Trading Insights 8/1/25

Mike Larson
August 01, 2025

Chart of the Day 📈 8/1/25: What to Do as Market Concerns Creep in

Mike Larson | Editor-in-Chief

No, I’m not seeing anyone run for the hills. But I am seeing signs of concern CREEP in.

That’s how I’d sum up today’s markets. And by “markets,” I don’t mean just stocks. I’m also talking about currencies, volatility, and high-yield bonds.

Take a look at the MoneyShow Chart of the Day. It shows the Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP), the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), and the US High Yield CCC or Below Option Adjusted Spread. They show how the greenback and stocks are trading – as well as how much concern, uncertainty, and/or fear is being priced into equity and bond markets.

Where the Dollar, Stocks, Volatility, and High-Yield Spreads Stand

Data by YCharts

No, we’re not seeing panic like we did in April. But the dollar is turning higher. Volatility is perking up a bit. And the yield premium that investors are demanding to buy the highest-risk bonds relative to underlying US Treasuries is climbing modestly.

So, yes, concern IS creeping in.

Frankly, it’s understandable given how far the averages have come. We’ve also seen many of the riskiest stocks in the market soar, as Gav Blaxberg of Wolf Financial and Tom Bruni at Stocktwits noted in this week’s MoneyShow MoneyMasters Podcast.

The Federal Reserve just refused to cut rates again, too. Plus, most countries on Planet Earth are soon going to be paying tariffs between 15% and 50%.

So, yes, I think you might want to play your cards closer to the vest. Or in other words, if you’re a trader, lighten up.

MoneyMasters Podcast: Why Trading Has Gone Social (and What it Means for YOU!)

Trading has gone social – and retail investors are now a market force Wall Street can’t ignore!

In this episode of the MoneyShow MoneyMasters Podcast, we dive into how platforms like Wolf Financial, Stocktwits, and Blossom are transforming the way everyday investors find ideas, build conviction, and connect in real time. Gav Blaxberg (Wolf Financial), Tom Bruni (Stocktwits), and Tim Johnson (Blossom) also reveal what’s trending right now, from meme stock comebacks to covered call ETFs…and how transparency, sentiment data, and social validation are reshaping modern investing behavior.

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FEATURED PICKS FROM MONEYSHOW EXPERTS

VIX: Does it Make Sense to "Buy Volatility?"
👉️ TICKERS: VIX, SPX
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👉️ TICKERS: AVGO
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