Day Trade Cheat Sheet - July 21, 2026 (EOD)

 ## TODAY'S GRADE: B A generally positive day for traders as chip stocks and industrials led gains, but some key setups failed to deliver amid mixed earnings and geopolitical concerns. ## HOW INDEXES TRADED **SPY:** +0.5% - trending higher with steady buying **QQQ:** +1.2% - strong tech-led rebound, driven by chipmakers **IWM:** +0.3% - mild gains, less momentum than large caps ## BIGGEST MOVERS ### Winners **$MU** +12% - Semiconductor strength lifted by memory pricing optimism and sector rebound **$STLD** +8% - Strong Q2 revenue growth and margin expansion reported in earnings call **$GM** +7% - Earnings beat and raised full-year outlook on strong truck and SUV demand ### Losers **$ORCL** -4% - Despite a 4% pop earlier, stock remains near 52-week lows amid cautious outlook **$IBM** -3% - Anticipation of earnings with expected 5.44% move; recent declines weigh on sentiment **$AMC** -5% - Despite record revenue, stock failed to sustain gains amid theater recovery skepticism ## WHAT WORKED Patterns or setups that worked today: - Semiconductor rebound plays - Memory stocks like **$MU** and **$WDC** rallied sharply after recent sell-offs, confirming a strong sector bounce. - Industrial earnings momentum - Stocks like **$GM** and **$STLD** rallied on solid earnings beats and raised guidance, rewarding earnings momentum trades. ## WHAT FAILED Setups that didn't work: - Tech recovery fade - Despite a tech rally, some big names like **$ORCL** and **$IBM** struggled, showing that earnings expectations remain a hurdle. - Speculative momentum in entertainment - **$AMC** surged on revenue news but quickly reversed, indicating fading speculative interest. ## AFTER-HOURS WATCH Earnings or news to monitor tonight: - **$TSLA** - Earnings due with options implying a 5.91% move; market awaits clarity on AI and robotaxi bets. - **$GOOGL** - Alphabet's Q2 report expected to test AI investment returns amid heavy data center spending. - **$MSFT** - Early watch for AI transformation updates that could drive further upside. ## TOMORROW PREVIEW **Early Watch:** **$TSLA**, **$GOOGL**, **$MSFT** setting up for volatile moves around earnings. **Catalyst:** Major tech earnings and oil inventory data amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. **Bias:** Neutral to cautiously bullish, with chip and industrial strength offsetting tech earnings uncertainty.