Bulls, Bears, & The Bell: Daily Stock Market & Investing News
Bulls, Bears, & The Bell is your daily, data-driven briefing on the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones. Delivered twice daily—pre-market and post-close—we eliminate the noise and focus strictly on mathematical truth. Each episode provides objective financial analysis, breaking down the top gainers, heaviest losers, and the exact catalysts driving market movement. We analyze risk-adjusted yields, expose institutional biases, and assess structural shifts in equities. There is no psychological fluff or speculative filler—only the unvarnished data and pragmatic strategy required to optimize capital a
Why Markets Rallied on Hot Inflation (Sept 11, 2026)
In this post-market wrap-up for Friday, September 11, 2026, hosts Joe and Jane unpack a high-volatility session across Wall Street. Despite a hotter-than-anticipated August CPI report showing inflation at 3.4% YoY, U.S. equities snapped a four-session losing streak as markets found a relief valve in retreating crude oil prices.
Joe and Jane break down the mechanics of Friday's rally where the S&P 500 climbed +0.86% driven by a +1.5% rebound in Information Technology even as all major benchmarks finished the week in negative territory. They explore key sector rotations out of mega-cap tech into small-caps, heavy...
Friday OPEX, Small-Cap Rotation, and the 10-Year Yield
Join hosts Joe and Jane on the Bulls, Bears and the Bell podcast for your critical pre-market institutional briefing this Friday, September 11, 2026. In today's episode, we break down yesterday's cooling Producer Price Index data and discuss what a 4.2% 10-year yield means for the macro picture. We dive deep into today's massive options expiration (OPEX) and the undeniable rotation out of big-cap tech into small-caps (IWM), regional banks, and mid-cap industrials.
Don't get married to a position—trade the chart in front of you! If you find our pre-market insights helpful, be sure to hit th...
The Federal Reserve Cannot Print Oil: Tech Sell-off & Energy Rotation (Sept 10, 2026)
Welcome to Bulls, Bears and the Bell! In today’s post-market recap for Thursday, September 10, 2026, hosts Joe (The Analyst) and Jane (The Strategist) break down the post-Labor Day liquidity surge and the aggressive tactical rotations shaping Wall Street.With the 10-year Treasury yield climbing toward 4.2%, gravitational pressure hit high-multiple growth stocks, dragging down mega-caps like Apple (AAPL) and NVIDIA (NVDA). Joe and Jane analyze why the market is shifting from "growth at any price" to a "prove the revenue" mindset—especially with whisper numbers surrounding Microsoft's (MSFT) cloud margins.Meanwhile, institutional money pivoted sharply into energy. We break down the...
Oil Hits $101 Amid Middle East Conflict & Pre-Market PPI Inflation Test
Brent Crude surges past $101 as geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East, while Wall Street prepares for a critical pre-market inflation test.
Good morning and welcome to Bulls, Bears and the Bell for Thursday, September 10, 2026. Join Joe ("The Analyst") and Jane ("The Strategist") as they deliver your essential pre-market briefing 37 minutes before the opening bell to help you navigate today's high-stakes market environment.
In This Episode:
Macro & Energy Shock:<...
Bulls, Bears and the Bell: Oil Prices Hijack the $2,000 iPhone
On this Wednesday, September 9, 2026 edition, co-hosts Joe and Jane walk through a volatile closing session where escalating macroeconomic turmoil and energy spikes overshadowed Big Tech's biggest hardware showcase.
In this episode:
Apple's Foldable Debut: New CEO John Ternus officially kicked off the "Ternus Era" with the reveal of the $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Watch Series 12.Crude Oil Breaches $100: Brent crude surged +3.1% to $100.95/bbl—crossing the $100 mark for the first time since July—following military escalations in the Middle East and maritime disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Energy majors like Chevron (CVX...Oil Hits $100, Fed Rate Shock & The AI Infrastructure Boom
Oil is above $100, Treasury yields are creeping back toward August highs, and the AI boom faces its biggest macro test of the fall.
Macro Pressure & Treasury Yields: S&P 500 futures slip as 10-year Treasury yields creep back toward August highs ahead of incoming Producer Price Index (PPI) data.
Semiconductor Positioning (NVDA): Heavy options activity in NVIDIA—analyzing a massive $420 put block and why the $435 level is critical for tech bulls today.
Sm...
