Paul Krugman had this to say about tariff flip-flops today
Cronyism, Capitulation and Utter Chaos

$USD +0.94% from StockCharts.
https://stockcharts.com/sc3/ui/?s=$USD&p=D&b=5&g=0&id=p52220085156

CEOs of Walmart, Target, and Home Depot met with and schooled the prez Monday on the impacts of his tariff madness. Then on Tuesday he "turned the dial down." Axios article.

AND, for today only (Wednesday, April 23); although you've probably already looked. Price gains in most bond related areas, with lower yields, as of 6pm, EST.
***Mike McKee, Bloomberg, noted this morning; that demand for the shorter duration UST's are slow and/or slowing. Both MINT and SHY below had price drops.
There has been a lot of mixed 'chatter' from the DC area this afternoon. Perhaps the food order was wrong and created a 'mood swing'.
--- AGG = +.25% (I-Shares Core bond), a benchmark, (AAA-BBB holdings)
--- MINT = -.02% (PIMCO Enhanced short maturity, AAA-BBB rated)
--- SHY = -.07% (UST 1-3 yr bills)
--- IEF = +.10% (UST 7-10 yr bonds)
--- TIP = +.29% (UST Tips, 3-10 yrs duration, some 20+ yr duration)
--- TLT = +.97% (I Shares 20+ Yr UST Bond
--- BAGIX = +.21% (Baird Aggregate Bond Fund (active managed, plain vanilla, high quality bond fund)
--- LQD = +.74% (I Shares IG, corp. bonds)
--- HYG = +.50% (I Shares High Yield bonds, proxy ETF)
U.S. Dollar Index Data indicated about a +1% through most of the day. No data is available at 6pm.

@larryB - or 5 min from now or tomorrow morning. I can't and don't trust this current market at all.
@Crash - Thanks. I was hoping that I wasn't the only one. Took some recently bought ABBV shares off the board near the open. Tempted to take some QQQ's out as well but I'd like to see what the tariff talks with China might produce first. I'm comfortable holding them for a bit longer.

Predicting FD's future post (sometime in August/Sept) **IF** SP500 goes up from here:
I went all in April 23rd. ;^)

As it turns out, not all T/A are created equal!
One particular T/A from BellCurveTrading has, even in these seemingly blindfolded times, successfully projected and predicted the recent, respective index tops AND the respective index % drawdowns that we've seen to date. Pretty remarkable!
Today on CNBC he stated these levels as the likely bottoms on the respective indexes:
S&P: 4,500-4,100
N100: 16,000-14,500
Dow: 35,000-33,000
So, after reading and watching way more stuff than I really wanted to about this, the prevailing thinking amongst the T/A's that I've reviewed is that it appears we are headed for a recession, the S&P will see 4,500, and could go as low as 4,100.
NOT saying this will happen - just putting out there the possible LOW target.
Take it or leave it. YMMV.

Comment: Boeing has lost 7% of its market value since the start of the year, with potentially a lot worse to follow. @FD1000 notwithstanding, this would seem to qualify as an investment consideration.

Finally, yes. After dozens of no.
But wait, why should most care about one stock? Watch the SP500 and let me know.
Boeing had problems for years now and the stock lost money in the last 3 years(https://schrts.co/iMhxbfFJ)
If you believe in all your posts. You should sell everything, or at least all your American stocks + bonds and be In MM until Trump is out of office.
It will be interesting to see your reaction when the SP500 breaks its previous high. I will be back :-)

Trump blinked again. See CNN below:
https://cnn.com/2025/04/22/business/trump-china-trade-war-reduction-hnk-intl/index.html
Depending who is the point person to negotiate with China, the outcome may vary considerably. Certain individuals such as Vance and Navarro should not be part of this team.

So much winning! At what point does Wharton revoke his 'business' degree since clearly he has no business sense other than attracting attention to himself as a shameless self-promoter and grifter...

Trump blinked again. See CNN below:
https://cnn.com/2025/04/22/business/trump-china-trade-war-reduction-hnk-intl/index.html
Depending who is the point person to negotiate with China, the outcome may vary considerably. Certain individuals such as Vance and Navarro should not be part of this team.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-house-insists-still-seal-184028885.html
White House insists it can still seal 75 trade deals in 90 days – but says it’s currently only in talks with 34 countries
And if you believe the 34 number, I got some choice land...
Also, let us not forget that executing a deal with a respective country does not mean they executed a good deal with them.
The count is one thing. The content, and market moving potential, are quite another.

Yup! And as I said, a 'deal' by this WH might just be an agreement to continue talking about doing a 'deal' down the road.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-house-insists-still-seal-184028885.html
White House insists it can still seal 75 trade deals in 90 days – but says it’s currently only in talks with 34 countries
And if you believe the 34 number, I got some choice land...
Also, let us not forget that executing a deal with a respective country does not mean they executed a good deal with them.
The count is one thing. The content, and market moving potential, are quite another.

Aside: Add a HUGE asterisk to all that given that the vast majority of the market action in the past three months has been self-induced, with wild market swings being caused daily by smoke, mirrors and WAG data.

And that is indeed the catch, isn't it? Without a market which is functioning 'normally', how accurate and effective can we expect TA (or anything) to

be?!

