Investment Learning

  • January 30, 2025

Market volatility: How algorithms influence trading

On the latest episode of Yahoo Finance’s Trader Talk, host Kenny Polcari sat down with guest Bulleye Investment Group's Adam Johnson to break down the forces driving today’s market volatility. The pair explored how psychology, Federal Reserve policy, and the rise of algorithms contribute to the unpredictable ups and downs of the market. Johnson pointed out the market’s tendency to overreact to good news, which often triggers fears of inflation and interest rate hikes. “You buy stocks because of earnings growth, not because you think the Fed's going to cut rates,” Johnson said, urging investors to focus on long-term fundamentals instead of speculation. Polcari echoed this but stressed the importance of caution. “You should understand what the economy is doing around you before you just haphazardly go and start buying stocks,” he advised, noting the impact inflation could have on stock selection and timing. The conversation also highlighted the role of algorithms in driving erratic market movements. Johnson explained that pre-programmed systems often respond automatically to data, amplifying volatility. Polcari added that fear indicators like the VIX crossing 22 can set off sell programs, leading to further market turbulence. Both agreed that if the 10-year Treasury yield hits 5%, it could spell trouble for stocks, especially if inflation surges or economic growth slows. To gain more insights and discover potential investment strategies, tune into the full episode of Trader Talk on Yahoo Finance. This post was written by Langston Sessoms.

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  • January 30, 2025

1 Super Semiconductor ETF to Buy in the Wake of the DeepSeek Sell-Off

Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving fast. It was only two years ago that OpenAI's GPT-3.5 models sparked the AI arms race, and the pace of innovation has since been staggering. For instance, a China-based AI lab called DeepSeek dominated headlines this past week because of its latest large language models (LLMs), which offer a significant leap in efficiency compared to those that currently lead the industry.

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  • January 29, 2025

Big Tech's AI capex will be just as important as earnings results

Equity markets (^DJI, ^IXIC, ^GSPC) are focused in on the Big Tech earnings due out later today and the Federal Reserve's upcoming interest rate decision this afternoon. Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Tesla (TSLA), and IBM (IBM) will release their fourth quarter results after the market close. Stuart Kaiser, head of US equity trading strategy at Citi, sits down in-studio on Catalysts to emphasize that the earnings results still matter, but explains the CEO commentary to come in earnings calls will be just as crucial "Most of the hyperscalers kind of already recently updated their guidance on CapEx spend. So, a lot of this may be actually what gets said in the press conference, and what is the CEO's kind of body language," Kaiser says. "How committed are they to that CapEx spend? How vital do they think that spending [is], and particularly, the really, really high-end Nvidia (NVDA) chips are to their development?" While generally positive on large-cap growth, Kaiser remains cautious due to the lack of clarity and information on DeepSeek's new AI model and its efficiency. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. This post was written by Josh Lynch

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  • January 29, 2025

DeepSeek could put 'cold water' on utilities sector growth

Tech stocks began rebounding on Tuesday from a sell-off on Monday, fueled by the emergence of Chinese start-up DeepSeek's artificial intelligence (AI) model. The model raised questions about US companies' ability to compete, sending AI plays lower, including the utilities sector (XLU), which has thus far struggled to recover since the sell-off. Mizuho Americas managing director and senior analyst covering utilities Anthony Crowdell joins Market Domination with Julie Hyman and Josh Lipton to discuss his current read of the utilities sector. Before the sell-off, the utilities sector was gaining at an unprecedented level from increased demand due to AI tech's power-intensive needs. "When utilities typically do well, we do well because of fear and people looking for a safe haven," Crowdell explains. "This is a new [theme] for all of us in utility land, where we're excited about load growth, we're excited about the data center story, excited about earnings growth." The analyst explains that high valuations are part of the current problem with the utilities sector. "Maybe we were a little over our skis, especially on some of the [independent power producers] IPP valuations." He adds, "This is what happens when tourists invade a value space, and they just push these stocks up to huge valuations." Crowdell adds, "[The DeepSeek story] could put some cold water on the data center buildout, and it's clearly going to impact utilities' growth plans." To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Market Domination here. This post was written by Naomi Buchanan.

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  • January 29, 2025

Tread carefully with quantum stocks, trader says

Listen and subscribe to Stocks In Translation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite podcast. In this episode of Stocks In Translation, Yahoo Finance Markets and Data Editor Jared Blikre and Producer Sydnee Fried speak with Kenny Glick, owner of HitTheBid.com. Glick shares his top trade recommendations for 2025, highlighting the emerging potential of quantum stocks as a major market disruptor. While optimistic about their long-term growth, he warns that these investments come with substantial risks. Additionally, Kenny advises keeping an eye on the "Magnificent Seven" and the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) for continued opportunities. "It's going to be quantum... it's going to be the same story. And there's going to have to be some new IPOs. People are going to want to be getting into the industry. There's going to be a lot of pump and dumps so be careful out there." Twice a week, Stocks In Translation cuts through the market mayhem, noisy numbers and hyperbole to give you the information you need to make the right trade for your portfolio. You can find more episodes here, or watch on your favorite streaming service. This article was written by Colin Webb.

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