News

  • Moody’s Downgrades U.S. Credit Rating: First time ever. Thanks to $36 trillion in debt and D.C.'s perpetual spending bender. Reuters

  • Markets in Shock: Dow futures -300 pts, S&P -1.3%, Nasdaq -1.7%. All that rallying... now this. CNBCTV18

  • Yields Spike: 10Y yield hovering around 4.55%. Debt downgrade + potential tax cuts = bond market indigestion.

  • Tech Takes the Hit: Tesla down 4.4%, AMD/Nvidia -3%, Intel -2%. Tech giveth, downgrade taketh away.

  • Trump Tax Cuts Move Forward: Because what’s $36 trillion in debt if not a challenge? Barrons

A Message From Wealth Builders HQ

Stop Watching Charts All Day: Trade Smarter, Not Harder 

Are you tired of being glued to your screen, stressing over every market movement? Former science teacher Dale Zamzow discovered a better way—and it changed his life completely. 

In just three months of implementing his systematic approach, Dale generated enough income for his wife to leave her teaching job. A year later, he walked away from the classroom himself to trade and teach full-time. 

Now, after 20+ years of refining his methods, Dale is revealing the exact strategies that have helped thousands of his students consistently outperform the S&P 500—regardless of market conditions. 

In this free training, you'll discover: 

  • How to generate reliable monthly cash flow without constant monitoring 

  • The "cruise control" approach that works in bull, bear, or volatile markets 

  • Why traditional trading methods leave most people stressed and underperforming 

This isn't about high-risk day trading or complex strategies that eat up your valuable time. It's perfect for busy professionals, soon-to-be retirees, or anyone who wants better returns without the headaches. 

Register now for this free training and take control of your financial future. 

Earnings We’re Watching

  • Trip.com Group Limited (TCOM) - Monday (AMC) 

Daily Moment of Zen

❝

The market is a pendulum that forever swings between unsustainable optimism and unjustified pessimism.

Benjamin Graham

Why It Matters:

Markets aren’t rational. They’re moody, insecure overachievers with a caffeine addiction and commitment issues. One week we’re pricing in a soft landing and all-time highs, the next we’re hunting for safe havens like gold’s going out of style.

The market's natural state isn’t balance—it's emotional chaos. Traders chase hype until it's breathless, then abandon ship at the first hiccup. Recognizing this pendulum is key. It doesn’t mean you predict the exact swing—it means you don’t get caught standing under it. Be aware of when optimism becomes euphoria, and when fear becomes irrational. That’s where the edge lives.