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☕️ GM Munchers! This is Pip Munch, your daily dose of trading news that won’t put you to sleep (or wreck your P&L).

On today’s menu:

• 🚨 U.S-China Trade Deal Announced

• 🤔 Why Are Prop Firms Making It So Hard to Win?

• 📆 Your Weekly Trading Guide

• 💸 US Consumers Are Broke — Markets Should Care

• 🤯 Trump’s Biggest Announcement Yet

Friday’s numbers:

BREAKING NEWS

🚨 U.S-China Trade Deal Announced

The Geneva trade talks kicked off like a bad reality show. Mid-negotiation, the Chinese delegation stood up and walked out.
Markets panicked. Did the US blow it? Was this the next tariff tantrum?

Turns out — they were just getting lunch. Apparently, Geneva sandwiches slap, because 24 hours later, the White House announced a “productive” trade deal.

No real details yet (classic), but officials from both sides agreed on “substantial progress” and a framework for resolving tariffs and trade tensions.

Translation?

De-escalation is good. Details? TBD.

📈 Market Reaction:

• Dow futures +408 pts (1%)

• S&P 500 +1.1%

• Nasdaq +1.3%

Risk-on mode activated.

After weeks of tariff drama (145% US tariffs, 125% China retaliation), this deal gives equities and supply chain-sensitive sectors (think industrials, semiconductors) some breathing room.

📝 What We’re Expecting At Munch Headquarters:

• Commodities: Could get a boost if trade flows normalize.

• USD: Could see some weakness with risk-on flows.

• Equities: Tech and exporters are likely winners.

• CPI data Tuesday (more on that below) could either fuel or fizzle this rally.

Before we go full margin, let’s wait and see what Trump posts next…

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

🤔 Why Are Prop Firms Making It So Hard to Win?

Let’s be honest — the prop firm space is a mess right now. You pass a challenge, think you’re golden, and then BAM: “Sorry, that trade violated our news event restriction.” Or, “Actually, your lot size was too consistent… that’s a fail.”

Hidden rules. Arbitrary consistency nonsense. Payouts that take longer than my wife deciding where to eat.

It’s exhausting.

But here’s the thing: not every firm is playing those games. Some are just… simple. No weird restrictions, no gotcha rules, no holding your payout hostage.

cough Lark Funding cough

I know, shocking concept — a prop firm that actually wants you to succeed without moving the goalposts.

In a space full of hoops and headaches, it’s refreshing to deal with a firm that just lets you trade. Wild, right?

MARKET OUTLOOK

📊 CPI Print Incoming: Inflation or Deflation Sensation?

Get ready, traders — April’s CPI drops Tuesday, and it’s make-or-break time for market vibes.

Expectations? Core inflation holding steady at 2.8%.
Translation: Still sticky, still annoying, but not spiking (yet).

But here’s the kicker: with 145% tariffs on Chinese goods still fresh, traders are bracing for price pressures to sneak back in.

Everything from your $7 cereal to that Tesla you pretend you hate (until the lease deals hit) is in the inflation blast zone. If CPI pops, bond yields will too — and your growth stocks won’t like it.

📝 Why You Should Care

• Rates on the line: Hot CPI = Fed stays hawkish. Cool CPI = rate cut whispers resume.

• Equities: Growth stocks hate high interest rates. Crypto does, too.

• Commodities & FX: Dollar strength hinges on Fed path. Risk-on/off mood swing guaranteed.

💡 What We’re Watching At Munch Headquarters

• Bond yields: First responder to CPI shocks.

• USD pairs: Strong CPI = dollar flex. Weak CPI = dollar dump.

• Sector rotations: Watch for volatility in rate-sensitive plays (tech, housing, consumer).

• Tariff-sensitive stocks: Manufacturing & supply chain names could pop (or drop).

I tried explaining CPI to my wife — she thinks it’s a cryptocurrency. Fair. Most people don’t know why it matters until their rent hikes.

Long story short? Tuesday’s print will dictate market sentiment heading into summer.

Don’t blink.

BIG PICTURE

💸 US Consumers Are Broke — Markets Should Care

Remember that $2.1 trillion Americans stashed during COVID? Yeah, that’s gone.

In fact, it’s worse: we’re now at -$900 billion in “excess” savings.

Translation: consumers are either spending what they don’t have or racking up debt faster than my wife at a Target sale.

Why does this matter for traders?
When consumers tighten wallets, it hits the real economy — hard.
Brace for:

• Retail & discretionary stocks getting slapped

• Travel, entertainment, and luxury sectors feeling the pinch

• Recession odds creeping up

Weak consumer demand = weak corporate earnings. And weak earnings = stocks drop.

Meanwhile, banks and credit lenders might start sweating as default risks rise. Higher rates + broke consumers = not a great combo for loan books.

The Fed’s dilemma:

• Inflation’s still sticky (thanks, tariffs)

• Consumer spending is rolling over
  The calls for rate cuts will only get louder.

What to watch next:

• Small caps & growth stocks tied to US consumers could underperform

• Defensive sectors (utilities, healthcare) might get more love

• Flight to safety plays: Treasuries, gold, USD, JPY, CHF

The market’s been partying like savings never run out. Reality check incoming.

If you’re still bullish on consumer stocks without looking at these debt charts — congrats, you’re the liquidity.

🚀 Pre-Market Fuel

1. 🤯 Trump’s “most important and impactful” Truth statement of all time.

2. 😢 Why Jerome Powell is in such a tough spot.

3. 🇹🇷 Turkey’s currency is in deep trouble. This chart is mindblowing and shows the dangers of fiat.

4. 🇨🇦 Canada’s Liberal Party flipped a Quebec riding by ONE vote. The Liberals are now only two seats away from a majority parliament.

5. 🇩🇪🇫🇷 This video went viral online of a German advisor and French President Macron concealing a bag of… Well, we’ll let you decide.

🍪 Munchy Memes

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