September Hangover: Yields Surge & Tech Rotation in the Post-Labor Day Catch-Up
The summer lull is officially over. In this high-stakes post-market session for Tuesday, September 8, 2026, hosts Joe (The Analyst) and Jane (The Strategist) break down a high-volume, volatile trading day as institutional money rushes back to their desks after the Labor Day long weekend.Here is what is on the tape tonight:
The Macro Hangover: Why the S&P 500 slipped 0.75% as the 10-year Treasury yield spiked to 4.25%, keeping the "higher for longer" narrative alive.Tech Under Pressure: A close look at NVDA's key technical battle at its 200-day moving average, and why high-multiple growth names are feeling heavy.The...Post-Labor Day Volatility, S&P 5,500 Support & September Slump Playbook
Put the coffee down and get to work—the summer lull is officially over. As institutional volume floods back to trading desks on this first day of trading after the Labor Day holiday, Wall Street is waking up to a heavy "triple threat" of macro pressures: climbing yields, soaring energy prices, and historical September headwinds.
In today’s pre-market briefing, Joe and Jane deliver your complete playbook for the opening bell. They break down the critical technical levels holding the market together and show you where the smart money is moving as defe...
Is Nvidia Too Hot? Apple’s Line in the Sand for Tuesday's Open
Market desks are already prepping for a massive shift when the opening bell rings on Tuesday morning. In this special weekend edition, Joe (The Analyst) and Jane (The Strategist) map out your strategy for the upcoming holiday-shortened, four-day trading week.
With the S&P 500 sitting just shy of 5,600 and the 10-year Treasury yield hovering around 4.1%, Joe is preaching macro-caution—especially with Nvidia (NVDA) trading at a steep 28% premium to its moving average.
Meanwhile, Jane is tracking aggressive institutional flow, highlighting a strong "buy the dip" retail sentiment.We break down the critical levels you need to...
Bumpy Soft Landing? Tech Struggles as S&P 500 Tests Key Moving Average
A telling session on Wall Street has closed the week, leaving investors with plenty to digest over the holiday barbecue.
In this post-market wrap for Friday, September 4, 2026, Joe and Jane unpack the August Jobs Report and explain why a headline miss of 145,000 jobs and a 4.1% unemployment rate triggered a cautious "Labor Day Lean" across the indices. Despite a 10-basis-point drop in the 10-year Treasury yield, major tech players like Nvidia and Amazon struggled, signaling that traders are shifting their focus from lower interest rates to economic slowdown concerns.We dive deep into the under-the-hood market action, including:<...
Jobs Friday Coiled Spring: August NFP Preview, NVDA Strike Levels, and TSLA's Warning Signs
The S&P 500 is locked in a tight range and the 10-year Treasury yield is pinned at 4.25%—the board is a coiled spring.
Join hosts Joe and Jane in this high-energy pre-market briefing as they countdown the final two and a half hours to the crucial August Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) release. In this episode, we break down:
The Macro North Star: Why the consensus of 185,000 new jobs is only half the story, and why average hourly earnings above 0.3% could freeze November Fed pivot ex...
Tech & Materials Rebound Amid Strait of Hormuz Volatility (September 3, 2026 PM Briefing)
Wall Street snapped its multi-session losing streak today in a broad-based relief rally. Despite overnight reports of renewed airstrikes in the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing geopolitical volatility, domestic equities found solid footing. A strong institutional rotation into growth and industrial names—sparked by easing Treasury yields and a blowout performance in the Materials sector—lifted all major indices ahead of tomorrow's critical August jobs report.In this post-market briefing, we break down:• Major Index Closings: S&P 500 (+1.10% to 7,751.19), Nasdaq (+1.40% to 26,572.00), and Dow Jones (+1.20% to 53,699.00) show robust market breadth with gainers outnumbering decliners 1.8-to-1 on the NYSE.• Earnings & M&A Spotli...
Tech Momentum Defies High Treasury Yields: AVGO, NVDA & $1B Dark Pool Rotation
Welcome back to the Bulls, Bears and the Bell podcast! In today's high-energy AM pre-market session, your hosts Joe (The Senior Analyst) and Jane (The Tactical Strategist) break down how equities are displaying impressive resilience in the face of ongoing macro headwinds. Despite the U.S. 10-Year Treasury Yield hovering near two-year highs at 4.78% and WTI crude stabilizing at $89.62/bbl, tech-led momentum is carving out a narrow path higher in early trade.
Joe and Jane dissect overnight global market moves—in...
