Good morning, traders.
Last week was a wild one.
We saw a sharp rebound off the lows — quick, aggressive, and enough to trap a lot of folks leaning the wrong way.
But this week is an entirely different animal.
If you’re trying to make “easy money” right now, you’re probably walking straight into a buzzsaw.
And this is why.
Feast — and Famine
First, the swift rebound cooled off a lot of the volatility that traders were feasting on.
Volatility — the lifeblood for short-term traders — doesn’t stay elevated forever. It moves in waves.
And after last week’s rally, things feel … heavy. Slower. Almost like the market’s holding its breath.
Second, this is one of the most packed earnings weeks of the quarter.
The heavy hitters — Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon — are all stepping up to the plate.
Big earnings from these names aren’t just about the companies themselves.
They’re about the entire market.
These are the stocks that drive major indexes.
Misses, beats, surprises — they all ripple through everything else.
That’s why I’m approaching this week with extreme caution.
It’s the kind of week where people who are too aggressive can get chewed up and spit out — fast.
You don’t need to be a hero.
Why It’s So Tough to Trade Right Now
When volatility drops and major events loom (like earnings from trillion-dollar companies), the market gets tricky.
Patterns that worked last week don’t hit the same. Fakeouts increase. Volume dries up in spots where you normally expect follow-through.
Most important: The market is playing a waiting game.
Everyone’s positioning themselves for reactions to these earnings — not betting aggressively ahead of them.
Think about it like this: If you knew a hurricane was approaching, you wouldn’t be outside trying to build a house.
You’d board up, hunker down, and wait.
Same logic applies here.
Smart money is waiting for information.
Once these earnings hit, we’ll get more clarity — not just on those companies, but on broader themes like inflation, spending, and the Fed’s next move.
That’s when the real opportunities will show up.
Volatility Will Likely Pick Up Again
Here’s the good news: I expect volatility to reignite this week.
Big earnings usually create big reactions. Gap-ups. Gap-downs.
Sympathy moves across sectors.
And once the dust starts to settle, traders who kept their powder dry will have fresh setups to pounce on.
Patience isn’t just some nice concept — it’s a weapon.
Sitting out bad conditions is a winning move when everyone else is losing money by forcing bad trades.
I’m not saying don’t trade at all this week.
I’m saying pick your spots very carefully.
Focus on learning.
Watch how the market reacts — not just to the headlines, but to the reactions after the reactions.
Does the market buy the dip aggressively? Does it sell the rips faster than usual? Does good news spark a shrug, or a major move?
These are the clues that will help you dominate May.
Just Breathe
If you’re feeling like it’s “hard to make money” right now — good. You’re paying attention.
Professional traders don’t expect every week to be a bonanza.
Some weeks are about defense. Some weeks are about patience.
And some weeks are about gathering info so you can strike hard when the odds stack in your favor.
This is one of those weeks.
So, breathe. Stay sharp. Watch carefully.
The market’s next big move is setting up right now — but you’ll only catch it if you don’t get chopped up trying to force something that’s not there.
Stay patient. The gains are coming.
Stay Street Smart,
Jeff Zananiri
Now might be a time to wait and see, but you need to be able to jump on opportunities when they pop — and we can show you exactly how.
Register to hear from Aaron Hunziker Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET about how to lock in crazy overnight gains, even when the market feels uncertain.
*Past performance does not indicate future results.
