Day Trade Cheat Sheet - March 11, 2026 (Morning)

 ## MARKET MOOD: MIXED Markets are digesting geopolitical tensions in the Middle East with a cautious tone, while inflation data aligns with expectations, tempering fears of aggressive Fed moves. Oil prices are up sharply on supply concerns, supporting energy but weighing on broader indices. ## TOP 5 HEADLINES 1. Equity Markets See Iran War as Short-Term Phenomenon, Morgan Stanley’s Shalett Says → Impact: Investors remain cautiously optimistic, limiting broad risk-off selling. 2. Oracle jumps 11% premarket as AI demand challenges 'SaaS apocalypse' fears → Impact: Boosts tech sector sentiment, especially in enterprise software. 3. Cintas agrees to acquire UniFirst for $5.5B → Impact: Positive for **$CTAS** and **$UNF**, shares rally on takeover news. 4. NIO shares surge on strong Q4 earnings, robust vehicle deliveries → Impact: Bullish catalyst for **$NIO** amid electric vehicle sector volatility. 5. JPMorgan Chase reins in lending to private credit firms after marking down software loans → Impact: Negative for financials, pressure on **$JPM** and related credit stocks. ## PRE-MARKET MOVERS ### Longs (Bullish Catalysts) **$ORCL** - Strong Q3 earnings beat and upbeat AI-driven revenue outlook **$NIO** - Q4 profit inflection and robust vehicle deliveries boost outlook **$CTAS** - Shares hit 52-week highs on $5.5B UniFirst acquisition deal **$UNF** - Surges on takeover by Cintas, signaling consolidation benefits **$MU** - Shares up 5.05% on strong chip demand and AI tailwinds **$KVHI** - Gains 15.32% on positive earnings call and growth prospects ### Shorts (Bearish Catalysts) **$AVAV** - Plunges 13.77% after disappointing earnings and guidance **$FANG** - Down 5.50% amid profit-taking and sector rotation **$INTU** - Falls 4.23% on earnings miss and cautious outlook **$BLND** - Drops 4.19% post earnings, signaling execution concerns **$PLTR** - Declines 3.66% despite AI sector strength, weak guidance **$BA** - Down 3.01% on profit warning and geopolitical uncertainty ## INDEX BIAS **SPY:** BEARISH - Down 0.30%, pressured by energy and financial sector weakness amid geopolitical risks. **QQQ:** NEUTRAL - Slight decline of 0.05%, supported by strong tech earnings but cautious overall. **IWM:** BEARISH - Down 0.66%, small caps hit harder by risk-off sentiment and credit concerns. ## SECTORS **Favor:** Technology - Led by Oracle’s strong AI-driven outlook and chipmakers like **$MU** and **$NVDA** showing resilience. **Avoid:** Energy and Financials - Energy pressured by volatility despite oil price gains; financials hit by JPMorgan’s lending pullback and sector-wide credit concerns. ## CATALYST WATCH Events today that could move markets: - 08:30 AM ET: US CPI Inflation Report for February (expected stable inflation) - After Market Close: Earnings from Bumble (**$BMBL**), Campbell’s (**$CPB**), Codexis (**$CDXS**), and others ## BOTTOM LINE **Today's Play:** Selective Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East keep markets cautious, with oil prices rising and inflation data confirming steady trends. Tech earnings, especially from Oracle and chipmakers, offer the best opportunities amid sector rotation. Watch for defensive plays in quality tech and selective longs in takeover targets like **$CTAS**/**$UNF**. Financials remain under pressure due to credit tightening risks, and energy volatility could weigh on broader indices. Traders should be selective, focusing on strong earnings and AI-related catalysts while managing risk around geopolitical and credit uncertainties.