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🌞 GM Munchers! Yesterday was Fed Day, and let me tell you—the markets threw a bigger tantrum than I did when I blew my first trading account.

Here’s the TL;DR:

• The Fed cut rates by 0.25%, bringing them to 4.25%-4.5%.

• But Jerome Powell played the cautious card, saying future cuts are no guarantee.

• The markets? Absolutely lost it.

On today’s menu:

• Fed Day Madness: Why Traders Are Losing Their Minds 📉

• Why XAUUSD Isn’t Being Fun 😢 

• 5 Signs You’re NOT Ready To Take A Prop Firm Challenge ❌ 

What Happened: The Numbers Don’t Lie 📉

S&P 500: Down 3%, its worst day since August. Traders went from "buy the dip" to "sell everything" real quick.

Dow Jones: Lost 2.6% and over 1,100 points, marking its 10th straight losing day.

Nasdaq: Tech stocks took a beating, down 3.6%—its worst day since July. Looks like traders finally noticed those P/E ratios.

Bitcoin: Closed at $106,034, barely budging, because apparently crypto traders are too busy arguing about NFTs to care about the Fed.

Why the Market Freaked Out 🧐

Sure, the Fed cut rates. But Powell’s tone was about as comforting as a cold Tim Hortons coffee.

1️⃣ “Closer Call” on Cuts
Powell made it clear: the Fed isn’t rushing to slash rates in 2025. They went from projecting three cuts next year to just two—and that’s only if the stars align.

2️⃣ Inflation Isn’t Behaving
With inflation creeping back up to 2.7%, Powell hinted that rates might stay higher for longer. Translation: borrowers cry, savers rejoice.

3️⃣ The Economy is “In a Good Place”
Powell said the economy was strong, but traders heard, “No rate cut party anytime soon.”

Market Impact: Everything Got Smoked 🚬

1️⃣ Stocks Got Wrecked

• Tech got hit the hardest. Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla all dropped faster than my confidence during a losing streak.

• Financial stocks held up better, though—because higher rates = bigger margins for banks.

2️⃣ Dollar Strengthened 💪
With fewer rate cuts expected, the USD flexed its muscles. That’s bad news for multinational companies and emerging markets.

3️⃣ Real Estate Still Hurting 🏠  
Higher-for-longer rates = no relief for housing. If you’re waiting for mortgage rates to drop, keep waiting.

4️⃣ Bond Yields Surged
Treasury yields spiked as the bond market adjusted. Fixed-income traders are either crying or celebrating—there’s no in-between.

Final Thoughts: That’s All, Folks

This was the last big news event of 2024—and boy, did it deliver. The Fed’s cautious stance means we’re heading into 2025 with more questions than answers:

• Will inflation keep creeping up?

• How long will rates stay high?

• Will the markets finally calm down?

For now, let’s wrap up the year with some disciplined trading. No YOLO trades, no Hail Marys—just good ol’ setups and smart risk management.

Cheers to surviving Fed Day. Let’s crush 2025.

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Gold’s December Bullrun: More of a Jog This Year 🏃‍♂️

December was supposed to be Gold’s time to shine. 📈 

Historically, it’s the month where XAUUSD takes off like it just discovered a new fuel source.

But this year? It feels more like Gold is jogging in place.

Let’s break it down:

What’s Happening With XAUUSD?

1️⃣ Current Price
As of December 18, Gold is trading at $2,651.57—up a modest 0.12% from yesterday.

2️⃣ December Performance
Gold’s been chilling in a range between $2,620 and $2,690, with a monthly high of $2,726.31 on December 11. But instead of breaking out, it’s been taking a nap.

3️⃣ Year-to-Date Gains
Let’s give credit where it’s due: +28% in 2024 is nothing to sneeze at. If you’ve been holding Gold this year, your portfolio looks shinier than a freshly polished trophy.

Why Isn’t Gold Running?

Gold usually loves December like Canadians love apologizing. But this year, a few factors are holding it back:

• Fed Drama: The Federal Reserve’s rate cuts and cautious tone are keeping traders hesitant. Everyone’s too busy overanalyzing Jerome Powell to let Gold rally.

• Strong USD: A stronger dollar has been putting a lid on Gold’s upside.

What’s Next for Gold?

1️⃣ Short-Term Targets
The technical charts show potential for Gold to revisit $2,690 or even make a run for $2,735. But it needs to break through resistance first.

2️⃣ The Bigger Picture
Even though the December bullrun hasn’t materialized, Gold’s broader uptrend is still intact. As the Fed cuts rates further in 2025, the metal could shine brighter.

What I’m Watching 👀

Here’s what I’m doing as we wrap up the year:

• Keeping an eye on $2,690 as a key resistance level. If Gold can break above, there’s room to run.

• Staying patient. The market’s waiting for clearer direction, and that’s fine by me.

Final Thoughts: Not a Sprint, But Not a Fail Either

Gold’s December bullrun hasn’t hit the usual highs, but let’s not forget: a 28% gain in 2024 is still a flex. 💪 

So, while traders might not be popping champagne just yet, it’s not exactly time to pack up the party.

Gold’s still got potential—it’s just taking its time to show off.

Cheers to playing the long game,
Matt 💰

☕️ Pre-Market Fuel

1. While everyone freaks out, Blackrock bought over $300 million more Bitcoin.

2. 5 signs you’re NOT ready to take a prop firm challenge.

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