Podcast
Next Day Prep #72: Retail Sales Surge Ignites Market Rally – Friday 7/18/2025
Key takeaways
- Traders should focus on strong volume, breakout levels, and follow-through to capitalize on the current market momentum and growth potential in select stocks.
Next Day Prep: Retail Sales Surge Ignites Market Rally
A quick analysis of today’s market outlook and key trading opportunities to start your day.
Intro & Market Mood
Today, the market saw the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite reaching new all-time highs, fueled by a combination of solid earnings reports and positive economic data.
Overnight Headlines
- Retail sales rose 0.6% in June, surpassing expectations and showing strength in discretionary sectors like apparel and restaurants.
- Initial jobless claims dropped to 221,000, indicating confidence in the labor market.
Economic Announcements
The positive economic data led to a pro-cyclical, risk-on day with nine S&P sectors finishing in the green.
Earnings Highlights
- PEP (PepsiCo) surged over 7% following an earnings beat and organic revenue growth.
Top Movers
- AAPL (Apple) and NVDA (Nvidia) are showing strong upward momentum and potential for continuation breakouts.
Quick Trade Ideas
For traders:
- Watch for key support and resistance levels on SPY and QQQ.
- Consider entry points for potential breakouts in AAPL and NVDA.
- Anticipation setups like AMD and MSTR may offer trading opportunities.