Real-Time Market Dashboard

Check volume and news. High volume + positive news = likely real momentum. Low volume + no news = probable hype. Look for earnings surprises, analyst upgrades, or sector rotation driving the move.

Context matters. If it's a quality company with improving fundamentals, it could be an opportunity. If it's a low-float stock with 100%+ moves on no news, it's likely a pump-and-dump trap.

You're likely overweight in underperforming sectors. Heatmaps show sector performance - if tech is green but financials are red, and you own banks, your watchlist will be red despite overall market strength.

Yes, sector rotation occurs when money moves from expensive growth stocks to value/defensive sectors. This often happens during rate uncertainty, economic shifts, or when growth becomes overvalued.

Depends on position size and volatility tolerance. Large positions need hedging via options. Small positions can be held if you're comfortable with potential 5-10% overnight moves. Most retail should reduce size or hedge.

Usually due to weak guidance, margin compression, or the "beat" being below whisper numbers. Markets price in expectations - if guidance disappoints or growth slows, even a beat can trigger selling.

It's mostly a myth. The stock price drops by the dividend amount on ex-date. You're converting share value to cash. The benefit is qualified dividends taxed lower than regular income, not "free money."

Check payout ratio (dividends/earnings). Over 100% = unsustainable. Also check debt levels and cash flow. REITs/MLPs have different metrics. Yields over 8-10% often signal market skepticism about sustainability.

CPI directly impacts Fed rate decisions. Higher CPI = higher rates = lower stock valuations (discount rates rise). It reshapes expectations for borrowing costs, corporate profits, and economic growth all at once.

Rate cuts signal economic trouble. If the Fed cuts aggressively, it suggests recession fears are real. Markets sometimes prefer "bad economy with fighting Fed" over "bad economy with panicked Fed."

Check correlations. If all your stocks move together (tech, growth, US-focused), you're not diversified. True diversification includes different sectors, geographies, asset classes (bonds, commodities), and market caps.

Rule of thumb: No single position should exceed 5% of your portfolio. Professional risk managers use 1-3%. Over 10% = gambling territory where one bad earnings report can cripple your entire portfolio.

Check market cap and volume. Genuine breakouts: large-cap stocks, high volume (3x average), fundamental catalyst. Pump-and-dumps: micro/small caps, social media buzz, no news, sketchy press releases.

Check short interest (over 20% = squeeze risk) and options activity. Squeezes often have parabolic moves with decreasing volume after initial spike. News-driven moves have steady volume and clear catalysts.

Check breadth indicators (advance/decline line). If only 5-10 stocks are green but indexes are up, it's narrow leadership. This is unhealthy and often precedes broader corrections when mega-caps eventually falter.

Growth stocks: revenue and guidance (future growth matters). Value stocks: EPS and dividends (current profitability matters). Cyclicals: guidance (economic outlook). Tech: revenue growth. Banks: net interest margins.

The market likely expected a larger increase, or other news overshadowed it (weak guidance, CEO departure, etc.). Sometimes dividend hikes signal management has no better use for cash (growth concerns).

Yes, significantly. CAD weakness boosts Canadian exporters (materials, energy) but hurts importers and US stock returns for CAD investors. A 10% CAD drop adds 10% to US stock returns when converted back.

Statistically, lump sum wins 2/3 of the time (market goes up more than down). Psychologically, DCA reduces regret. Never wait for crashes - time in market beats timing. DCA if nervous, lump sum if confident.