Bulls, Bears and the Bell: Surging Yields, Semi-Conductor Flows, and the Energy Rotation
Welcome to the post-market edition of the Bulls, Bears and the Bell podcast for Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
Join your hosts Joe and Jane as they break down a wild mid-week session and track exactly where the smart money is heading. In this episode, we analyze the S&P 500's technical resistance as the 10-year Treasury yield continues its surge, sucking the oxygen out of growth names. We also dive into the massive institutional maneuvering seen today, including heavy "buy the dip" call volume in semiconductor giants NVDA and AMD, and a defensive rotation into the energy sector (XLE...
The September Slump: Hedging Tech, Rising Yields, and the Flight to Energy
Welcome back to Bulls, Bears and the Bell, your essential pre-market research brief.
As we shake off the summer haze and head into the first full trading week of September 2026, the macro landscape is shifting fast. In today's episode, Senior Market Editor Joe and tactical trader Jane break down why the S&P 500 futures are pointing to a softer open (down 0.3%, off by about 15 points) and how a rising 10-year Treasury yield hovering near 4.25% is squeezing high-growth tech giants.
In...
Bulls, Bears and the Bell | The September Scare: Tech Bleeds as Yields Creep
Welcome to Bulls, Bears and the Bell—your post-market wrap-up designed for professional, high-velocity traders.In today’s episode, Joe and Jane break down a sobering start to September—historically the weakest month of the year for equities.
What began as a promising morning rally quickly faded into a classic "head-fake" by the close, leaving the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq in the red while defensive money rotated into the Dow.
What we cover in this session:
The September Scare & Yield Gravity: Why the 10-year Treasury yield creeping toward 4.5% is acting like a gravity well f...New Month, New Flows: Navigating S&P Support Levels, Bond Yield Spikes, and the Russell 2000
Kick off a fresh month of trading with Joe and Jane as they navigate a sea of red on this September opener. With S&P 500 futures down 0.4% and the 10-Year Treasury Yield creeping back toward 4.2%, the macro clouds are rolling in ahead of the crucial ISM Manufacturing data.
But while the major indexes face pressure, aggressive traders aren't hiding. Jane breaks down the massive TSLA options call block sitting at the $260 strike and a notable, defensive rotation into Small Caps (IWM). Can the laggards...
Bulls, Bears and the Bell | August Month-End Wrap: The Small-Cap Rotation & Amazon's $500M Dark Pool Flow
Bulls, Bears and the Bell Monday, August 31, 2026
The final trading day of August wrapped up with heavy volume, and if you weren’t watching the tape in the final 30 minutes, you missed a massive wave of month-end "window dressing" and sector rotation. In today's post-market briefing, Senior Market Editor Joe and co-host Jane unpack exactly where the smart money is moving as we head into September.On Today's Show:
The Month-End Macro Wrap: The S&P 500 closed down 0.2% at 5,840 (finishing up 2.4% for the month), while a late-session sell-off in big tech dragged the Nasdaq down 0.6%. Joe an...Bulls, Bears and the Bell | August Close-Out: Energy Rotation & Tesla's Battery Buzz (Aug 31, 2026)
Welcome to the final trading day of August. In today's pre-market pulse, hosts Joe and Jane map out the crucial month-end rebalancing flows, a major macro squeeze, and the smart money rotations you need to watch before the opening bell rings.
As we look toward the close of the August candle and position for Q4, the market is bracing for a highly volatile and choppy session. We break down the key levels, option flows, and sector shifts dominating the tape this morning.
🔍 Inside Today's Episod...
Bulls, Bears and the Bell | The NVDA Volatility Play, Small-Cap Rotation & Monday’s Energy Outlook
As the markets prepare for the final trading day of August, the reality of "higher-for-longer" interest rates and a cooling labor market has investors on edge. In this Sunday Strategy Session, hosts Joe and Jane map out exactly where the money is moving before the holiday volatility kicks in.Inside this episode:
The Macro Map: Why the S&P 500 is sitting right on its crucial 50-day moving average and what the strengthening Dollar Index (DXY) means for mega-cap giants like Apple and Microsoft.Under the Hood Rotation: How money is quietly shifting out of high-flying tech and finding...Bulls, Bears and the Bell | The Jackson Hole Hangover: Tech Slumps as Yields Spike
The closing bell has rung on a brutal Friday on Wall Street, capping off the S&P 500’s worst week since March. In this post-market wrap-up, Joe and Jane break down the market's "Jackson Hole Hangover" as traders digest the Federal Reserve's warnings of elevated interest rates stretching well into 2027.