Agreed. But, T/A has been guiding our strategical moves since Election Day and the results have been rewarding. It feels like we are all flying blind to some extent at this point, but without T/A, our port would have taken on significant damage by now. With it, we are successfully treading water with our stock exposure, and reaping the rewards of a steady interest flow from our oversized 5-yr CD ladder. And, T/A has allowed us to develop a strategical plan while effectively removing emotions from our decisions. It ain't for everyone, but as I've stated here or on other threads, it's a worthy tool always, but IMO an essential one during market drops like these.
If I may add, the prevailing T/A notion that is burning a hole in my ear?
Expect rallies to be sharp and short-lived.
EDIT: S&P is currently taking a look see at the Buffoon BLINK Bounce high. Until we convincingly re-take it, the 50% Fibo retracement AND elevate to the 61.8% retracement level, it all likely adds up to an extended period of starts/stops and sideways action, with an early July (postponement) date looming.

So, there seems to be little interest in T/A here, but for anyone who is interested...
Here's a great historical look by MW at S&P drops in various prior periods, including those that did and did not end in recessions.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-how-far-the-stock-market-and-other-assets-have-gone-in-pricing-in-a-recession-according-to-deutsche-bank-baddff80?mod=home_lead
Bottom Line: We appear to NOT have yet priced in even a mild recession. Per the comments of a different T/A yesterday, a mild recession on the S&P would be priced in at ~4,500. (The S&P closed at 4,982.77 on Liberation Day.) Per my calc's, that estimate tracks well with the MW historical analysis.
FWIW, as I noted on other threads, I project we will be in a trading range for several months between the Lib Day low and the Buffoon BLINK Bounce high, with a strong likelihood that we will re-test the Lib Day low, and that we won't see Golden Crosses for 6-12 months.
Aside: Add a HUGE asterisk to all that given that the vast majority of the market action in the past three months has been self-induced, with wild market swings being caused daily by smoke, mirrors and WAG data.

Yogi's description seems reasonable in light of Schwab's restrictions: only S&P 500 stocks (no ETFs) and market orders only (limit orders are harder to track). Further, fractional share orders are treated as ...

market “not held” orders, and will be executed at market. A “not held order” means that you grant Schwab time and price discretion to transact your order(s) on a best-efforts basis. There may be a delay between the time when your order(s) are executed and when they appear in your account. You will not be permitted to enter limit or other conditional orders for Stock Slices purchases.

https://www.schwab.com/public/file/P-12533231
FWIW,

The broker uses personal judgment on the best price and time to enter or exit a trade. Nonetheless, a not-held order holds the broker harmless, and they will not be responsible for any monetary losses that the investor suffers in the process. Usually, not-held orders are common with international stocks. The opposite of not-held orders is held order, which requires immediate execution since the trader is given little discretion in finding the best price.

https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/career-map/sell-side/capital-markets/not-held-order/
Robinood is likewise explicit in saying that fractional share orders there are on a not held basis. It does not appear to constrain fractional share orders to market orders (i.e. limit orders may be okay).
Vanguard takes a different approach. The only fractional shares you can buy there are Vanguard ETFs. I infer that Vanguard handles these trades in-house.

@hank, there was a closed-door meeting between Bessant and investors. He seems to be one who can persuade Trump to de-escalate the China trade war. The dollar went up, so did the stock and bond market.
https://msn.com/en-us/money/markets/stock-market-rallies-after-treasury-secretary-bessent-tells-a-closed-door-investor-summit-that-the-tariff-standoff-with-china-is-unsustainable/ar-AA1Dpzgk?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=cfb176155df1432582c4107f6aa212c0&ei=18
Will see what tomorrow brings?

One wonders how a “major loser” differs from the regular kind? :)
PBS News Hour interviewed with Ron Insanna this evening after Trump had toned down the criticism of Powell. Insanna credits (without proof) Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary, as having spoken to Trump and convinced him to back down based on reactions in various markets. The International Monetary Fund also issued a forecast for sharply lower global growth today citing Trump’s actions.
@stillers said, “Futures pop!” - Let us hope. Underweight cash from recent buying. A nice bump would be fine.

AND, for today only (Tuesday, April 22); although you've probably already looked. Some relief today in pricing, with lower yields, as of 6pm, EST.
***Trump now states he won't fire Powell, and Mr. Treasury had a private meeting this morning with banker buds. An unofficial related press note indicated that he stated or implied the high tariff thingy could not remain in place between U.S. and China without damage.
Markets should be happy again on Wednesday.
--- AGG = +.19% (I-Shares Core bond), a benchmark, (AAA-BBB holdings)
--- MINT = +.03% (PIMCO Enhanced short maturity, AAA-BBB rated)
--- SHY = +.04% (UST 1-3 yr bills)
--- IEF = +.07% (UST 7-10 yr bonds)
--- TIP = +.37% (UST Tips, 3-10 yrs duration, some 20+ yr duration)
--- TLT = +.56% (I Shares 20+ Yr UST Bond
--- BAGIX = +.21% Baird Aggregate Bond Fund (active managed, plain vanilla, high quality bond fund)
--- LQD = +.25% (I Shares IG, corp. bonds)
--- HYG = +.39% (I Shares High Yield bonds, proxy ETF)
U.S. Dollar Index A BIG happy today and right now. Likely more positive overnight and tomorrow. NOTE: for the day about a +1.36%. It appears the site is reset for today.

Raised my Fidelity basket holdings from 14 to 15 today. Buys: RIV & PCEF. Sale: BWG.
Basket contains 11 CEFs, 3 stocks, 1 etf. Smallish amount each, but together 25% of my portfolio.
Fido’s basket option is neat. But a record-keeping nightmare if you increase or decrease total number of holdings (causing the weight / shares owned of everything to change). Performing their one-touch rebalance or a one-touch “across the basket” buy / sell is super easy - but causes similar pain. Swapping out holdings one at a time however (1 buy / 1 sell) is possible and doesn’t rejigger everything.

Received semi-annual interest payment for 5 Year TIPS bond last week.
Used the proceeds to purchase a few shares of STIP today.