Weekend Market Review: Tech Rebounds, Financials Falter, and Key Trade Ideas from ShadowTrader
Introduction
Peter Resc of ShadowTrader.net opens the weekend edition with a quick recap of the past week’s market action. A holiday‑induced gap on Monday, a sharp drop on Tuesday after a surprise Greenland‑tariff announcement, and a rapid reversal on Wednesday set the tone for a volatile but ultimately bullish finish.
Weekly Market Overview
- Monday: Holiday, markets closed.
- Tuesday: Large opening gap down after POTUS threatened 10 % tariffs on partners opposing the Greenland acquisition.
- Wednesday: Tone shift – tariffs appeared unlikely, markets rallied.
- Thursday & Friday: Relief rally continued; Intel guidance pulled the Nasdaq a touch lower, but the overall trend stayed positive.
Key Drivers
- Greenland Tariff News – The initial shock caused a gap‑down, but the subsequent reversal acted as a catalyst for a short‑term rally.
- HSC TWWB MCI Trade ("Hard Shell Corn Tortilla with Beans, Meat, and Cheese") – A tongue‑in‑cheek acronym coined by Resc to label the tariff‑related move; it quickly caught attention on financial news networks.
- Intel Earnings – Slightly negative for the Nasdaq, but the impact was muted by the broader rally.
Sector Rotation: Tech vs. Financials
- Late 2025: Financials dominated while tech lagged.
- Early 2026: The dynamic flipped – tech shows relative strength, financials weaken.
- Sector performance (Tue‑Fri):
- Tech (XLK) – modest gains, breaking out of a long‑term downtrend.
- Financials (XLF) – continued downtrend, no rally in the last four days.
- Healthcare & Discretionary – solid.
- Staples, Energy, Utilities – slightly down.
- Materials – +3 % driven by gold’s near‑$5,000 level.
Market Metrics
- Gold: Up ~8 % on the week, closing at 4,983.70 USD, just shy of the psychological 5,000 mark.
- U.S. Treasury Yields: Fell back after an early‑week spike; 10‑year yield around 1.35 %.
- Volatility (VIX): Down ~20 % for the week.
- Crude Oil: +4 %.
- Bitcoin: Stuck below 90,000 USD; 95,000 remains a key resistance.
Chart Analysis
S&P 500
- Congestion zone 6,900‑7,000 dubbed the “2026 malaise.”
- Gap‑down on Tuesday, followed by a Wednesday‑Thursday rally that held above the 8‑21 EMA.
- Shock‑and‑Awe effect: overnight gap corrected by 10:00 a.m. ET, then a short‑term bullish bias.
Nasdaq 100
- Similar congestion but slightly higher; the Friday bar sits above the downtrend line, indicating a possible tech‑sector hand‑off.
- Key resistance around 25,873.
Russell 2000
- Small‑cap rally earlier in the week, but a pull‑back on Friday.
- Watch the 21‑EMA (~2,616) for a potential buying opportunity.
Sector ETFs (XLK & XLF)
- XLK: Still in a long‑term downtrend but showing relative strength.
- XLF: Continuing its 2025‑2026 decline.
Fed Outlook
- CME FedWatch shows a 97.2 % probability of no rate cut at the upcoming FOMC meeting (Wednesday, late January).
- Expected policy range: 3.50‑3.75 %.
Trade Review
- Goldman Sachs (GS) Broken‑Wing Butterfly – Subscriber Dano sold a BWB (935‑945‑970 calls) for a $140 credit. With financials weakening, the trade is well‑positioned; price staying below 955 protects the credit. Verdict: Recommended.
- Silver (SLV) Straight Butterfly – Subscriber Arthur bought a 85‑75‑65 butterfly for a $212 debit, expiring Feb 20. Resc warns of timing risk, low probability of rapid price movement, and erosion of the debit. Verdict: Not recommended.
Number‑One Draft Picks (Tech Long Ideas)
| Ticker | Sector | Chart Pattern | Target Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| IN (Iron) | Data‑center | Rounded‑bottom cup, double‑top breakout | 65‑70 USD |
| KOS (Katos) | Clean breakout | Flat base, first pull‑back – classic buy point | 105‑120 USD |
| FIGR (Figure) | Fintech/Blockchain | Long base, early pull‑back, odd‑number move theory | 80‑70 USD (initial), aim for 70+ |
Upcoming Economic Calendar (Next Week)
- Monday: Consumer Confidence, New‑Home Sales.
- Tuesday: UPS earnings (potential economic bell‑weather).
- Wednesday: FOMC meeting (rates expected unchanged).
- Thursday: Employment data, big‑cap tech earnings (Tesla, Meta, IBM, ServiceNow, Mastercard, Visa, Apple, KLA, Tenor).
- Friday: Old‑economy earnings (American Express, Chevron, Exxon) + Core PPI.
Outlook & Takeaways
- The market is still stuck in a congestion zone just above 6,900‑7,000 for the S&P and 8,200‑8,300 for the Nasdaq.
- The tech‑vs‑financial rotation suggests a cautiously bullish stance on large‑cap tech, but the overall trend remains fragile until a clear breakout occurs.
- Watch the 95,000 Bitcoin level, gold’s 5,000 barrier, and the 21‑EMA on the Russell for early signals of broader market direction.
- Upcoming earnings and the FOMC will provide the next catalyst; expect volatility spikes around earnings releases.
Final Thoughts
Peter Resc wraps up by urging viewers to stay alert to the sector rotation, monitor the key technical levels, and consider the highlighted trade ideas. The tone is “cautiously bullish” – tech is waking up, but the market still needs a decisive push to escape the early‑2026 congestion.
The week ended with tech regaining momentum while financials stayed weak, gold flirting with $5,000 and the Fed likely holding rates steady. Traders should focus on the emerging tech‑sector strength, keep an eye on the S&P/Nasdaq congestion zones, and use the highlighted trade ideas as a guide for the volatile week ahead.
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a touch lower, but the overall trend stayed positive. ### Key Drivers 1. **Greenland Tariff News** – The initial shock caused
gap‑down, but the subsequent reversal acted as a catalyst for a short‑term rally. 2. HSC TWWB MCI Trade ("Hard Shell Corn Tortilla with Beans, Meat, and Cheese") – A tongue‑in‑cheek acronym coined by Resc to label the tariff‑related move; it quickly caught attention on financial news networks. 3. Intel Earnings – Slightly negative for the Nasdaq, but the impact was muted by the broader rally.
100 - Similar congestion but slightly higher; the Friday bar sits **above** the downtrend line, indicating
possible tech‑sector hand‑off. - Key resistance around 25,873.
congestion zones, and use the highlighted trade ideas as
guide for the volatile week ahead.
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