Day Trade Cheat Sheet - March 13, 2026 (Morning)

 ## MARKET MOOD: RISK-OFF U.S. markets closed lower amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and disappointing GDP growth data. Oil prices surged above $100, fueling inflation concerns and weighing on risk appetite. ## TOP 5 HEADLINES 1. Adobe to pay $75 million to resolve US lawsuit over fees, subscription cancellations → Impact: Weighs on **$ADBE** shares, which plunged nearly 10% pre-market. 2. Fourth-quarter GDP revised down to just 0.7% growth; January core inflation steady at 3.1% → Impact: Signals slower economic momentum, pressuring broad market sentiment. 3. J.P. Morgan backs energy security stocks as Middle East conflict deepens → Impact: Supports strength in energy names and ETFs like **$XLE**. 4. El Pollo Loco Holdings Q4 Adj. EPS beats estimates, stock upgraded → Impact: Positive catalyst for **$LOCO**, shares up 6% pre-market. 5. Meta stock slips after report of delayed launch for revamped AI model → Impact: Adds pressure on **$META**, down nearly 4%. ## PRE-MARKET MOVERS ### Longs (Bullish Catalysts) **$APEI** - Strong earnings call transcript and 7% pre-market gain **$LOCO** - Q4 EPS beat and buy rating upgrade, shares +6% **$MOS** - Surged 8% on fertilizer supply concerns amid Middle East tensions **$DOW** - Jumped 9.4% on commodity strength and geopolitical risk premium **$PCOR** - Shares up 3.7% after insider buying and positive earnings call ### Shorts (Bearish Catalysts) **$ADBE** - Legal settlement and CEO transition weigh heavily, down nearly 10% **$CRMT** - Earnings miss leads to 20% plunge **$CRVS** - Earnings disappointment, down 7.3% **$GIII** - 10% drop after earnings miss and margin concerns **$SNES** - Earnings miss causing 17.5% decline **$KLC** - Massive 30% drop on earnings and outlook miss ## INDEX BIAS **SPY:** BEARISH - Down nearly 1% amid geopolitical risk and weak GDP revision. **QQQ:** BEARISH - Tech sector pressured by earnings misses and AI delays, down 1.15%. **IWM:** BEARISH - Small caps hit hardest, down 1.37% reflecting risk-off sentiment. ## SECTORS **Favor:** Energy - Oil prices above $100 support energy stocks amid supply concerns. **Avoid:** Technology - Earnings misses and AI delays weigh on sector performance. ## CATALYST WATCH - 08:30 ET: February CPI and Core CPI data release - 10:00 ET: February Retail Sales report - 13:00 ET: Fed Chair speech on economic outlook ## BOTTOM LINE **Today's Play:** Selective Markets remain cautious as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East escalate, pushing oil prices higher and stoking inflation fears. Economic data showing tepid GDP growth and steady core inflation add to the risk-off tone. Energy stocks and commodity-related names offer the best opportunities for upside, supported by strong earnings and sector tailwinds. Conversely, technology remains under pressure due to earnings misses and AI project delays, warranting a defensive stance there. Traders should be selective, focusing on high-conviction setups in energy and commodity plays while avoiding broad tech exposure. The biggest risk remains further escalation in the Middle East, which could exacerbate inflation and market volatility.