The Trading Post | 12.19.25

December 19, 2025

Good morning,

The Fed cut rates but killed the pivot party, inflation cooled faster than expected, Japan finally joined the hiking club, Micron ripped on AI demand, and crypto traders learned (again) that gravity still works. Let’s jump in.

Want to follow a proven options system with a 70%+ win rate? Robert Roy's Power Option Plays delivers twice-weekly trade alerts with clear entry and exit plans. 

Let’s jump in.

Pre-Market Performance

As of 12.18.25 market close.

Market News

  • Fed cuts 25 bps but turns hawkish – Third straight cut brings rates to 3.50–3.75%, but the dot plot screams “don’t get used to this.” Fewer cuts expected in 2026 as Powell keeps the punch bowl on a leash. CNBC

  • Inflation cools sharply, tech breathes – CPI dropped to 2.7% YoY (core 2.6%), lighting a short-term fire under tech with Nasdaq +1.4%. Relief rally…or dead cat bounce? Yahoo Finance

  • Bank of Japan hikes to 0.75% – Highest rate in 30 years. Yen carry trades just felt a disturbance in the force. Global liquidity tourists, take note. Reuters

  • Micron jumps 10% on AI demand – Strong HBM commentary and earnings beat reignited selective AI optimism. Not all chips are created equal. Investing.com

  • Bitcoin sinks below $85K – Crypto market cap hits an 8‑month low as fear index collapses to 11/100. Capitulation vibes getting louder. CoinDesk

A Message From Wealth Builders HQ

Trade Options with Confidence Using a Proven System 

Power Option Plays (POP) isn't just another options alert service—it's a complete trading education wrapped around real-time trade opportunities. 

Here's what makes POP different: 

Rob Roy personally analyzes hundreds of stocks every week, selecting only the highest-probability setups based on his Fibonacci and moving average system. You get twice-weekly recorded trainings that walk you through exactly why each trade setup works, so you're learning the methodology while following along. 

Since its founding, POP has maintained an average success rate above 70%, generating millions in profit in simulated trading accounts. The system focuses on repeatable patterns using the same core stock candidates, which means you're building pattern recognition with every alert. 

What You Get: 

  • Biweekly recorded training videos breaking down current market setups 

  • Trade alerts with specific entry points, position sizing, and exit strategies 

  • A proven tracking system that shows you exactly when to scale in and out 

  • Quarterly live Q&A sessions ("Mastering The Trade") to refine your approach 

  • Access to Rob's complete watchlist with bias indicators (bullish, bearish, or neutral) 

Whether you're swing trading or day trading, POP teaches you how to fish while giving you the best fishing spots. You'll learn to identify your own setups using Rob's Fibonacci-based system while following his alerts on proven candidates. 

Ready to trade with a plan? Check out Power Option Plays and start building your options trading confidence with a system that actually works. 

Earnings We’re Watching

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

  • Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) - Friday (BMO) 

Trade Ideas

ARM)Applied Materials, Inc (AMAT), Amgen Inc (AMGN), Arm Holdings plc (ARM), Baidu, Inc (BIDU)

CME Group Inc (CME), Credo Technology Group Holding (CRDO), Salesforce.com (CRM), DoorDash, Inc - Common Stock (DASH)

Digital Realty Trust, Inc (DLR), First Solar, Inc (FSLR), Home Depot, Inc (HD), iShares Russell 200 Index Fun (IWM)

Lennar Corporation (LEN), Lowe’s Companies, Inc (LOW), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), Philip Morris International (PM)

iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor (SOXX), Simon Property Group Inc (SPG), S&P Global Inc (SPGI), Atlassian Corporation Plc (TEAM)

Targa Resources Corp. (TRGP), Applied Materials Inc (AMAT), Amgen Inc (AMGN), Arm Holdings plc (ARM)

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

❝

Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.

Adam Smith

Why It Matters:

Markets don’t blow up because traders lack information…they blow up because traders ignore it. Enthusiasm is chasing narratives, superstition is trusting vibes, Twitter threads, and “this time it’s different.” Science, in trading terms, is process: data, probabilities, risk management, and repeatable setups.

Right now, enthusiasm says rate cuts mean risk-on forever. Superstition says AI and crypto can’t go down because they feel important. Science says something far less exciting — trends rotate, liquidity tightens, volatility reappears, and price eventually tells the truth.

The traders who survive aren’t the loudest believers. They’re the quiet ones following rules while everyone else is chanting.

Enthusiasm feels good. Science pays the bills.