The Trading Post | 09.25.25

Good morning,

Markets stalled after Powell muttered the word "valuations," Lithium Americas detonated 95% on whispers of government love, housing data shocked with the best sales since 2022, AI darlings suddenly looked human, and Friday’s PCE print is set to decide whether bulls get clipped.

Brandon Wendell reveals the spread trading strategy that's won 87% of the time in his non-funded accounts, regardless of market conditions.

Let’s jump in.

Pre-Market Performance

As of 09.24.25 market close.

Market News

• Powell Drops the V-Word: Stocks sold off again as Powell flagged “fairly highly valued” equities. CNBC

• Lithium Americas Goes Nuclear (+95%): Reports say Trump admin wants a stake in LAC’s Nevada mine. Yahoo Finance

• Housing Heats Up: New home sales jumped 20.5% to 800k annualized, highest since Jan 2022. Saxo

• AI Fatigue Hits Big Tech: Nvidia, Oracle, and Micron all slid despite earnings beats. Reuters

• PCE + Costco Earnings on Deck: The Fed’s favorite inflation gauge arrives Friday. WSJ

A Message From Wealth Builders HQ

Tired of directional trades that always seem to go the wrong way? Ready to break free from staring at charts all day while still staying profitable? 

Brandon Wendell, CMT, has spent 25 years perfecting a spread trading approach that delivers consistent results whether markets go up, down, or sideways. In his upcoming free training, "The Spread Spectrum," he's sharing the exact strategy that's proven successful 87% of the time in live trading accounts. 

What You'll Discover: 

Secret 1: Why spreads work in any market condition – eliminating the stress of trying to predict market direction 

Secret 2: How to identify the high-probability setups that have delivered an 87% win rate repeatedly 

Secret 3: A simplified trading approach that doesn't require constant monitoring or being chained to your computer 

This isn't theory – it's a battle-tested strategy from a Chartered Market Technician who's run hedge funds and taught thousands of traders. Whether you're struggling to find good trade candidates, frustrated by wrong-direction moves, or ready to bring enjoyment back to your trading, this training is designed for traders at every experience level. 

The best part? It's completely free. No credit card required, no deposit needed – just reserve your spot and discover how spread trading can transform your results while giving you your life back. 

Ready to trade with more confidence and less stress? Register for "The Spread Spectrum" and learn the strategy that's changing how traders approach the markets. 

Earnings We’re Watching

• Accenture Ltd. (ACN) - Thursday (BMO) 

• CarMax, Inc. (KMX) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) - Thursday (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:

Just buy the S&P, go golfing, and let compound interest do the heavy lifting. Sounds boring, but boring pays. Most traders, however, can’t resist the dopamine hit of “beating the market.” They chase alpha like moths to a flame, and usually end up as portfolio ash.

For active traders, the point isn’t to ignore the warning—it’s to respect it. Beating the market consistently is hard, not impossible. It requires discipline, risk management, and knowing when to step aside. The “loser’s game” Ellis warned about is what happens when you confuse luck with skill and let ego run the portfolio. In other words: trade smart, or just buy SPY and sleep better.