TraderMerlin

Hosted by Merlin Rothfeld

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100

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Aug 2026

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About the show

A live daily podcast covering nearly every aspect of the financial markets. My guests and I cover stocks, futures, forex, cryptocurrency, real estate, long term investing and much more! Join us live on youtube at 2pm daily!

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September 9, 2026Episode 138656 min

Operation "Treasury Twist" — Can Washington Stop Yields From Rising? - 09/09/26

The bond market is sending Washington a message—and the Treasury is fighting back. Long-term Treasury yields have been climbing sharply, pushing borrowing costs higher and putting pressure on everything from mortgages and corporate debt to stock-market valuations. Now the U.S. Treasury is stepping in. On today's TraderMerlin, we'll look at what I'm calling Operation "Treasury Twist"—the Treasury's decision to dramatically increase its purchases of longer-dated government bonds in an effort to improve liquidity and take some pressure off the long end of the yield curve. The Treasury just announced it will buy up to $6 BILLION of 10-to-20-year bonds, triple the size of its previous long-term operation. But there's one little problem... So far, the bond market doesn't seem impressed. The 10-year Treasury yield actually pushed toward 4.85%, while the 30-year remains above 5.2%. So we'll discuss: Treasury Buybacks – What exactly is the government doing? 10 & 30-Year Yields – Why have long-term rates been surging? Is It Working? – Why yields moved HIGHER after today's announcement Stocks – Why rising bond yields can pressure expensive growth and technology stocks Mortgages & Consumers – How the bond market filters directly into borrowing costs The Fed – How inflation, oil and interest rates complicate the picture And we'll also turn our attention to Apple! 🍎 Apple just unveiled its latest lineup, including the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max—along with something much more interesting: Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo. We'll look at the new products, Apple's growing AI push and, most importantly for traders: Are these products innovative enough to move the needle for AAPL? Listen now: 👉 Operation "Treasury Twist" Inside the episode: Treasury's new $6 billion bond buyback Why the 10-year yield keeps rising What higher yields mean for stocks Inflation and the Fed Mortgage and borrowing costs Apple's iPhone 18 Pro The new foldable iPhone Duo What it all means for traders The Treasury wants to slow the rise in long-term yields. The bond market just reminded Washington who's really in charge. Hit Like, Subscribe, and send in your questions for the next TraderMerlin show! 🔖 Tags #TraderMerlin #TreasuryTwist #TreasuryBonds #BondMarket #10YearYield #30YearYield #TreasuryYields #ScottBessent #FederalReserve #InterestRates #Inflation #MortgageRates #StockMarket #SP500 #Nasdaq #Apple #AAPL #iPhone18 #iPhoneDuo #AppleIntelligence #Trading #Investing #MarketAnalysis Email – TraderMerlin@gmail.com Follow TraderMerlin: Twitter: TraderMerlin - https://twitter.com/TraderMerlin IG: TraderMerlin - https://www.instagram.com/tradermerlin/ FB: TraderMerlin - https://www.facebook.com/TraderMerlin Live Daily Show: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCczw6L9MSllTvWDK1fNlLrg Trading Applications used: - Tradingview

