Options Action with Bill Fanter

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Quarter-end, month-end, and a heavy week of economic data could make for a choppy start to October.

I break down what I’m watching heading into the week, including Wednesday’s major inflation and consumer data, Friday’s jobs report, and why position sizing matters even more around quarter-end.

On the charts, I’m watching QQQ over SPY, potential setups in Microsoft, Google, Apple, Meta, Tesla, and the banks, plus Micron ahead of earnings. I also walk through why higher timeframes matter when a stock is wicking around key levels and how I decide when a setup just isn’t worth trading.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Quarter-End and Month-End Volatility

0:36 - Economic Data to Watch This Week

2:25 - Micron and Nike Earnings

3:43 - QQQ vs. SPY

6:04 - Microsoft and Google Setups

8:04 - Apple and Trading Higher Timeframes

12:41 - Amazon and Meta

14:04 - Nvidia, AMD, and Intel

17:12 - Micron Ahead of Earnings

18:24 - Tesla Setup

20:21 - Bank Stocks Ahead of Earnings

#optionstrading #options #stockmarket

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FOMC takes center stage this week, and I’m expecting the market to remain choppy until we hear from the Fed on Wednesday.

I break down the downside gaps I’m watching on SPY and QQQ, why I’m staying selective early in the week, and the levels that could create setups in Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, Palantir, Walmart and more.

With higher bond yields pressuring the market, patience and position sizing will be especially important. My focus is on trading the reaction after the Fed rather than trying to predict what happens beforehand.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Earnings and economic news for the week

0:46 - What the market expects from the FOMC

1:43 - Why I’m not trading Wednesday morning

2:28 - SPY and QQQ downside gaps

3:42 - Microsoft levels and using price alerts

5:06 - Google, Apple and Amazon setups

6:59 - Meta and semiconductor stocks

10:16 - Tesla’s key breakout level

11:56 - Palantir’s potential move lower

12:42 - Netflix, Lululemon and retail stocks

14:40 - Walmart’s gap-fill opportunity

15:56 - The best approach for FOMC week

#optionstrading #optionstrading #stockmarket

In this week’s watchlist, we’re heading into a shortened holiday week with plenty of potential volatility around month-end, quarter-end, jobs data, Fed commentary, and ongoing geopolitical headlines.

I’m watching how order flow behaves early in the week, especially with possible window dressing into the end of Q2. Apple gave a clean reversal setup after emotional selling, while names like Nvidia, Intel, SMH, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Tesla, CRM, Oracle, Netflix, Uber, and BABA all have key levels worth watching.

QQQ and SPY are still stuck in a tight, choppy range, so patience matters. If the levels aren’t clean, size down or sit out.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Short holiday week and Q2 wrap-up

2:11 - Apple reversal trade breakdown

6:49 - Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta levels

11:05 - Nvidia, Intel, AMD, and SMH

15:49 - Tesla setup

17:37 - BABA, Uber, HIMS, and CRM

21:34 - Oracle and Netflix bounce setups

23:59 - QQQ, SPY, VIX, and market patience

This week, I’m watching employment data, big tech earnings, and whether the market can hold near all-time highs.SPY is showing some weakness after giving back gains, while QQQ continues to look stronger. I’ll walk through the key levels I’m watching, how I’m thinking about calls versus puts, and which earnings names I’d rather wait on until price discovery plays out.I also cover Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, AMD, Intel, Palantir, Tesla, Uber, PayPal, Netflix, ServiceNow, and Shopify.Episode Highlights:0:06 - The economic calendar and why jobs data matters1:25 - Big tech earnings and a fully valued market2:04 - Earnings to watch this week3:46 - SPY hits all-time highs but shows weakness4:30 - Why QQQ looks stronger than SPY5:11 - Apple gives back gains after the gap up5:43 - Google holds strength near all-time highs6:37 - Meta weakness and the potential gap-fill setup7:18 - Microsoft, Amazon, and sector rotation8:38 - Nvidia weakness near the $200 level9:37 - AMD earnings and low-level support10:43 - Intel momentum and a possible downside watch11:46 - Palantir earnings and overlapping zones12:20 - Tesla downside setup and why black space matters13:19 - Uber, PayPal, Netflix, ServiceNow, and Shopify setups16:49 - Why I’m avoiding high-IV earnings trades

Markets are sitting near all-time highs heading into a packed week of economic data, FOMC commentary, and major tech earnings.I’m walking through the key events on deck, including consumer confidence, the Fed’s rate decision, GDP, jobless claims, manufacturing data, and a massive earnings week from names like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, Apple, Exxon, and Chevron.From there, I break down the biggest market themes driving price action right now, including AI infrastructure spending, oil disruption, tech strength, small-cap weakness, and why patience may matter heading into FOMC.I also map out the levels I’m watching across SPY, QQQ, IWM, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, AMD, Palantir, Tesla, Netflix, and ServiceNow.Episode Highlights:0:00 - Week ahead0:43 - Wednesday’s FOMC decision2:53 - Trading around FOMC3:53 - Earnings to watch4:17 - Big tech and AI spending5:41 - Apple and energy earnings7:27 - SPY levels8:10 - QQQ strength9:54 - IWM weakness11:18 - Apple levels11:41 - Google setup12:23 - Meta setup13:04 - Microsoft levels13:50 - Amazon at highs14:38 - Nvidia setup15:24 - AMD’s huge run17:35 - Palantir setup18:30 - Tesla levels20:17 - Netflix after earnings21:32 - ServiceNow gap-fill watch

This week looks quieter on the economic calendar, but the market still has plenty of ways to get pushed around.

