Day Trade Cheat Sheet - March 06, 2026 (EOD)

 ## TODAY'S GRADE: C A challenging day for day traders as broad market weakness and geopolitical tensions weighed heavily, limiting clear directional plays and causing heightened volatility. ## HOW INDEXES TRADED **SPY:** -1.41% - trending lower with steady selling pressure **QQQ:** -1.52% - broad tech weakness amid risk-off sentiment **IWM:** -2.43% - small caps underperformed sharply, reflecting risk aversion ## BIGGEST MOVERS ### Winners **$TECX** +28.22% - strong earnings and investor enthusiasm in defense tech amid Iran conflict **$MRVL** +15.42% - upbeat AI demand commentary lifted shares sharply **$EVC** +14.57% - notable rally on earnings beat and positive outlook ### Losers **$GAP** -14.68% - post-earnings selloff on weak guidance and margin concerns **$BCIC** -13.05% - heavy decline following earnings miss and uncertainty **$MEI** -11.79% - earnings disappointment triggered sharp selloff ## WHAT WORKED Patterns or setups that worked today: - Earnings gap-and-go plays in defense and AI-related stocks like **$TECX** and **$MRVL** - Energy sector strength amid oil surge, with selective long entries in names like **$PBR** (+5.20%) and **$XLE** (+0.44%) - Short setups in beaten-down retail and discretionary stocks, exemplified by **$GAP** and **$FUN** (-8.34%) ## WHAT FAILED Setups that didn't work: - Long tech momentum faded quickly as broad risk-off took hold, causing setups in **$AAPL** (-1.28%) and **$NVDA** (-2.88%) to fail - Small cap bounce attempts were overwhelmed by selling pressure, with **$IWM** dropping 2.43% and many small caps like **$RUM** (-12.49%) collapsing - Defensive "safety trade" in utilities and staples showed limited upside, reflecting market skepticism amid geopolitical uncertainty ## AFTER-HOURS WATCH Earnings or news to monitor tonight: - **$PLTR** - recent strong weekly performance and AI tailwinds could extend post-market interest - **$WDAY** - solid earnings and price target adjustments may influence early trading - **$COHN** - large 36.23% jump on earnings to watch for follow-through ## TOMORROW PREVIEW **Early Watch:** **$PLTR**, **$WDAY**, **$COHN**, **$MRVL** for continuation or pullback plays **Catalyst:** February jobs report fallout, ongoing Middle East tensions, oil price moves, and key earnings from tech and energy sectors **Bias:** Bearish to neutral as markets digest weak labor data and elevated geopolitical risk, but selective strength in energy and defense may offer tactical longs --- Overall, today’s environment was dominated by risk aversion triggered by a surprise jobs decline and escalating Middle East conflict, pushing oil prices sharply higher and dragging broad markets lower. Day traders found better opportunities fading quickly, with defensive and energy plays providing some relief. Watch for continued volatility and focus on stocks with clear earnings catalysts or sector tailwinds into tomorrow.