Schwab Network

"Volatility may still be in front of us," says Erin McLaughlin when turning to the labor picture after Friday's March jobs report. The month showed a 178,000 increase but a 133,000 job loss in February's revised report. Erin paves a path she projects the FOMC to take and ways investors can add protection their portfolios. ======== Schwab Network ======== Empowering every investor...

Markets are awaiting President Trump's Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tom White discusses how the war is impacting the overall market, the positive jobs report data released on Friday while markets were closed, and why Bitcoin is moving higher on Monday morning. ======== Schwab Network ======== Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Options involve r...

You see their products everywhere — and may even own one of them yourself. George Tsilis revisits Apple (AAPL) for this week's Tech Corner and weighs the Mag 7 giant's gargantuan balance sheet against global competitors like Samsung. Apple's flagship iPhone product and iOS software offer clear tailwinds for the company's tech ecosystem as it advances AI. That said, George points to...

Marley Kayden and Sam Vadas cap a short trading week filled with volatility by turning to headlines investors likely missed on Thursday's session. They explain the sell-off in travel stocks caused by the most recent crude oil spike and highlight why tariffs are back in Wall Street's spotlight. ======== Schwab Network ======== Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Options...

Rob Thummel says the latest oil spike tied to Iran highlights a deeper shift toward U.S. energy independence. He explains why America’s shale advantage and low‑cost power make energy a long‑term strategic play—especially as AI data centers drive demand for reliable domestic electricity. ======== Schwab Network ======== Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Options involve risks a...

Mark Hamrick breaks down a frozen U.S. labor market as JOLTS data shows low hiring and low firing, limiting mobility and wage growth. He explains why job gains remain concentrated in healthcare, what upcoming jobs data could reveal, and how small businesses are holding up despite higher rates and tariff risk. ======== Schwab Network ======== Empowering every investor and trader, every market day....

Steven Bruce, CIO of Bruce Wood Capital, says history suggests caution after the S&P 500 snaps a multi‑week losing streak. He explains why forward returns tend to be muted, argues for diversification beyond mega‑cap tech, and highlights opportunities in international and small‑cap stocks amid midterm‑year volatility. ======== Schwab Network ======== Empowering every investor and trader, every...

Natraj Balasubramanian, CEO of Braiin (BRAI), joins to discuss the company ahead of ringing the Nasdaq closing bell. The company runs an AI platform to “modernize analog industries,” with a focus in agriculture. He explains the types of problems they can solve with technology before they’re able to be seen “by the naked eye.” They use client data for predictive modeling and partner with other vend...

Markets are closed Friday but we'll still get the March jobs report in the morning. Nicole Bachaud and John Blank both agree that "30,000 is the new zero" when it comes to job improvement, believing persistent inflation raises the bar for employment. Watch for downside risk in industries that feel the pinch of higher crude oil prices like grocery stores, says Nicole. John tells inves...

Sweta Singh explains how the market perceived Trump’s speech on Iran last night. She doesn’t think it believes the Strait of Hormuz is going to reopen in the near-term and discusses how energy prices have spiked today. Even if the U.S. is insulated on energy, our trade partners having to cut back on their own energy use will impact us. On the overall market, she argues that we should be worried ab...

There's always opportunity in markets if you know where to look, says Tiffany McGhee. She offers insight into how her firm positions portfolios in times of profound volatility, including now as the U.S.-Iran War drags on. She labels tech and healthcare as top sectors to watch, noting Microsoft (MSFT), Broadcom (AVGO), and Eli Lilly (LLY) as her top stocks. ======== Schwab Network ======== Empo...

Steven Dickens offers a wide perspective on the AI trade and makes the case why it's still the market's "theme" moving forward. For Oracle (ORCL), he believes the software company is a "hyperscaler at scale" with bolstered strength coming from its latest capital deployment. As for Nvidia (NVDA) Steven argues the Mag 7 giant's moat is stronger than ever as it expands...

Some investors questioned Apple's (AAPL) decision to stay on the sidelines of the AI trade, though 14% year-over-year web visit growth shows a lasting interest in the Mag 7 giant. LikeFolio's Andy Swan explains why he currently sees the stock as undervalued when comparing his data to the price action. He talks about Apple's "cycle of profitability" bolstered by a strong tech...