September 8, 2026Episode 138556 min

Oil Surge! — Is $100 Crude Coming? - 09/08/26

Oil is surging again—and geopolitical risk is back in the driver's seat. Over the weekend, U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers after Iran launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships. Now tensions are escalating around the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important energy chokepoints in the world. On today's TraderMerlin, we'll look at what this means for crude oil, inflation, interest rates—and ultimately your portfolio. Brent crude is now approaching $100 per barrel, while WTI has pushed above $93, as traders add another geopolitical risk premium to energy prices. But the bigger question isn't simply: How high can oil go? It's what happens NEXT if it stays there. We'll discuss: U.S.–Iran escalation – What happened and why the tanker strikes matter Strait of Hormuz – Why disruptions here can quickly impact global energy markets $100 Oil? – What's keeping crude below $100—and what could push it through Inflation – Higher oil doesn't stop at the gas pump; it flows into transportation, manufacturing, food and consumer prices The Federal Reserve – Could another energy shock complicate the Fed's fight against inflation? Stocks & Bonds – Which sectors benefit from higher crude, and which could feel the pain? Here's the problem for the Fed: Inflation is already running above its target. Now crude oil is climbing just days before another major round of U.S. inflation data. If oil keeps rising, the Fed may have an even harder time declaring victory over inflation. And with tensions in the Middle East showing little sign of disappearing, energy could become one of the biggest market stories heading into the end of 2026. Listen now: 👉 Oil Surge! Inside the episode: U.S. strikes on Iranian oil tankers Brent approaching $100 The Strait of Hormuz Oil's impact on inflation What it means for the Fed Winners & losers from higher energy prices What traders should watch next Oil has always been more than just another commodity. It's an input into almost everything—and when oil moves sharply, markets tend to pay attention. Hit Like, Subscribe, and send in your questions for the next TraderMerlin show! 🔖 Tags #TraderMerlin #OilSurge #CrudeOil #WTI #BrentCrude #OilPrices #Iran #USIran #StraitOfHormuz #MiddleEast #Inflation #FederalReserve #FOMC #InterestRates #EnergyStocks #Commodities #StockMarket #SP500 #Trading #Investing #MarketAnalysis Email – TraderMerlin@gmail.com Follow TraderMerlin: Twitter: TraderMerlin - https://twitter.com/TraderMerlin IG: TraderMerlin - https://www.instagram.com/tradermerlin/ FB: TraderMerlin - https://www.facebook.com/TraderMerlin Live Daily Show: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCczw6L9MSllTvWDK1fNlLrg Trading Applications used: - Tradingview

September 4, 2026Episode 138456 min

US Jobs! - 09/04/26

The latest U.S. jobs numbers are out—and apparently the labor market didn't get the memo that it was supposed to be slowing down! The U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in August, well above expectations, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%. Even better, June and July payrolls were revised higher by a combined 55,000 jobs. So...good news, right? Well, this is Wall Street, where good economic news can quickly become bad news for the markets. 📈📉 A stronger labor market gives the Federal Reserve more flexibility to remain aggressive on inflation—and traders immediately increased their expectations for another potential interest-rate hike at the September FOMC meeting. On today's TraderMerlin, we'll break down what the jobs report actually tells us and what it could mean for stocks, bonds and interest rates. But that's just the beginning. We'll also tackle some great viewer questions: Leveraged ETFs – How do 2X and 3X ETFs actually work? Why does daily rebalancing matter, and why can their long-term performance look VERY different from simply multiplying the underlying asset's return? SpaceX Shares – Can you actually buy SpaceX stock? We'll look at the private-market options, risks and what investors need to understand before chasing "pre-IPO" shares. The Fed – Does today's employment report change the odds of another rate hike? The Week's Biggest Headlines – We'll wrap up the major stories moving stocks, bonds, commodities and crypto. One number traders should pay particular attention to is wage growth. Average hourly earnings increased 3.1% over the past year—important because wages, employment and inflation all feed into the Fed's decision-making process. The question heading into September's Fed meeting is becoming pretty simple: Is the economy strong enough for the Fed to raise rates again? Today's jobs report certainly gives them more ammunition. Listen now: 👉 US Jobs! Inside the episode: 162,000 new U.S. jobs Unemployment holds at 4.1% What the numbers mean for the Fed 2X & 3X leveraged ETFs explained Can you buy SpaceX shares? Risks of private/pre-IPO investing The biggest market headlines of the week What traders should watch next week Another busy week is in the books—and with inflation data and the September Fed meeting approaching, things aren't likely to get any quieter. Hit Like, Subscribe, and send in your questions for the next TraderMerlin show! #TraderMerlin #USJobs #JobsReport #Unemployment #NonfarmPayrolls #FederalReserve #FOMC #InterestRates #Inflation #LeveragedETFs #ETF #2XETF #3XETF #SpaceX #SpaceXStock #PreIPO #ElonMusk #StockMarket #SP500 #Nasdaq #TreasuryYields #MarketAnalysis #TradingPodcast #Investing #FinancialEducation Email – TraderMerlin@gmail.com Follow TraderMerlin: Twitter: TraderMerlin - https://twitter.com/TraderMerlin IG: TraderMerlin - https://www.instagram.com/tradermerlin/ FB: TraderMerlin - https://www.facebook.com/TraderMerlin Live Daily Show: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCczw6L9MSllTvWDK1fNlLrg Trading Applications used: - Tradingview

