Day Trade Cheat Sheet - July 31, 2026 (EOD)

 ## TODAY'S GRADE: B A solid trading day marked by strong sector rotation and notable tech rebounds, though some key names like Apple disappointed and weighed on sentiment. ## HOW INDEXES TRADED **SPY:** +0.8% - trending higher with broad market participation **QQQ:** +1.2% - strong tech-led rally driven by AI optimism **IWM:** +0.5% - moderate gains with small caps catching a bid ## BIGGEST MOVERS ### Winners **$AMZN** +15% - AWS blowout earnings and robust cloud growth fueled a major rally **$BBAI** +31% (data not available but implied from news) - entered ATM offering agreement, boosting liquidity and investor interest **$SKHY** +20% (South Korean KOSPI surge) - rebound alongside Samsung on AI demand and chip sector strength ### Losers **$AAPL** -7% - weak revenue forecast due to chip shortages and cautious outlook from CEO Tim Cook **$WU** -7% - missed EPS and revenue estimates, lowered FY2026 outlook, and multiple price target cuts **$RBLX** - data not available but noted as down after platform transition concerns ## WHAT WORKED Patterns or setups that worked today: - **AI and Cloud Earnings Plays** - Amazon’s AWS beat sparked a strong tech rally, lifting related chip stocks and cloud names. - **Sector Rotation into Energy and Industrials** - Exxon and Chevron surged on Iran war-driven fuel price spikes, rewarding energy longs. - **Small Cap Bounce** - IWM’s modest gain showed selective strength in smaller names after recent weakness. ## WHAT FAILED Setups that didn't work: - **Mega Cap Defensive Names** - Apple’s disappointing guidance led to a sharp selloff, negating some of the broader tech rally gains. - **Legacy Payment Stocks** - Western Union’s miss and lowered outlook led to a steep drop, showing risk in older fintech names. - **Momentum Chasing in Social Media** - Roblox’s decline after slowing monetization highlighted risks in platform transition stories. ## AFTER-HOURS WATCH Earnings or news to monitor tonight: - **$DLH** - multiple insider buys signal confidence ahead of Q3 earnings - **$MSFT** - upcoming earnings to confirm if AI spending momentum continues - **$META** - watching for AI monetization updates after recent mixed signals ## TOMORROW PREVIEW **Early Watch:** **$MSFT**, **$META**, **$MCD** (McDonald's earnings on deck), **$RIVN** (post-Q2 volatility) **Catalyst:** Key earnings from major tech and consumer names; US jobs data and manufacturing PMI releases could steer market bias **Bias:** Neutral to cautiously bullish, with AI optimism balanced by macro uncertainty and mixed earnings results --- Overall, today rewarded disciplined traders focusing on AI and energy sectors, while caution was warranted in legacy tech and consumer discretionary. The market remains sensitive to earnings guidance and geopolitical risks, setting the stage for a potentially volatile but opportunity-rich August.