What we cover in this episode:
The Yield Spike & Tech Fallout: How the 10-year Treasury yield hitting 4.4% triggered a wave of selling in growth giants like Microsoft and Apple, and what a massive blocks of December puts on NVIDIA tells us about market sentiment.The "Old Ec...Bulls, Bears and the Bell: CPI Cooling, Yields Sliding, and the $4.2B Dark Pool Mystery
Inflation is cooling, yields are sliding, and the bulls are taking control as we head into the final trading session of August. In today's pre-market briefing, Joe and Jane break down the freshly released PCE deflator print and what it means for a highly anticipated Fed rate cut in September.
Plus, we dive into the tactical trading board: a massive $4.2 billion dark pool buy print in the Consumer Discretionary ETF (XLY), retail options positioning in NVIDIA (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA), and key breakout levels to watch for Amazon (AMZN) and small caps (IWM) before...
The 5,600 Battleground: Tech Profit-Taking, Small-Cap Rotation, and the PCE/Jackson Hole Setup
The closing bell has rung on a volatile Thursday session, and the markets are catching their breath before the major macro events in Jackson Hole. In this episode, Joe and Jane break down the crucial market internals and prepare you for Friday's high-stakes tape.
What we cover in this episode:
The S&P 500 Valuation Cap: Why the 10-year Treasury yield climbing back to 4.2% put a mathematical lid on broad valuations, preventing the index from holding the 5,600 level.The "Rotation" Is Real: How the equal-weighted index outperformed the headline index, fueled by a late-day...Playing Chicken with the Fed & Where the AI Valuation is Migrating
As the market holds its breath just one day out from the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole Symposium, institutional money is freezing—but active traders are finding massive pockets of volatility1. In this pre-market intelligence brief for Thursday, August 27, 2026, we break down the critical lines in the sand for treasury yields, sector rotations out of mega-cap tech, and why the retail consumer is still defying the recession narrative1.
What We Cover in This Episode:
The Macro Line in the Sand: Why the U.S. 10-Y...
Bulls, Bears and the Bell | Nvidia’s Fortress, Apple's Slide, and the Defensive Shift (August 26, 2026)
The markets closed in a "wait-and-see" defensive crouch ahead of tomorrow’s critical Gross Domestic Product (GDP) revision. In this post-market wrap-up, senior market editor Joe and tactical strategist Jane break down the day's volatile price action and late-day institutional distribution.
While the S&P 500 notched a marginal loss of 0.2% (closing down 11 points at 5,642) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq finished flat, the real story is the massive rotation into defensive utilities and the sticky 10-year Treasury yield hovering near 4.5%.What we cover in this episode:
Mega-Cap Tech Fatigue: Apple (AAPL) faces its third straight day of red as...The NVDA "Earnings Wall" & Jackson Hole Jitters (August 26, 2026)
Step inside the pre-market engine room for the highest-stakes session of the summer.
It is Wednesday, August 26, 2026, and the market is holding its breath. In this episode of Bulls, Bears and the Bell, hosts Joe (The Analyst) and Jane (The Strategist) deliver a caffeinated, fast-paced breakdown of the critical forces colliding before the opening bell.
As the entire tech sector sits frozen in anticipation of NVIDIA's massive earnings print tonight, Joe and Jane map out the key tactical plays you need...
Relief Rallies, Plunging Crude, and AI Accumulation (August 25, 2026)
Today's session was defined by a strong "relief rally" across the major indices as a sharp cooling in global energy prices sparked buying activity. With the S&P 500 closing within striking distance of its all-time high, we break down what is happening beneath the surface.
The Market Snapshot: The major indices finished in the green, with the S&P 500 ($SPX) up +0.3% to 7,677.28 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ($IXIC) leading with a +0.7% surge.Small-Cap Resilience: The Russell 2000 ($RUT) added +0.5%, continuing its outperformance of the S&P 500 on a year-to-date basis (+21.3% vs. +12.2%).AI Heavyweights Take the Lead: Information technology was...Bulls, Bears and the Bell | Dark Pool Flows, Apple’s Zone Failure & CB Consumer Confidence
Can the bulls keep their footing ahead of the most anticipated earnings report of the quarter?