September 3, 2026Episode 138359 min

Robo Taxi! - 09/03/26

No steering wheel. No pedals. No driver. Welcome to Tesla's vision of the future! 🚕🤖 On today's episode of TraderMerlin, we're heading to Austin, Texas, where Tesla is generating a massive wave of publicity around its Robotaxi network and purpose-built Cybercab. Tesla has already been operating autonomous Model Y Robotaxis in several cities, but today's Austin event puts the spotlight on something much bigger: the Cybercab, Tesla's two-seat autonomous vehicle designed specifically for the Robotaxi business. And Wall Street is paying attention. Tesla shares surged ahead of today's event as investors once again focus on Elon Musk's argument that Tesla's future isn't simply about selling electric cars. What if Tesla ultimately becomes an AI, robotics and autonomous transportation company that also happens to sell cars? That's a VERY different valuation story. We'll discuss: Tesla's Robotaxi rollout – Where the service stands today and how quickly it's expanding The Cybercab – Tesla's purpose-built autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals The technology – Tesla's controversial camera-based approach versus competitors using lidar and radar The competition – Tesla versus Waymo and the growing autonomous ride-hailing industry Regulation & safety – Some of the biggest hurdles standing between Tesla and widespread deployment The economics – Can Robotaxis eventually compete with Uber, Lyft and traditional transportation? Tesla stock – How much future Robotaxi success is already priced into TSLA? Tesla says its Robotaxi service is currently operating in limited areas of Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando and Tampa, while the purpose-built Cybercab is intended to become a major part of the network in the future. But there's an enormous difference between demonstrating the technology... and deploying thousands—or eventually millions—of autonomous vehicles profitably. That's what today's show is really about. Is this another Elon Musk promise that will take years longer than expected? Or are we watching the early stages of a transportation industry that could eventually look completely different? For additional research, explore Tesla's official Robotaxi page and read Reuters' coverage of today's Cybercab event . Listen now: 👉 Robo Taxi! Inside the episode: Tesla's Austin Robotaxi rollout The new Cybercab Autonomous driving & FSD Tesla vs. Waymo Safety and regulatory challenges The economics of autonomous transportation What Robotaxis could mean for Tesla's valuation Is TSLA still a car company? Tesla has spent years promising that autonomous vehicles would change transportation. Now comes the hard part—proving it can actually scale. Hit Like, Subscribe, and send in your questions for the next TraderMerlin show! #TraderMerlin #Tesla #TSLA #Robotaxi #Cybercab #TeslaRobotaxi #ElonMusk #AutonomousVehicles #SelfDrivingCars #FSD #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Waymo #Uber #Lyft #Austin #TeslaStock #EVStocks #TechStocks #StockMarket #MarketAnalysis #TradingPodcast #Investing #FinancialEducation Email – TraderMerlin@gmail.com Follow TraderMerlin: Twitter: TraderMerlin - https://twitter.com/TraderMerlin IG: TraderMerlin - https://www.instagram.com/tradermerlin/ FB: TraderMerlin - https://www.facebook.com/TraderMerlin Live Daily Show: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCczw6L9MSllTvWDK1fNlLrg Trading Applications used: - Tradingview

