To The Moon

I've been watching the markets like a hawk last week, and last Friday's wild swing on the Nasdaq had me holding my breath. It opened down a brutal 2%, which felt like the shutdown drama was finally sinking its teeth into investor sentiment. But then, out of nowhere, the mood flipped—word started circulating about a possible deal to end the government shutdown, and suddenly everything turned on a dime. I couldn't believe how fast the selling pressure evaporated.

The details that leaked out were classic Washington compromise: Schumer floating a short-term funding bill to reopen the government, with Democrats reluctantly agreeing to it if Republicans separately extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for another year. It's not perfect, and honestly neither side is thrilled, but it's enough to kick the can down the road and avoid a prolonged crisis. For me, that's all the market needed to hear—certainty, even temporary certainty, is like oxygen for stocks.

By midday the Dow had flipped positive, the S&P 500 erased pretty much all its losses, and the Nasdaq's drop shrank so fast it almost looked like a glitch on my screen. I actually caught myself smiling at the ticker—there's something surreal about watching billions of dollars pivot on a single headline. It's a reminder that right now, political noise is still the biggest driver of day-to-day volatility.

I'm not popping champagne yet, though. This deal still has to get through both chambers, and we all know how quickly things can unravel in Congress. But if it does pass, I think we're set up for a decent relief rally next week—maybe even a proper "risk-on" move if some of the other macro headwinds start easing too. I've got a shopping list of names I've been eyeing on this dip, and I'm ready to start nibbling if we get confirmation over the weekend.

$S&P 500(.SPX)$  $DJIA(.DJI)$  $NASDAQ(.IXIC)$  

Bottom line: today felt like the market saying "enough already" to the shutdown theater. I'm cautiously optimistic that the adults in the room (or at least the ones who want to get re-elected) are finally stepping in. Fingers crossed we wake up next week to a functioning government and some green on the screen. I could use it after the last few months!

As a retail investor, I focus mainly on the US and Singapore markets, combining a mix of technical trading and long-term investing strategies. I enjoy analyzing charts, spotting patterns, and making calculated moves based on both market sentiment and fundamentals. While I'm not a professional, I treat my portfolio seriously and continue to learn and grow with each trade. If you're also navigating the markets and enjoy discussing stocks, options, or market trends, feel free to follow me. Let's learn and grow together as a community.

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