In today’s pre-market brief, Joe and Jane break down a highly tentative start to the trading day as the major indices show deep divergence [1, Artifact 1]. Nasdaq 100 futures are lagging as tech traders position themselves ahead of Nvidia's Q2 results, while defensive rotations buoy the Dow. We dive deep into institutional "Smart Money" movements, key economic catalysts, and the critical technical levels you must watch at the opening bell.
In th...
Record Highs for Small Caps as Wall Street Braces for Nvidia’s "AI Debt" Catalyst
Wall Street kicks off the final week of August with the major indices drifting sideways, but beneath the surface, a major rotational shift is taking place. In this episode, we break down:
The Big Rotation: The small-cap Russell 2000 ($RUT) surges 0.34% to a fresh record close of 3,078.84, signaling broader market participation beyond mega-cap tech.The Waiting Game: The S&P 500 (7,783.35) and Nasdaq Composite (26,724.71) trade sideways ahead of Wednesday's high-stakes Nvidia ($NVDA) earnings report.Fixed Income & Commodities: The 10-year Treasury yield eases to 4.70% as buyback liquidity operations begin, while Brent Crude slumps 2.3% to $90.54.Overnight Watchlist: Critical macro developments to monitor...Yields Surge to 5.3% & Apple/Nvidia Battle for the Nasdaq's Direction
Here is what is on the roadmap for today's trading:
Overnight Global Tape: S&P 500 Futures ($ES) consolidate at 7,682.00 (down -0.12%) as the 30-year Treasury yield surges past 5.3% to its highest level in nearly two decades. Nasdaq 100 Futures ($NQ) show relative resilience at 29,141 (up +0.33%) buoyed by pre-market mega-cap positioning.
Macro Catalyst Watch: The Fed’s September meeting looms with a "pause" expected. All institutional desks are focused on U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent's speech at 2:00 PM ET regarding debt issuance strategies.
Bulls, Bears and the Bell | Record Highs & The Friday Energy Trap
Are we catching our breath before a broader correction, or is the "smart money" quietly positioning for another explosive run?In this Sunday Weekend Edition of Bulls, Bears and the Bell, hosts Joe and Jane break down the late-August liquidity thinness and prep you with the tactical setups you need before Monday's opening bell.
What we unpack in this episode:
The Macro Pulse: The 10-year Treasury yield is stabilizing at 4.2% as the S&P 500 tests heavy resistance at 5,850. We discuss what this means for high-multiple tech giants like NVDA and AMD.The Energy Sector Trap: While...ech Flush, Treasury Spikes, and the Automation Rotation | August 21, 2026
This Episode, We Cover:
The Macro Reality Check: Joe breaks down the treasury market action and how the 10-year yield touching 4.2% triggered a late-day flush in mega-cap technology growth giants.Seat Swapping & Sector Rotation: Jane analyzes the cash moving into small-caps (IWM) and the late-day surge in September options call buying for ROBO and automation tickers.The "Reshoring Trade" & CAPEX Fundamentals: Why accelerating domestic factory builds are showing up as real-world capital expenditures for heavy hitters like GE and Emerson Electric.The Monday Outlook & Weekend Hedging: What the protective put options flow at 4:08 PM SPY tells us about...Bulls, Bears and the Bell: Pre-Market Strategy Briefing
Welcome to Bulls, Bears and the Bell, your essential daily pre-market strategy briefing. Hosted by veteran analyst Joe and lead strategist Jane, this show delivers institutional-grade market intelligence to retail traders, long before the opening stinger plays.
Each morning, we deconstruct the overnight tape, track critical technical levels, analyze macro pivots (from inflation prints to central bank shifts), and reveal what’s actually happening behind the scenes in institutional dark pool flows. Whether you are navigating the S&P 500, managing tech setups, or hunting for breakout opportunities in sm...