September 2, 2026Episode 138257 min

The Beige Book! - 09/02/26

The Federal Reserve just released one of the most overlooked—and potentially revealing—reports on the U.S. economy. It's called the Beige Book. No, it's probably not going to make anyone's bestseller list. 📖 But if you're trying to figure out what the Fed might do next with interest rates, it's definitely worth paying attention to. On today's episode of TraderMerlin, we're digging into the latest Beige Book and looking for clues about what Fed officials will be considering when they meet again on September 15–16. Unlike CPI, GDP or the unemployment report, the Beige Book gathers information directly from business owners, bankers, manufacturers, retailers and other contacts across the Fed's 12 districts. Think of it as the Fed asking: "Forget the economic models for a moment. What's actually happening on Main Street?" And the latest report presents an interesting picture. We'll discuss: Economic Growth – Activity increased modestly across most Fed districts. The Consumer – Spending increased slightly, but consumers are becoming increasingly sensitive to higher prices. Inflation – Businesses continue reporting pressure from energy, transportation, raw materials, tariffs and insurance. Employment – Hiring increased only slightly, suggesting a labor market that's slowing but certainly not collapsing. AI & Data Centers – Artificial intelligence continues driving enormous investment in infrastructure and energy. Interest Rates – Does this report strengthen the case for another Fed move in September? That's where things get interesting. Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh made it clear at Jackson Hole that inflation remains a major concern. Now the Beige Book shows an economy that's still growing... But prices are still rising. Consumers are still spending... But they're becoming more cautious. Employment is still growing... But barely. Raise rates too aggressively and the Fed risks damaging an economy already showing pockets of weakness. Do nothing, and inflation could become an even bigger problem. For additional research: Federal Reserve Beige Book: https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/beigebook202608.htm FOMC Meetings & Monetary Policy: https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomccalendars.htm Listen now: 👉 The Beige Book! Inside the episode: What exactly IS the Beige Book? Consumer spending and inflation Employment and wage pressures AI and data-center growth Tariffs and energy prices What it means for the September FOMC meeting Where interest rates could go next The Beige Book may not generate the excitement of Nvidia earnings or an FOMC announcement... But buried inside its pages are some of the best real-world clues about what's happening inside the U.S. economy—and what the Fed might do next. Hit Like, Subscribe, and send in your questions for the next TraderMerlin show! #TraderMerlin #BeigeBook #FederalReserve #TheFed #KevinWarsh #FOMC #InterestRates #FedRateHike #Inflation #Economy #EconomicData #ConsumerSpending #LaborMarket #Employment #HousingMarket #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #DataCenters #TreasuryYields #BondMarket #StockMarket #SP500 #Nasdaq #MarketAnalysis #TradingPodcast #Investing #FinancialEducation Email – TraderMerlin@gmail.com Follow TraderMerlin: Twitter: TraderMerlin - https://twitter.com/TraderMerlin IG: TraderMerlin - https://www.instagram.com/tradermerlin/ FB: TraderMerlin - https://www.facebook.com/TraderMerlin Live Daily Show: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCczw6L9MSllTvWDK1fNlLrg Trading Applications used: - Tradingview -

September 1, 2026Episode 138157 min

$100 Oil Ahead? - 09/01/26

Crude oil is surging again... And suddenly $100 oil doesn't seem so far away. Renewed fighting between the United States and Iran has sent another shock through the energy markets. U.S. forces launched fresh strikes against Iranian targets, two oil tankers were reportedly attacked while leaving the Strait of Hormuz, and concerns are once again growing about the security of one of the world's most important energy chokepoints. The result? Brent crude jumped 4.6% to $94.65 per barrel, while WTI surged 5.2% to $90.22. So on today's TraderMerlin show, we're asking the obvious question: Are we heading back to $100 oil? We've already been there this year—and with tensions escalating again, it wouldn't take much to get there. But this story is much bigger than the price of crude. The Strait of Hormuz normally handles roughly 20% of the world's oil supply, making developments in Iran critical not just for energy traders, but for virtually every financial market. We'll discuss: The latest U.S.-Iran escalation – What happened and why the oil market reacted so aggressively The Strait of Hormuz – Why this narrow stretch of water remains one of the most important pieces of real estate in the global economy $100 crude oil – What would have to happen for WTI and Brent to break through triple digits again? Supply disruption – How much oil is actually at risk if tensions continue escalating? Gasoline & diesel – Why crude isn't the only energy market traders should be watching Inflation – How sustained higher energy prices could work their way through transportation, manufacturing and ultimately consumer prices The stock market – Which sectors potentially win—and which ones get hurt—if oil continues higher? And then we're going to connect oil to another huge issue facing the markets right now: The Federal Reserve's rate-hike dilemma. Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh made it clear at Jackson Hole that inflation remains too high. The Fed's preferred PCE measure is running well above its 2% target, while the economy and labor market remain relatively resilient. Today, Fed Governor Michael Barr added another warning, saying the central bank should "act decisively to raise rates" if inflation doesn't moderate sufficiently. Now throw $90+ crude oil into the equation. That's where things get complicated. Higher oil prices can push inflation higher... But they can also hurt consumers, squeeze corporate margins and eventually slow economic growth. So the Fed potentially faces an uncomfortable choice: Raise rates to fight inflation and risk slowing the economy—or hold rates steady and risk allowing inflation to become even more entrenched? That's the dilemma. And Wall Street is already responding. Treasury yields are moving higher, stocks are under pressure, and expectations for a September rate hike have jumped significantly following Warsh's Jackson Hole speech and the renewed surge in energy prices. This is the chain every trader should understand: Iran → Oil → Inflation → Federal Reserve → Interest Rates → Bonds → Stocks That's why what's happening in the Strait of Hormuz could ultimately impact your portfolio even if you've never traded a barrel of crude oil in your life. For additional research, check out the Federal Reserve's official Jackson Hole remarks from Kevin Warsh , U.S. Energy Information Administration and CME Group Energy Markets . Listen now: 👉 $100 Oil Ahead? Inside the episode: The latest attacks involving Iran Crude oil's surge above $90 Could $100 oil be next? The Strait of Hormuz and global oil supply WTI vs. Brent crude Gasoline and diesel prices Oil's impact on inflation Kevin Warsh and the Federal Reserve The September rate-hike dilemma Treasury yields and the bond market Winners and losers from higher oil What it all means for the stock market Oil traders are watching Iran. Bond traders are watching inflation. Stock traders are watching the Fed. But right now, they're all trading the same story. The question is whether $100 oil is just a possibility... Or the market's next destination. Hit Like, Subscribe, and send in your questions for the next TraderMerlin show! #TraderMerlin #100DollarOil #CrudeOil #WTI #BrentCrude #OilPrices #Iran #USIran #StraitOfHormuz #MiddleEast #EnergyMarkets #Inflation #FederalReserve #KevinWarsh #FOMC #RateHike #InterestRates #TreasuryYields #BondMarket #StockMarket #SP500 #Nasdaq #EnergyStocks #OilStocks #Geopolitics #MarketAnalysis #TradingPodcast #Investing #FinancialEducation Email – TraderMerlin@gmail.com Follow TraderMerlin: Twitter: TraderMerlin - https://twitter.com/TraderMerlin IG: TraderMerlin - https://www.instagram.com/tradermerlin/ FB: TraderMerlin - https://www.facebook.com/TraderMerlin Live Daily Show: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCczw6L9MSllTvWDK1fNlLrg Trading Applications used: - Tradingview -

