Sideways Markets, Trade Deal Hopes, & The Best Investment Advice Ever

This week on Money Wise, the “three amigos” take over hosting duties to break down another relatively quiet but technically meaningful week on Wall Street. The Dow dipped slightly by 0.16%, the S&P 500 slipped 0.47%, and the NASDAQ fell just 0.27%. Year-to-date, the major indexes are still in negative territory, with the Dow down 3%, the S&P down 3.8%, and the NASDAQ down 7.2%. Despite the modest weekly moves, the team points to an important technical development: the S&P 500 moved above its 50-day moving average, creating a new level of support, but continues to face resistance at the 200-day moving average. They liken the current market pattern to a “cha-cha” or a truck stuck in the mud, moving sideways until there’s more clarity on trade negotiations—particularly with China.

The Money Wise guys discuss how upcoming meetings between U.S. officials and Chinese trade representatives could play a key role in determining whether the market breaks out of its current range. While headline noise continues, the team believes we may already be past the worst of the negative sentiment. April's market performance—down less than 1% despite volatile news flow—was cited as evidence of resilience. With the S&P 500 still 7.9% off its February highs, the guys emphasize that there's still plenty of room for growth and encourage investors not to assume they’ve “missed” the recovery. Their closing message: stay level-headed, tune out the media spin, and lean on long-term fundamentals.

Trade Deal Hopes

The Money Wise guys emphasize the significance of upcoming trade negotiations between the U.S. and China, noting that a well-received framework could be the catalyst markets need to break out of their current sideways pattern. With Secretary Bessette expected to meet with Chinese officials, early talks are focusing on de-escalating current tariff measures before diving into a more comprehensive trade plan. The guys believe that a positive outcome—especially one that avoids reinstating the harsher tariffs previously announced—could ease investor anxiety and inject new momentum into the market. While political noise will likely continue, they point out that both economic and political pressures make it unlikely that the full slate of punitive tariffs will be enforced. If meaningful progress is made, it could help the S&P 500 push past its 200-day moving average and reignite broader investor confidence.

In the second hour, the Money Wise guys share The Best Investment Advice Ever . You don’t want to miss the details! Tune in for the full discussion on your favorite podcast provider or at davidsoncap.com, where you can also learn more about the Money Wise guys or take advantage of a portfolio review and analysis with Davidson Capital Management.