AI Billions and the $40 Trillion Debt Shadow
Wall Street just faced its sharpest sell-off in three weeks as a perfect storm of rising energy costs, disappointing retail guidance, and rebounding bond yields rattled investors. In this post-market wrap-up for Thursday, August 20, 2026, hosts Joe and Jane break down the heavy market movements that saw the S&P 500 drop 0.86% to 7,641.16 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummet over 703 points.Here is what we cover in today's session:
The $40 Trillion Debt Shadow: U.S. sovereign debt has officially crossed the $40 trillion mark this week. We analyze how this massive milestone pushed the 10-Year Treasury Yield up to 4.697%, completely...S&P 500 Holds 5,400, Jobless Claims Loom & TSLA's Battleground | August 20, 2026
In this morning’s episode of Bulls, Bears and the Bell, hosts Joe and Jane break down the essential trade setups, technical levels, and option flows you need to navigate today's session:
The Macro Backdrop & Yield Watch (01:15): The 10-Year Treasury yield is hovering at 4.25%. We discuss why the 8:30 AM ET Initial Jobless Claims data (220k expected) could trigger a yield spike and pressure mega-cap growth names like $NVDA and $AMD.S&P 500 Futures Mechanics (03:45): E-mini futures are aggressively defending the 5,400 level. We analyze the massive open interest (OI) and building "gamma" sitting just above the current price.The Re...Bulls, Bears and the Bell: Moderna’s Cancer Vaccine Breakthrough & The Fed’s Fractured Front
Tune into this episode of the Bulls, Bears and the Bell podcast for Wednesday, August 19, 2026, as we break down a historic session on Wall Street defined by a monumental biotech breakthrough and growing division at the Federal Reserve.In this episode:
The Moderna Miracle: Moderna (MRNA) skyrockets 125.9% in its "best day ever" following landmark Phase 3 trial success for its mRNA cancer vaccine (Intismeran) for melanoma. Development partner Merck (MRK) gains 11.2%, helping propel the Dow into positive territory.The Fed's Fractured Front: Newly released minutes from the July FOMC meeting reveal a deeply "fractured" committee. Despite a 9-3 vote...S&P 7,800 Ceiling, Retail's Split Personality (TGT & LOW), Apple's $400 Foldable Bet, and the FOMC Minutes Playbook
On this Wednesday, August 19, 2026, pre-market edition of Bulls, Bears and the Bell, Joe and Jane map out a high-stakes morning on Wall Street.Key themes and market-moving setups we tackle in today’s episode:
Global Market Snapshot: The S&P 500 futures hover just above the psychological 7,800 level while Tokyo's Nikkei 225 finishes up 0.4% as the Yen continues to stabilize. Plus, we digest the hotter-than-expected UK CPI print of 3.1% and its immediate pressure on global central banks.The Retail Split: We dissect a tale of two consumers. Target (TGT) surges 3.4% pre-market on a strong bottom-line beat and lifted full-year guidance, wh...The AI Hangover, Oil at $90, and Keysight’s After-Hours Surge
Geopolitics and a cooling AI trade take center stage as Wall Street pulls back for its third straight session, with the S&P 500 dropping 0.7% to 7,691.76 and the Nasdaq Composite lagging by 1.3%.In this episode, Joe and Jane break down:
The Energy Surge (+1.80%): Why escalating US-Iran tensions and rejected ceasefire extensions pushed Brent Crude to $90.87 and WTI to $84.50.The AI Hangover: Valuation fears drag down tech giants, with Info Tech sliding 1.94% and chipmakers like Micron falling 7%.After-Hours Spark: The AI trade isn't dead—it's shifting. We unpack Keysight Technologies (KEYS) popping over 4% after-hours on a massive "beat and raise" dr...Bulls, Bears and the Bell | Housing Tuesday: Home Depot Beats the Freeze & The $91 Oil Overhang
Welcome to the Bulls, Bears and the Bell podcast, your essential pre-market briefing for Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Join hosts Joe and Jane as they break down the critical global market hand-off and prepare your portfolio for the opening bell.In today's episode, we unpack:
The "Housing & Hammer" Narrative: Home Depot (HD) beats Q2 consensus on both top and bottom lines, rising 1.4% in pre-market trading. But with critical July Housing Starts and Building Permits dropping at 8:30 AM ET, are builders starting to pull back?Global Speed Bumps: Japan's Nikkei 225 closed down 0.4% after a disappointing 1.1% annualized Q2 GDP growth miss. Meanwhile...Bulls, Bears and the Bell | The Hormuz Hedge & The Retail Gauntlet (August 17, 2026)
The dog days of August are proving to be anything but quiet. On today's episode of Bulls, Bears and the Bell, hosts Joe and Jane break down a day where "summer lull" sentiment collided with rising geopolitical tensions and retail anxiety.The major averages struggled to find their footing as a tactical retreat took hold across the board.
The S&P 500 slid 0.50% to close at 7,745.06, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 272 points, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.30%. But despite today’s sea of red, the market isn't in a panic—the VIX remains at a calm 14.25, and we a...