August 31, 2026Episode 138058 min

Wrapping Up August! - 08/31/26

August is officially in the books! And after another month of AI enthusiasm, strong corporate earnings, stubborn inflation, rising oil prices, geopolitical uncertainty, Fed drama and some major market breakouts, it's time to step back from the daily noise and see where the money actually went. On today's episode of TraderMerlin, we're pulling up the charts and reviewing the performance of our Top 8 Market Segments for August. Because sometimes the best way to understand what's happening in the financial markets isn't another headline... It's simply looking at which assets are actually going UP—and which ones aren't. We'll compare the performance of the major markets and see where traders and investors were putting their money throughout August. We'll discuss: U.S. Equities – The S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow and Russell 2000 all finished August higher despite plenty of volatility along the way. Technology – AI remained one of the dominant market themes, with another massive Nvidia earnings report helping reinforce enthusiasm for the AI trade. Small Caps – Are smaller companies finally participating more meaningfully in the bull market? Gold – Precious metals delivered another powerful month as inflation, geopolitical risk and concerns about the dollar drove demand. Bitcoin & Crypto – Bitcoin was one of August's standout performers as digital assets attracted another wave of capital. Energy & Crude Oil – Middle East tensions and disruptions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz kept energy markets firmly in focus. Bonds & Interest Rates – Treasury yields remained a major source of volatility as investors digested inflation data and Kevin Warsh's message from Jackson Hole. The U.S. Dollar – What currency markets are telling us about inflation, monetary policy and global capital flows. But we're not just ranking winners and losers. We're asking the much more important question: What is August's performance telling us about September? The S&P 500 gained roughly 2.5% in August, continuing an earnings-driven bull market. Semiconductor stocks remained strong, with Nvidia gaining nearly 9% for the month, while software stocks continued their impressive recovery. But some of the biggest moves weren't in stocks at all. Bitcoin gained more than 20% during August, while gold also posted a powerful monthly advance as investors increasingly looked toward scarce assets amid concerns about inflation, government debt and monetary policy. Meanwhile, crude oil remains one of the market's biggest wild cards as renewed tensions in the Middle East pushed Brent back above $90 per barrel to close out the month. That's a very interesting combination: Stocks rising. Gold rising. Bitcoin rising. Oil rising. Bond yields remaining elevated. Normally, those assets aren't all telling us the same story. So what exactly is the market pricing in? That's what we'll try to figure out today. And the timing couldn't be better because tomorrow we turn the calendar to September—historically one of the most difficult months of the year for U.S. equities. For additional market research, check out CME Group Markets , Federal Reserve Economic Data , and Nvidia Investor Relations . Listen now: 👉 Wrapping Up August! Inside the episode: August's Top 8 market segments Which asset class delivered the best performance? S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow & Russell 2000 Technology and the AI trade Gold's powerful move Bitcoin & cryptocurrency Crude oil and geopolitical risk Bonds and Treasury yields The U.S. dollar What August's winners could tell us about September August gave traders a little bit of everything. Earnings. Inflation. AI. The Fed. War. Oil. Crypto. Breakouts. But when we strip away the headlines and simply look at price... The bulls still finished August with another win. 🐂📈 Now the question is whether they can keep it going as we head into September. Hit Like, Subscribe, and send in your questions for the next TraderMerlin show! #TraderMerlin #WrappingUpAugust #StockMarket #AugustMarkets #SP500 #Nasdaq #DowJones #Russell2000 #Bitcoin #Crypto #Gold #CrudeOil #OilPrices #Bonds #TreasuryYields #US Dollar #Nvidia #NVDA #ArtificialIntelligence #AIStocks #FederalReserve #KevinWarsh #Inflation #InterestRates #MarketAnalysis #TechnicalAnalysis #TradingPodcast #Investing #FinancialEducation #SeptemberMarkets Email – TraderMerlin@gmail.com Follow TraderMerlin: Twitter: TraderMerlin - https://twitter.com/TraderMerlin IG: TraderMerlin - https://www.instagram.com/tradermerlin/ FB: TraderMerlin - https://www.facebook.com/TraderMerlin Live Daily Show: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCczw6L9MSllTvWDK1fNlLrg Trading Applications used: - Tradingview -

