The Trading Post | 10.16.25

Good morning,

TSMC shattered records, big banks brought the heat, Trump reignited the trade war, BlackRock and Nvidia inked a $40 billion data-center pact, and Washington is still on paid vacation while gold breaks gravity.

Want to generate consistent income in your retirement account? Covered Call Explorer is offering a rare 3-week trial to test drive their weekly income strategy.

Let’s jump in.

Pre-Market Performance

As of 10.15.25 market close.

Market News

• TSMC Crushes Earnings, Fuels AI Chip Rally — Profit up 39%, guidance raised, and cap-ex hiked to $40 B as AI demand keeps fabs running 24/7. Reuters

• Bank Earnings Bonanza — Morgan Stanley and BofA both torched estimates. Trading desks +40%, IB fees exploding, and rotation into financials finally looks real. Fortune

• US-China Trade War Reloaded — Trump says, “You’re in one now.” 100% tariffs loom Nov 1; China hits back with rare-earth restrictions. Yahoo Finance

• BlackRock + Nvidia = $40 B AI Power Move — The AIP consortium snapped up Aligned Data Centers in one of the largest infra deals ever. Yahoo Finance

• Shutdown Saga: Day 16 — Government still offline, Senate still arguing, gold still breaking records ($4,246/oz). USA Today

A Message From Wealth Builders HQ

Test Drive Conservative Income Strategies Risk-Free

If you've been looking for a way to generate cash flow in your retirement account without the stress of aggressive trading, now's your chance to try Covered Call Explorer with zero commitment.

For a limited time, you can access a 3-week trial of this weekly alert service designed specifically for conservative traders who want consistent income using covered calls, naked puts, and diagonal spreads.

Here's what makes CCE different: every week, you get a ranked list of trades with clear action plans—no guesswork, no analysis paralysis. Just straightforward strategies built for reduced risk and steady returns.

What you get during your trial:

• Weekly trade alerts with ranked opportunities

• Step-by-step action plans for each setup

• Strategies tailored for retirement and conservative accounts

• Training materials to boost your confidence

• Access to quarterly live Q&A sessions

Whether you're new to options or simply want a more systematic approach to income generation, this trial gives you three full weeks to see if Covered Call Explorer fits your trading style—with no strings attached.

Ready to generate income the conservative way? Claim your 3-week trial at: https://cce.wealthbuildershq.com/covered-call-explorer-ep

Earnings We’re Watching

• Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BK) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Charles Schwab Corp. (SCHW) - Thursday (BMO) 

• KeyCorp (KEY) - Thursday (BMO) 

• M&T Bank Corp (MTB) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Snap-On, Inc. (SNA) - Thursday (BMO) 

• Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV) - Thursday (BMO) 

• U.S. Bancorp (USB) - Thursday (BMO) 

• CSX Corp. (CSX) - Thursday (AMC) 

• Interactive Brokers Group Inc (IBKR) - 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:

Most traders treat a losing position like a bad relationship — they swear it’ll “come back,” even as it drains them emotionally and financially. The market doesn’t care about your entry price, your feelings, or your Reddit conviction. It only respects discipline. Cutting losses isn’t about defeat; it’s about survival. Small losses are tuition. Big ones are eviction notices. The pros live by one rule: lose small, live to trade another day. Because in the markets, pain is inevitable — but staying in it is optional.