Day Trade Cheat Sheet - July 28, 2026 (EOD)

 ## TODAY'S GRADE: C A challenging day for day traders as semiconductor stocks and related tech sectors sold off sharply amid geopolitical concerns and AI spending worries, limiting clear momentum plays. ## HOW INDEXES TRADED **SPY:** -0.3% - choppy with defensive rotation **QQQ:** -1.2% - pressured by semiconductor and tech weakness **IWM:** -0.5% - modest decline amid risk-off sentiment ## BIGGEST MOVERS ### Winners **$KO** +6% - Raised earnings guidance and strong Q2 results buoyed consumer defensive sentiment **$BE** +8% - Earnings beat and raised 2026 outlook on AI data center power demand **$UPS** +5% - Earnings beat and full-year guidance raise despite some operational headwinds ### Losers **$MU** -10% - Semiconductor selloff deepened on China-related concerns and AI spending doubts **$WDC** -9% - Hard drive demand worries amid chip sector rout **$RWT** -7% - Earnings miss and lowered price target weighed on Redwood Trust ## WHAT WORKED Patterns or setups that worked today: - Defensive consumer staples breakouts, exemplified by **$KO** on earnings and guidance lift - Select industrials like **$UPS** showing resilience post-earnings beat - AI-related infrastructure plays like **$BE** benefiting from strong data center demand ## WHAT FAILED Setups that didn't work: - Semiconductor momentum trades collapsed amid geopolitical tensions and AI capex concerns, catching many off guard - High beta tech momentum baskets, including leveraged ETFs like **$SOXL**, suffered heavy losses - Short-term bounce attempts in chip stocks failed as selling pressure intensified ## AFTER-HOURS WATCH Earnings or news to monitor tonight: - **$AAPL** - Q3 earnings preview as Apple approaches $5 trillion market cap milestone; watch for AI and device leasing updates - **$AMZN** - Earnings due amid AI strategy overhaul and cautious guidance - **$META** - Earnings on deck with focus on AI spending and cloud growth - **$MSFT** - Upcoming Q4 report critical for AI investment payoff narrative - **$TSLA** - Tesla’s Q2 results and outlook will be closely watched after recent valuation pressure ## TOMORROW PREVIEW **Early Watch:** Semiconductor names like **$NVDA**, **$AMD**, and **$LRCX** as earnings season heats up; consumer discretionary stocks like **$CMG** ahead of earnings. **Catalyst:** Fed rate decision and statement; key Q2 earnings from Big Tech and chipmakers; crude oil inventory data. **Bias:** Neutral to cautious as markets digest earnings and await Fed guidance amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and AI spending debates.