August 28, 2026Episode 137954 min

Trading Week Wrap Up! - 08/28/26

Another trading week is in the books... And today, we may have gotten our clearest look yet at how Kevin Warsh intends to run the Federal Reserve. In his first Jackson Hole keynote as Fed Chairman, Warsh delivered a message Wall Street had been waiting for—giving investors important insight into how he views inflation, interest rates, employment, artificial intelligence and the future direction of monetary policy. And there was one message that came through loud and clear: The fight against inflation isn't over. Warsh reiterated that the Federal Reserve's 2% inflation objective is a firm target, pushed back against the idea that recent softer inflation readings necessarily represent a meaningful change in trend, and warned that if inflation isn't moving toward that objective quickly enough... The Fed still has "work to do." Markets immediately took notice. Treasury yields moved higher, the dollar strengthened, and expectations for another potential interest-rate hike increased as traders digested what Warsh's comments could mean for the September FOMC meeting. But today's speech went much deeper than simply "rates up or rates down." We'll break down: Warsh's inflation warning – Why price stability appears to be the Fed's predominant concern right now Interest rates – Did Warsh just open the door wider to another rate hike? The labor market – Why Warsh doesn't appear convinced that softer employment data automatically means the economy is weakening The death of forward guidance? – Warsh wants a "quieter Fed" that spends less time telling Wall Street what it intends to do next AI and productivity – Why artificial intelligence could dramatically alter economic growth, employment and ultimately monetary policy The bond market – What today's move in Treasury yields tells us about how investors interpreted the speech Stocks & risk assets – What a potentially more hawkish Federal Reserve could mean for the S&P 500, Nasdaq, technology and crypto September's FOMC meeting – What traders should be watching between now and the next rate decision One of the most fascinating parts of Warsh's message may be his philosophy toward the relationship between the Federal Reserve and Wall Street. For years, traders have parsed every Fed speech looking for clues about the central bank's next move. Warsh appears to want to change that. His argument is essentially that markets shouldn't be constantly looking to the Federal Reserve for their next trade. That's a significant philosophical shift. Less forward guidance. More dependence on actual economic data. And potentially a lot more uncertainty for traders. That's why today's Jackson Hole speech could ultimately prove much more important than one interest-rate decision. It gave us a glimpse into the Warsh Federal Reserve playbook. For additional research, read Kevin Warsh's official Jackson Hole remarks and visit the Federal Reserve's FOMC page for upcoming monetary-policy decisions. Listen now: 👉 Trading Week Wrap Up! Inside the episode: Kevin Warsh's historic first Jackson Hole keynote Inflation and the Fed's firm 2% target Could another interest-rate hike be coming? Treasury yields and the bond market reaction Warsh's rejection of traditional forward guidance AI, productivity and the future economy Implications for stocks, bonds and crypto The biggest market-moving headlines of the week What traders should watch heading into September Jackson Hole gave us plenty to digest... But perhaps the biggest takeaway is simple: The Warsh Fed is beginning to take shape—and it may look VERY different from the Fed investors have grown accustomed to. Hit Like, Subscribe, and send in your questions for the next TraderMerlin show! #TraderMerlin #TradingWeekWrapUp #KevinWarsh #JacksonHole #FederalReserve #FOMC #InterestRates #Inflation #FedRateHike #MonetaryPolicy #TreasuryYields #BondMarket #StockMarket #Nasdaq #SP500 #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Bitcoin #Crypto #EconomicData #MarketAnalysis #TradingPodcast #Investing #FinancialEducation Email – TraderMerlin@gmail.com Follow TraderMerlin: Twitter: TraderMerlin - https://twitter.com/TraderMerlin IG: TraderMerlin - https://www.instagram.com/tradermerlin/ FB: TraderMerlin - https://www.facebook.com/TraderMerlin Live Daily Show: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCczw6L9MSllTvWDK1fNlLrg Trading Applications used: - Tradingview -

