The Trading Post | 07.30.25

Good morning,

The Fed is likely to hold, but Powell’s mouth could still break the market. Microsoft and Meta step into the earnings cage tonight. US-China trade talks ended with a diplomatic shrug. The VIX is napping through chaos. And earnings are a minefield of tariff-laced landmines.

Power Option Plays has generated over $413K in profits this year with an 82% win rate in our sim account—and you can try it for just $9 for 30-days. 

Let’s jump in.

Pre-Market Performance

As of 07.29.25 market close.

Market News

• Fed on Hold — For Now: Markets expect a 97% chance the Fed leaves rates unchanged at 4.25%-4.5%. Powell's 2:30 PM ET presser is where the real action is. CBS

• Tech Titans Report Tonight: Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta (META) report after the bell. Implied moves? 3.5% and 5.2% respectively. Hope you like volatility. Schwab

• US-China: Talks But No Extension: Stockholm summit ends with vague promises. No confirmed extension of the August 12 tariff truce. CNN

• VIX Is Sleepwalking: Closed at 15.98. Low vol into high-stakes catalysts = recipe for surprise spikes. YCharts

• Tariffs Hit Earnings: UPS (-10.6%), UnitedHealth (-7.5%), Boeing (-4.4%) all blamed tariffs. About 33% of S&P 500 reports this week. Morningstar

• JPMorgan CEO Sells Big: Jamie Dimon offloaded $150M of his JPM stock. Bold timing. Reuters

• Bitcoin Over Gold: Investors are fleeing gold ETFs and rotating into Bitcoin. Digital metal wins the marketing war. Reuters

• Huawei vs. Nvidia: Nvidia flagged Huawei as a top competitor. Global chip wars intensify. Reuters

• ECB Books Record Loss: European Central Bank took a bath in 2023 thanks to aggressive rate hikes. Reuters

• Capital One-Discover Merger Fee: $1.38B breakup fee if the deal fails. Who said love was free? Reuters

A Message From Wealth Builders HQ

Crush the Market Like a Pro with Power Option Plays 

While most traders struggle to stay profitable, our Power Option Plays members are banking serious gains. The numbers don't lie: 

2025 Performance Results: 

• $413,362 in total profits 

• 106 completed trades 

• 87 winning trades out of 106 

• 82.1% win rate 

• $3,889.64 average profit per trade 

Power Option Plays isn't just another alert service. It's a twice-weekly options education and alert system designed for active traders who want to follow a proven, repeatable plan. Each trade setup comes with educational context, so you learn while you trade. 

Since its founding, POP has maintained an average success rate above 70%, helping members generate millions in simulated profits using our systematic approach to swing and day trading options. 

What You Get: 

• Biweekly recorded training sessions 

• Real-time trade setups with actionable plans 

• Focus on repeatable strategies using proven stock candidates 

• Continuous education alongside live market examples 

• Quarterly live Q&A sessions - "Mastering The Trade" 

Ready to join the winning team? Try Power Option Plays for just $9 during our 30-day trial period. 

All trading results shown are for educational purposes only. All trades referenced are simulated and not actual trading results. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. 

Earnings We’re Watching

• Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) - Wednesday (BMC) 

• Bausch + Lomb Corporation (BLCO) - Wednesday (BMC) 

• Garmin Ltd. (GRMN) - Wednesday (BMC) 

• Harley-Davidson, Inc. (HOG) - Wednesday (BMC) 

• Hershey Company (HSY) - Wednesday (BMC) 

• HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) - Wednesday (BMC) 

• Humana, Inc. (HUM) - Wednesday (BMC) 

• Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) - Wednesday (BMC) 

• Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. (ODFL) - Wednesday (BMC) 

• Penske Automotive Group Inc. (PAG) - Wednesday (BMC) 

• Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) - Wednesday (BMC) 

• Trane Technologies plc (TT) - Wednesday (BMC) 

• Allstate Corp. (ALL) - Wednesday (AMC) 

• Carvana Co. (CVNA) - Wednesday (AMC) 

• DexCom Inc (DXCM) - Wednesday (AMC) 

• eBay, Inc. (EBAY) - Wednesday (AMC) 

• Ford Motor Company (F) - Wednesday (AMC) 

• Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) - Wednesday (AMC) 

• MGM Resorts International (MGM) - Wednesday (AMC) 

• Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) - Wednesday (AMC) 

• Public Storage, Inc. (PSA) - Wednesday (AMC) 

• QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) - Wednesday (AMC) 

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

Trade Ideas

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

Get these ideas delivered to your inbox daily with Trade With Rob. It’s 100% free. Sign up here.

Daily Moment of Zen

Why It Matters:

If your edge depends on predicting the future, pack a lunch—and a first-aid kit. The market is a vicious, caffeinated Rorschach test, not a math problem. Guessing what Powell might say or when China might act is a fast track to margin calls and emotional damage.

Real traders don’t need crystal balls. They need risk management, discipline, and a plan that works even when their predictions are wrong. The glass only shatters if you're gripping it too tightly. Stay flexible. Stay humble. And for the love of your account balance—stop trading based on hunches and headlines.