Another volatile day on Wall Street, and once again, headlines scream panic. This time, it’s Trump’s aggressive tariff threats against China — a proposed 50% increase if they don’t back down on retaliatory duties — that have investors gripping their seats. In response, China vowed to “fight to the end,” setting the stage for what could be a dangerous escalation in an already tense trade war between the two largest economies in the world.
The result? The Dow tumbled 350 points Monday, while the S&P 500 notched a three-day loss rivaling the worst days of 2008 and the COVID crash. Nasdaq is now officially in a bear market. Conflicting messages from White House officials didn’t help, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praising diplomacy with Japan even as trade adviser Peter Navarro doubled down on tariffs being “not a negotiation.”
Yet, by early Tuesday morning, futures bounced back. The S&P 500 was up 1.4%, Nasdaq 1.2%, and the Dow nearly 2%. The rollercoaster continues.
Yesterday’s Light Trading Ended with a Bite
What caught my eye even more was how yesterday’s light volume quietly morphed into an after-hours flurry. A few limit orders got filled — nothing major, but just enough to notice. Watching the prices nudge up in after-hours was kind of like realizing some of your fries are missing from a DoorDash order: small, slightly annoying, but you definitely noticed. One minute the bag's sealed, the next you're asking, “Didn’t I order more than this?”
A Visa sell hit my target, a Pepsi buy filled in extended hours, and a couple others got nibbled on. Some cancelled orders were re-queued, others slipped through at just the right moment (Chasing). Nothing game-changing — but enough to remind me that the market never really sleeps. It just waits for you to lower your guard then lands punch to your Solar Plexus.
I’ve Seen This Movie Before
Over the course of my life, I’ve lived through enough of these moments to recognize a pattern. Market chaos — whether triggered by politics, pandemics, or policy missteps — often lays the foundation for long-term opportunity. I’ve learned not to flinch at red screens. When others are panic-selling, there’s often real value quietly waiting to be bought.
And yet… it’s getting harder to ignore how common these “buy the dip” moments have become.
It used to be that major sell-offs came once in a while — rare and notable. Now, they seem almost routine. Whether it's a bank failure, a war headline, or tariff threats spiraling into diplomatic stand-offs, the market’s fragility is on full display. Each time, we rebound. But each time, it takes more emotional energy to ride the wave.
This Time Feels a Bit Different
What makes this moment more unnerving isn’t just the volatility or the trade drama — it’s the larger geopolitical backdrop. Iran is now back in the headlines, and this time, nuclear weapons are part of the conversation. That’s not just economic noise — that’s existential. Maybe I’ve been conditioned to shrug at these headlines, but the idea of nuclear escalation still cuts through all the market logic. It’s deeply unsettling.
Still, I Believe
Despite the noise, I still believe the market will rebound. That’s not just hope — it’s history. Every major dip in my life has come with fear, doubt, and endless media coverage. But what followed each one was growth, innovation, and reward for those who stayed the course.
I’m not buying blindly. I’m buying mindfully — with risk in mind, with allocation in check, and with the knowledge that overreacting rarely pays.
There are bargains in this chaos. Some of the biggest names in tech and energy are trading at prices we may not see again for a long time. But timing matters less than temperament. It’s not about catching the bottom. It’s about having the stomach — and the strategy — to stay in the game.
Because in the end, markets don’t reward fear. They reward faith — informed, strategic, and long-view faith.
Stay steady out there. And check your fries!!!