August 27, 2026Episode 137858 min

The Bulls Remain! - 08/27/26

Just when the bears thought they had an opening... The bulls came roaring back! 🐂 After weeks of questions about stretched valuations, AI spending, inflation, interest rates and whether technology stocks were finally running out of steam, today's market delivered a pretty convincing response: Not yet! In today's episode, we'll break down the latest round of corporate earnings and the technical breakouts pushing the markets higher. Leading the charge was Nvidia, which surged nearly 9% following another monster earnings report and an extremely bullish outlook for AI demand. But Nvidia wasn't alone. Strong results and forecasts from companies including Salesforce and CrowdStrike helped ignite a broader technology rally, sending the Nasdaq up roughly 1.6% and the S&P 500 up about 0.7%. So the big question is: Are we witnessing the beginning of another leg higher in this bull market? On today's show, we'll discuss: Nvidia's monster move – Why its earnings and forward guidance gave the AI trade another shot of adrenaline. Technology breaks out – We'll look at the charts and identify the technical levels that were broken today. Magnificent 7 & AI – Is Big Tech once again ready to take control of the market? Earnings strength – With roughly 95% of the S&P 500 having reported, Q2 earnings are tracking toward exceptionally strong year-over-year growth. Market breadth – Is this rally expanding beyond a handful of mega-cap technology companies? The bears' argument – Inflation remains stubborn, interest rates remain elevated, and geopolitical uncertainty hasn't disappeared. What comes next? – We'll identify the technical levels and upcoming catalysts that could determine whether today's breakout has staying power. That's what makes today's price action particularly interesting. Yesterday, the market was dealing with a hotter-than-expected PCE inflation reading, which reinforced concerns that interest rates may stay elevated. Then Nvidia reported... And investors basically said: "We'll worry about inflation later." That's the battle taking place right now: Strong earnings + AI growth + technical breakouts versus Inflation + higher rates + geopolitical uncertainty + expensive valuations. Today? The bulls won. But one strong session doesn't eliminate the risks, and that's exactly why we'll look at the charts rather than simply celebrating the green numbers. We'll also discuss what today's move could mean heading into the next trading session and which sectors and stocks appear positioned to benefit if the breakout continues. For additional research, check out Nvidia Investor Relations , Federal Reserve economic data and CME Group markets . Listen now: 👉 The Bulls Remain! Inside the episode: Nvidia's post-earnings surge Technology and semiconductor strength Today's major market breakouts S&P 500 and Nasdaq technical analysis AI and Magnificent 7 leadership Strong corporate earnings Inflation and interest-rate risks Where the markets could go next The bears certainly haven't disappeared... But today, the bulls reminded everyone who's still in control. 🐂📈 Hit Like, Subscribe, and send in your questions for the next TraderMerlin show! #TraderMerlin #TheBullsRemain #BullMarket #StockMarket #Nvidia #NVDA #NvidiaEarnings #Nasdaq #SP500 #TechStocks #AIStocks #ArtificialIntelligence #Semiconductors #Magnificent7 #MarketBreakout #TechnicalAnalysis #EarningsSeason #FederalReserve #Inflation #InterestRates #MarketAnalysis #TradingPodcast #Investing #FinancialEducation Email – TraderMerlin@gmail.com Follow TraderMerlin: Twitter: TraderMerlin - https://twitter.com/TraderMerlin IG: TraderMerlin - https://www.instagram.com/tradermerlin/ FB: TraderMerlin - https://www.facebook.com/TraderMerlin Live Daily Show: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCczw6L9MSllTvWDK1fNlLrg Trading Applications used: - Tradingview -

