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HOT OFF THE PRESS🔥
💰Markets Rally Despite Government Shutdown Looming
Welcome, we are {{active_subscriber_count}} Money Masters and counting!
Jerome Powell reminded markets that inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, even as growth slows and unemployment edges higher. His message highlighted the central bank’s tightrope walk between cutting rates to support jobs and holding firm to avoid reigniting price pressures. Investors now look to GDP revisions and Friday’s PCE data for confirmation that inflation is cooling enough to keep the easing cycle on track.
Let’s go.
Markets not caring about a government shutdown.
BIG IDEA 1💡
Markets vs. Shutdown
Record Highs
Dow Surge – The Dow closed at 46,397, a fresh all-time high, while the S&P 500 rose 0.4% and the Nasdaq climbed 0.3%.
September Strength – Last month, the S&P gained 3%, the Nasdaq advanced 5%, and the Dow added nearly 2%, marking broad resilience in assets.
Gold Hedge – Gold prices notched record highs as investors balanced equity exposure with hedges against political and economic turmoil.
Tariff Tensions
New Tariffs – Trump imposed a 10% tariff on softwood lumber and 25% levies on kitchen cabinets and upholstered furniture starting Oct. 14.
Inflation Pressure – Analysts warn the measures may lift construction and furnishing costs, keeping goods inflation elevated through year-end.
Strategic Stake – Washington announced a 5% stake in Lithium Americas and its Thacker Pass mine, signaling intent to secure critical minerals domestically.
Shutdown Watch
Political Deadlock – Vice President JD Vance warned a shutdown looks “likely” after talks between Trump and congressional leaders collapsed.
Growth Risk – Economists estimate every week of government closure shaves 0.1 percentage point off GDP, hitting spending and confidence.
Data Delay – A shutdown could postpone Friday’s nonfarm payrolls release, complicating Fed decisions at a critical juncture.
Oops.
BIG IDEA 2💡
Crypto, Tech, and Rates
Crypto Rebound
Bitcoin Uptober – Bitcoin rallied above $114K on seasonal “Uptober” tailwinds and renewed whale accumulation after September’s washout.
Vanguard Shift – Vanguard is considering opening its platform to crypto ETFs, a move that could give 50M investors access to Bitcoin and Ether funds.
Altcoin Mix – Ethereum and Solana posted gains while meme tokens like Dogecoin fell, underscoring selective risk appetite across crypto.
AI Momentum
CoreWeave Deal – CoreWeave surged after securing a $14.2B cloud-computing agreement with Meta, highlighting sustained demand for AI infrastructure.
Nvidia Bounce – Nvidia extended its rebound with a 2% gain as investors seized on dip-buying opportunities in the AI leader.
Chip Optimism – Lam Research and other equipment makers climbed after analysts raised outlooks for 2025–26 semiconductor spending.
Rates and Valuations
Fed Cut – The Fed framed its 4.00%–4.25% interest rate cut earlier this month as a risk-management move rather than a full pivot.
Neutral Rate – Yardeni Research argued the neutral rate sits around 4%, suggesting policy is already balanced with current conditions.
EPS Upside – Capital Economics projects S&P 500 EPS could reach $331 in 2026, implying the rally still has room before AI enthusiasm peaks.
Need our expert tips? Grab our Money Mastery guides today.
The elephant in the room.
ACTION PLAN✅
Let’s Make Money Today!
Quick Money – Play lithium and AI momentum with $LAC ( ▼ 2.56% ) on U.S. government backing and $NVDA ( ▲ 0.88% ) as the core AI infrastructure leader.
Financials Focus – Accumulate $C ( ▼ 1.39% ) as easier Fed policy, reopening capital markets, and deregulation improve lending spreads.
Defensive Growth – Add $JNJ ( ▼ 0.04% ) for stable cash flows, defensive earnings, and a dividend buffer against policy uncertainty.
Metals Mix – Maintain partial $GLD ( ▼ 0.35% ) exposure while adding $SLV ( ▼ 0.89% ) to capture industrial demand tied to EV and solar growth.
Tech Reset – Scale into $MSFT ( ▼ 0.76% ) for AI upside with broader exposure to cloud, software, and enterprise cash flow.
Crypto Discipline – Keep dollar-cost averaging into $ETH.X ( ▲ 3.24% ) while limiting altcoin bets until liquidity improves post-shutdown headlines.
Bonus Resource: We keep a short list of the smartest newsletters we read every week — each one offers unique strategies and insights we can vouch for.
Click here to see the list.
FINANCIAL LITERACY CORNER📚
Learn About Money (Literally)
INFLATION REPORT💸
Today’s Inflation Rate: 2.42% (Same)
Inflation: 2.42% as of September 30, 2025
You are now closer to money mastery!🎉
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