Day Trade Cheat Sheet - April 13, 2026 (Morning)

 ## MARKET MOOD: RISK-OFF U.S. stock futures are down following a mixed Friday close, pressured by geopolitical tensions after the U.S. announced plans to blockade the Strait of Hormuz. Rising oil prices amid the blockade threat are fueling concerns over energy costs and inflation, weighing on risk appetite. ## TOP 5 HEADLINES 1. Trump orders blockade of Strait of Hormuz → Impact: Heightened geopolitical risk drives oil prices above $100, pressuring markets. 2. Goldman Sachs beats Q1 earnings estimates with strong investment banking and trading results → Impact: Financial sector remains under pressure despite solid earnings. 3. Oil surges 5% as Hormuz blockade threat escalates → Impact: Energy stocks gain, but broader market sentiment sours on inflation fears. 4. Roblox introduces age-based accounts with enhanced safety controls → Impact: Positive catalyst for **$RBLX** amid focus on user safety and regulatory compliance. 5. BMO cuts price targets on Rubrik, Novo Nordisk, and MongoDB citing valuation concerns → Impact: Tech and biotech sectors face downward pressure from analyst downgrades. ## PRE-MARKET MOVERS ### Longs (Bullish Catalysts) **$AMZN** - Gains on Amazon partnership with OpenAI, expanding AI enterprise growth potential **$ASML** - Up on strong AI demand and earnings season anticipation **$CF** - Surges 4.7% on robust fertilizer demand amid energy-driven agricultural needs **$CARR** - Rises 2.4% on solid industrial outlook and earnings momentum **$SMCI** - Jumps 8.1% on AI infrastructure growth prospects **$STZ** - Up 2% on strong consumer staples demand and defensive positioning ### Shorts (Bearish Catalysts) **$CRMT** - Drops 10.3% after weak earnings and guidance, signaling operational challenges **$SNOW** - Falls 7.4% on valuation concerns and analyst downgrades **$PANW** - Declines 6.2% amid profit-taking and AI sector rotation **$AI** - Down 4.8% on broader semiconductor selloff and risk aversion **$BMY** - Slides 1.9% on biotech sector pressure and valuation worries **$GS** - Falls 3.8% despite earnings beat, reflecting profit-taking and geopolitical concerns ## INDEX BIAS **SPY:** BEARISH - S&P 500 down 0.53% amid risk-off sentiment and energy inflation worries. **QQQ:** BEARISH - Nasdaq 100 down 0.30%, pressured by tech and AI-related profit-taking. **IWM:** BEARISH - Russell 2000 down 0.76%, reflecting small-cap sensitivity to geopolitical and inflation risks. ## SECTORS **Favor:** Energy - Benefiting from oil price surge and geopolitical supply concerns. **Avoid:** Financials - Despite Goldman Sachs earnings beat, sector down nearly 2% amid risk aversion and credit concerns. ## CATALYST WATCH - 08:30 AM ET: U.S. CPI and inflation data (market sensitive amid rising energy prices) - 09:00 AM ET: Retail sales report (key for consumer sentiment amid inflation pressures) - 04:00 PM ET: Goldman Sachs Q1 earnings follow-up and conference call ## BOTTOM LINE **Today's Play:** Selective Geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz blockade are driving a risk-off mood, pushing oil prices higher and pressuring broad markets, especially tech and financials. Energy stocks offer the best upside potential amid supply concerns, while selective names in AI and industrials with strong fundamentals could provide tactical opportunities. Watch for inflation data and earnings updates for further directional cues. The biggest risk remains escalating conflict and its impact on global growth and inflation.