I’m walking through the few data points that matter most, including retail sales, jobless claims, PMI, and consumer sentiment, while also breaking down why headlines around the Strait of Hormuz and broader Middle East tension could still be the real driver behind price action.

From there, I map out the key levels I’m watching across QQQ and SPY, explain why I’m not interested in fighting this momentum, and highlight the names that look the most actionable heading into the week.

I also cover Tesla earnings, continued strength in semis and mega-cap tech, and the setups I’m watching in Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon, Nvidia, AMD, Palantir, Netflix, and more as volatility keeps cooling off.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Final week of April setup

0:47 - Why not to fight the trend

1:25 - Retail sales, jobless claims, PMI, and sentiment

2:10 - Earnings this week

2:31 - Tesla and airline names to watch

3:19 - QQQ levels and pullback risk

5:35 - SPY trend and market momentum

6:22 - Apple setup

7:27 - Google and Meta levels

9:39 - Amazon setup

10:58 - Nvidia and AMD momentum

12:33 - Palantir levels

13:06 - Tesla into earnings

15:19 - Netflix after earnings

17:40 - VIX levels and volatility watch

This week has a lot on the board, but the biggest driver may not be the data at all. I’m breaking down the key reports on deck, including PPI, homebuilder confidence, jobless claims, and bank earnings, while also walking through how rising geopolitical tension with Iran could keep pressure on sentiment, rates, and volatility.

From there, I map out the major levels I’m watching in SPY and QQQ, along with the names that look most actionable if the market starts to trend. I also cover how I’m thinking about Apple, Meta, Amazon, Nvidia, AMD, Tesla, Netflix, and the banks as we head into a week that could quickly shift from controlled setups to headline-driven moves.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Week ahead overview0:13 - Housing data and homebuilder pressure1:23 - PPI and inflation data2:33 - Jobless claims and industrial production2:50 - Iran tensions and market narrative4:04 - Bank earnings and Netflix on deck5:10 - SPY levels to watch6:51 - QQQ levels to watch7:38 - Apple, Google, and Meta setups9:35 - Amazon, Nvidia, and AMD11:54 - Palantir and Tesla13:31 - Netflix into earnings14:27 - JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Citi18:30 - Risk management and volatility into the week

Oil is still driving the story, and this week’s inflation data could decide whether the market keeps pushing higher or starts to crack.

I’m breaking down the biggest macro events on deck, including PCE, CPI, GDP, jobless claims, and Fed minutes, while also walking through why rising energy prices may be the real risk traders need to respect right now. From there, I map out the key SPY and QQQ levels I’m watching, then get into the individual names on my radar across big tech, semis, Tesla, Palantir, and oil.

There are a lot of charts with clean levels this week, but if volatility picks up, patience and discipline are going to matter a lot more than forcing trades.

Highlights:

0:00 - Easter weekend and market setup

0:09 - News and macro outlook

1:23 - PCE, GDP, jobless claims, and CPI

2:56 - Earnings to watch

3:23 - SPY levels

4:32 - QQQ levels

5:33 - Apple and Microsoft

6:25 - Google, Meta, and Amazon

8:46 - Nvidia and Tesla

10:43 - AMD and Palantir

13:15 - Exxon, Chevron, and oil names

Welcome back to The Weekly Watch List with Bill Fanter, founder of Options Action.As the holiday week descends, Bill provides a simple reminder that is addressed at the very top of the episode. Past the trading philosophy around this week – Bill dives into SPY, QQQ, as usual and some individual names that may be familiar – as well as some check-ins on tech and retail.🎯 In this episode:0:00 - Intro0:25 - Economic news2:45 - SPY and QQQ3:59 - Apple4:37 - Amazon and Google5:51 - All-time highs with Tesla, Meta sell-off7:36 - Pushing up with Nvidia8:43 - Broadcom, Oracle, Palantir10:53 - Retailers13:01 - Starbucks and Home depot

Welcome back to The Weekly Watch List with Bill Fanter, founder of Options Action.This week’s Watchlist breaks down the biggest market catalysts as well as jobs data and retail sales Tuesday, CPI and jobless claims. We cover how to use futures and the VIX to set bias, why tech looks softer while financials stay firm, and the exact kind of levels and range setups we’re watching (including when a straightforward call/put makes sense vs. a neutral, “stay-in-the-channel” play).

0:00 - Introduction0:34 - Economic news3:46 - SPY5:16 - QQQ, hitting all-time highs, futures data7:27 - Apple and Amazon9:10 - Microsoft9:35 - Google coming off all-time highs11:05 - Tesla and META13:29 - Some weakness with Nvidia14:13 - Broadcom and AMD15:35 - Palantir16:41 - Bitcoin and Microstrategy18:18 - Robinhood and Oracle19:51 - Retailers22:08 - Starbucks23:14 - Episode wrap-up