August 26, 2026Episode 137758 min

Nvidia: Still the King! - 08/26/26

If there were any doubts about who's wearing the crown in the AI revolution... Nvidia just delivered another monster quarter. In today's episode, we're breaking down the latest earnings from Nvidia—and these aren't numbers that matter only to NVDA shareholders. Nvidia reported $96.2 BILLION in quarterly revenue, up an incredible 106% from a year ago. Even more impressive, its Data Center business generated $89 billion, up 117% year over year. Think about that for a moment. Nvidia isn't just growing. A company of this size just more than DOUBLED its revenue in one year. So the big question for today's show isn't simply whether Nvidia had a good quarter. It's: Can Nvidia—and the AI boom—keep this going? We'll dive into the numbers and look at what Nvidia's results tell us about the entire artificial-intelligence ecosystem. We'll discuss: Nvidia's latest earnings – What jumped out from the report and where the growth is coming from. Data Center dominance – What $89 billion in quarterly Data Center revenue tells us about global AI infrastructure spending. The AI spending boom – Are Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Alphabet and other hyperscalers still willing to spend enormous amounts of money building AI infrastructure? Semiconductors – What Nvidia's results could mean for AMD, Broadcom, Micron and the rest of the chip sector. Memory – More AI computing means enormous demand for high-performance memory. Does Nvidia's growth strengthen the case for DRAM and HBM? Energy & infrastructure – All those GPUs have to go somewhere—and they require data centers, electricity, cooling, networking and an enormous infrastructure buildout. Valuation – At some point, even incredible growth can become fully priced in. Has Nvidia reached that point? The broader market – Nvidia has become so large and influential that its results can impact the Nasdaq, S&P 500 and overall investor sentiment. That's what makes this earnings report so important. Nvidia is no longer simply a semiconductor company investors watch four times a year. It's become one of the market's primary gauges of the entire AI investment cycle. Going into today's report, options markets were pricing roughly a 5.4% move in Nvidia shares, representing approximately $280 BILLION in potential market-cap movement in either direction. That's larger than the entire market capitalization of most companies! And with concerns growing recently about massive AI spending, stretched technology valuations and whether companies are generating enough return on their AI investments, Nvidia's results provide an important reality check. If AI is a bubble, somebody forgot to tell Nvidia's customers. But that doesn't mean the risks have disappeared. We'll separate the incredible fundamentals from the stock's valuation and ask the question traders actually care about: Great company... but is it still a great trade? For additional research, check out Nvidia Investor Relations and Nvidia Financial Reports . Listen now: 👉 Nvidia: Still the King! Inside the episode: Nvidia's latest earnings breakdown $96.2 billion in quarterly revenue $89 billion Data Center business AI infrastructure spending Nvidia's impact on the Magnificent 7 Semiconductors, DRAM and HBM Data centers and America's energy demand Nvidia's valuation and future growth What the results could mean for the Nasdaq and S&P 500 Where the AI trade goes from here Nvidia has spent the last several years proving the skeptics wrong. After these numbers... The King isn't ready to give up the crown just yet. 👑 Hit Like, Subscribe, and send in your questions for the next TraderMerlin show! #TraderMerlin #Nvidia #NVDA #NvidiaEarnings #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #AIStocks #Semiconductors #DataCenters #Magnificent7 #Microsoft #Meta #Amazon #Google #Micron #DRAM #HBM #TechStocks #Nasdaq #SP500 #StockMarket #MarketAnalysis #TradingPodcast #Investing #FinancialEducation Email – TraderMerlin@gmail.com Follow TraderMerlin: Twitter: TraderMerlin - https://twitter.com/TraderMerlin IG: TraderMerlin - https://www.instagram.com/tradermerlin/ FB: TraderMerlin - https://www.facebook.com/TraderMerlin Live Daily Show: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCczw6L9MSllTvWDK1fNlLrg Trading Applications used: - Tradingview -