The Trading Post | 10.17.25

Good morning,

Wall Street’s getting that 2023 déjà vu — regional banks are cracking, gold’s shining, and the 10-year yield just slipped under 4%. Traders are sprinting for cover. Let’s get to it.

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 10.16.25 market close.

Market News

• Regional Banks Plunge on Credit Fraud Fears as Zions, Western Alliance Disclose Bad Loans. Regional lenders had their worst session since spring as Zions Bancorp revealed a $50M fraud-related charge-off and Western Alliance filed a fraud lawsuit against a borrower. The SPDR Regional Bank ETF (KRE) sank 6.2%, with Zions down 13% and WAL off 11%. Analysts drew parallels to the 2023 SVB meltdown as credit quality fears spread. Bloomberg

• Markets Tumble as S&P 500 Falls 1.07%, Futures Signal Further Declines. The S&P 500 slid to 6,558, down over 1%, as credit stress, trade tensions, and a 17-day government shutdown rattled sentiment. Market breadth is deteriorating fast — only 56% of S&P names remain in uptrends, down from 77% two weeks ago. The VIX spiked to a six-month high. CNBC

• Gold Surges Past $4,300 to Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Intensifies. Gold notched its 45th all-time high of 2025, soaring to $4,300/oz, up 57% YoY and 16% in October alone. The rally’s fueled by bank fears, China trade tensions, and dovish Fed bets. ETF holdings are near record levels, and analysts now see $4,400–$4,600 by mid-2026. Reuters

• 10-Year Treasury Yield Falls Below 4% to One-Year Low. The benchmark yield tumbled to 3.95%, its lowest since April 2025, as investors rushed into bonds. Fed Governor Waller backed an October rate cut, and futures are now pricing in two consecutive cuts by year-end. Reuters

• Oil Prices Sink to Five-Month Low Below $57. WTI crude slipped to $56.81, down 10% this month, pressured by a surprise inventory build and easing supply concerns ahead of the Trump–Putin summit. Analysts at BofA see a potential $55 price floor, but sentiment remains weak. Reuters

A Message From Wealth Builders HQ

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Earnings We’re Watching

• American Express Co. (AXP) - Friday (BMO) 

Trade Ideas

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Daily Moment of Zen

Why It Matters:

ounds simple, right? Just be a Vulcan with a Bloomberg Terminal.

Most traders say they’re rational — right up until their stop gets tagged by 3 cents and they revenge-buy the breakout. “Analytical” becomes “confirmation-biased,” “practical” becomes “I’ll just average down,” and “profit-oriented” turns into “please, just let me get back to breakeven.”

Sperandeo’s point isn’t that emotions disappear — it’s that pros keep them on a leash. Rational doesn’t mean robotic; it means structured enough that fear and greed don’t vote on every trade. Analysis drives the entry, practicality defines the exit, and profit orientation keeps you from treating trading like therapy.

In short: trade like a scientist, not a psychic — and keep your emotions out of the driver’s seat unless you like margin calls.