The Trading Post | 10.01.25

October 01, 2025

Good morning,

The US government officially shut down at midnight, Nike crushed earnings estimates, Tesla rocketed 35% in September, Chinese EV stocks broke out to new highs, and Nvidia just crossed a $4.5T market cap.

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 09.30.25 market close.

Market News

  • Government shutdown sparks uncertainty: Futures slipped (S&P -0.8%, Dow -0.7%) as data delays complicate Fed outlook. Gold near $3,160, dollar down for 4th straight day. Reuters

  • Nike earnings shock: EPS $0.49 vs $0.27 expected, revs +1% to $11.7B, but tariff costs rise to $1.5B/year. Reuters

  • Tesla up 35% in September: Musk bought $1B in shares, options frenzy fueled rally ahead of Q3 delivery data. Fool

  • China EV names ripping: NIO +64% YoY deliveries, Xpeng +95% YoY, both smashing 2025 so far. Benzinga

  • Nvidia unstoppable: Above $4.5T market cap as AI infra deals pile in; Citi PT now $210. CNBC

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

  • Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) - Wednesday (BMO) 

  • Conagra Brands, Inc. (CAG) - Wednesday (BMO) 

  • RPM International, Inc. (RPM) - Wednesday (BMO) 

Trade Ideas

S&P Global Inc (SPGI), Steel Dynamics, Inc (STLD), Constellation Brands Inc (STZ), Workday, Inc (WDAY)

Nucor Corporation (NUE), GraniteShares 1.5x Long NVDA (NVDL), PulteGroup, Inc (PHM), Simon Property Group, Inc (SPG)

Robinhood Markets, Inc (HOOD), 3M Company (MMM), Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC), NRG Energy, Inc (NRG)

First Solar, Inc (FSLR), Futu Holdings Limited (FUTU), SPDR Gold Trust (GLD), Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (HLT)

Cadence Design Systems, Inc (CDNS), Capital One Financial Corporation (COF), Datadog, Inc (DDOG), Electronic Arts Inc (EA)

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

❝

The investor's chief problem – and even his worst enemy – is likely to be himself.

Benjamin Graham

Why It Matters:

Markets don’t really care about your clever chart annotations or how many hours you spent backtesting Fibonacci retracements. What they do care about is whether you can avoid blowing yourself up. Fear makes you sell bottoms, greed makes you buy tops, and overconfidence convinces you to size up right before the market reminds you who’s boss.

Graham’s point is timeless: the biggest threat to your portfolio isn’t Jerome Powell, China’s EV subsidies, or even Elon’s Twitter feed—it’s you, the guy clicking the mouse. Master your impulses, and you might just survive long enough to let your trades work. Fail to do so, and the market will happily turn you into liquidity for someone more disciplined.