The Trading Post | 10.02.25

Good morning,

OpenAI soars to $500B valuation sparking semiconductor rally, U.S. government shutdown enters second day with Fed data blackout looming, Tesla Q3 delivery expectations peak as tax credit expires, ADP jobs report crashes with -32K print ahead of rate cut bets, and gold hits record highs as traders pile into safe havens…classic shutdown playbook.

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 10.01.25 market close.

Market News

• OpenAI rockets to $500B valuation: Chipmakers Samsung (+4.7%) and SK Hynix (+12%) rip on OpenAI’s data center deals; AMD, Broadcom, and Nvidia join the sympathy rally. WSJ

• Government shutdown day two: Economic data freeze clouds Fed path; S&P 500 hit 6,700 for the first time—watch 6,675 support. CNBC

• Tesla Q3 deliveries Thursday: Street sees ~445K units, but pre-credit pull-forward could lift to 480K. Stock testing $260 resistance. Reuters

• ADP jobs shock: Private payrolls -32K vs +45K est, back-to-back declines for first time since 2020. Futures now price 95% chance of October cut. Yahoo Finance

• Gold spikes to $3,910 record: Traders crowd into safe havens; Goldman Sachs sees upside to $4,300 by 2026. Silver +1%. MarketWatch

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. 

Trade Ideas

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

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Daily Moment of Zen

Why It Matters:

In trading, brains and hustle help, but they aren’t the edge. Markets don’t hand out trophies for being the smartest person in the room—they hand out margin calls. The traders who last aren’t necessarily geniuses with PhDs in quantum finance; they’re the ones who adapt, refine, and evolve faster than their account balance can evaporate.

Being a “learning machine” means you turn every losing trade into a tuition payment. It means you don’t just read the chart—you study yourself reading the chart. And while others burn out chasing the next hot stock or guru signal, you’re compounding knowledge, not just capital.

In short: the market doesn’t reward the know-it-all, it rewards the learn-it-all.