Chris Nyhuis, CEO of private cybersecurity firm Vigilant, breaks down how a recent AI supply‑chain attack exposed vulnerabilities in open‑source software, allowing nation‑state actors to infiltrate millions of applications. He explains why cybersecurity leaders like Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and CrowdStrike (CRWD) are critical as AI expands the global threat surface. ======== Schwab Network ======...

Eric Diton warns that geopolitical risk and heavy S&P 500 (SPX) concentration leave markets vulnerable, even if oil shocks prove temporary. He discusses rotating into international stocks, small caps, and emerging markets, while viewing the pullback in Nvidia (NVDA) and Big Tech as a healthy pause in a longer‑term AI trend. ======== Schwab Network ======== Empowering every investor and trader,...

Ben Cook adds clarity to what he considers a headline-driven market. He notes that investors pricing in a conflict cooldown, offering levity ahead for energy markets. That said, "as long as this conflict continues," crude inventories will face pressure, according to Ben. Dryden Pence believes the crux of crude oil volatility is a "traffic problem," not supply. Turning to intere...

As volatility continues to grip the stock market to close a short trading week, Dan Deming turns to three stocks he sees weathering the volatile storm. He believes Casey's (CASY) will continue to show earnings strength as a "core holding," GE Vernova (GEV) will gain momentum off the AI trade, and Palantir (PLTR) to make a move back toward record highs. Dan offers example options trad...

Greg Halter offers his full-picture perspective on the energy trade after crude oil broke above $110 on Thursday's trading session. He sees the sector continuing to gain momentum beyond the U.S.-Iran War, especially with AI's hunger for electricity adding to demand. Greg notes Microsoft's (MSFT) $7 billion deal with Chevron (CVX) to power its data centers as a key example. George Tsili...

Tesla's (TSLA) 358,000 first-quarter vehicle deliveries did not meet Wall Street expectations of 366,000. However, that number still beats year-over-year metrics. Marley Kayden takes investors through the report and what is means for Tesla's positioning in the EV race. Joe Tigay says he likes the stock long-term an offers an iron condor trade for the Mag 7 stock. ======== Schwab Network ==...

With the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, and Dow Jones all below their 200-day SMA, Charles Schwab's Nathan Peterson analyzes price action and its correlation to crude oil's spike. Options activity in the S&P and VIX are what Nate believes serve as the most important indicators traders need to watch. The big question he has for future moves: have we already hit capitulation? ======== Schwab N...

Erik Lundh covers consumer sentiment in an uncertain environment. He expects the Iran war to weigh on the economy this year – gasoline prices are especially in focus. He anticipates demand destruction as consumers think gas prices will stay high. If oil prices stay elevated, it also makes it difficult for the Fed to cut rates to support the labor market over inflationary fears. Healthcare is helpi...

The “next big thing to watch” is Cuba, says Ted Parkhill, following the logic for American energy dominance. He looks to commodities like coffee and cocoa and explains how investors should look to diversify into these topics if they can’t access futures trading. Ted also looks at the stronger dollar and explains why this is his favorite kind of market to invest in. However, he’s not “super keen” o...

Lots of analyst updates hit the wire into Thursday's trading session, including price target cuts from Wells Fargo on Alphabet (GOOGL) and Meta Platforms (META) over AI CapEx expectations. TD Cowen updated its view on airlines stocks while Keybanc upgraded Chili's parent company, Brinker (EAT). George Tsilis talks about the latest headlines moving markets. ======== Schwab Network ========...

“Interest cuts are just so critical” this year, says Chris McMahon, but high oil prices prevent them. He says Trump is playing a “sophisticated game of chess” with Iran and thinks the conflict won’t be protracted. He “loves” Meta Platforms (META) and Microsoft (MSFT), believing they’re undervalued and at a good entry point. He’s also a “Tesla (TSLA) guy,” believing in their robotics turn. Chris al...

Kevin Hincks believes President Trump spoke to Iran in Wednesday night's address where he threatened to send the country "back to the Stone Age." Futures plunged on the president's rhetoric and crude oil began Thursday's session above $110. Kevin urges caution for traders and offers advice for how to navigate volatility. He then turns to the latest jobless claims print ahead...