Happy Monday, traders…
Ben here.
First order of business: I’m on vacation this week, taking my kids on a spring break trip to our nation’s capital, Washington D.C..
I hear it’s a good trip, and getting away with the family is always a win. Museums, monuments, and a little history…
As our President might add, “A lot of people are saying this trip is gonna be huuuge.”
But before I hop on a plane, let’s talk markets…
Last week was all about economic data. We got the Producer Price Index (PPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers, with both coming in near expectations.
Normally, that’d be great news for the market on edge about inflation. But the cooler-than-expected reports were overshadowed by tariffs.
Trade policy has completely taken over the conversation.
I had an interesting chat on Friday morning with a buddy of mine who runs a business. He gets the long-term goal of tariffs, but short-term? It’s going to cost his company up to $500,000 this year. In response, he’s already looking to shift orders from China to the U.S.
And that’s exactly the point of tariffs — whether you agree with them or not.
I’m not making a political statement here. I don’t do that. I only care about what actually matters to us as traders.
Markets correct, and with corrections come opportunities. So, while I’m out this week, use my OMEN Scanner to keep an eye on where Smart Money traders are placing their bets.
Here are a few names that were looking good toward the end of last week…
Smart Money Movers from Friday
We finally saw some strength in tech on Friday.
Stocks like Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META), Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR), and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD) were showing signs of life.
Meanwhile, outside of tech, AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) and FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) were among the early decliners.
Zooming out, the VIX is starting to ease down, and we’re watching M2 money supply trends closely.
The more liquidity, the more upside potential.
Key Contracts & Levels to Watch
If you’re new here, stick to the watchlist names.
These are the stocks with the best structure and setups. They have a clear trend direction and good risk-reward potential.
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV)
- April 17th $32.50 calls
- Breakout Level: $31.50
- This one showed great price action last week, holding support and making a move. If it clears resistance, there’s more upside.
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE: CLF)
- March 28th $12 calls
- Breakout Level: $10.25
- A classic downtrend break setup. If it pushes past key resistance, it could see a quick move higher.
Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META)
- April 11th $660 calls
- Breakout Level: $606.50
- META has been beaten down lately, but we could see a snapback rally. If it reclaims resistance, watch for continuation.
Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY)
- April 17th $36 calls
- Breakout Level: $33.50
- A solid financial name that was trying to break a downtrend. If it cleared this key level, the next leg up could be in play.
The OMEN Scanner picked up some serious action in these names.
Just look at the flows:
- META’s $660 calls → Over $500 million in premium
- CLF’s $12 calls → Over $161,000 in premium
- ALLY’s $36 calls → Repeated orders hitting the tape
This is why we watch Smart Money options flow. The big players leave clues, and we follow.
How to Stay on Track While I’m Out
I’ll be off the screens, but you don’t need me to find winning trades.
Here’s how to stay dialed in:
- Use the Watchlist – The best levels are already mapped out for you.
- Follow Structure – Strong stocks in strong trends are where you want to be.
- Monitor Market Conditions – If the VIX keeps dropping and liquidity remains, expect more upside opportunities.
A few names with good structure right now:
- CVS Health Corp. (NYSE: CVS) – Holding strong despite market volatility.
- Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA: GDX) – Gold strength continues, with the commodity trading at $3,000 for the first time ever.
- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) – Defensive name with stability.
Stick to strong Smart Money stocks with strong trends. That’s where your edge is right now.
If the correction continues, we’ll get better entries at lower prices. And if the trend reverses to the upside, we’ll be ready with the best names on our list.
Be prepared for anything this market might throw at you.
I’ll be back next week. In the meantime, keep an eye on the watchlist, trade smart, and don’t chase.
Talk to you next week,
Ben
P.S. I’ve been working on something BIG — a powerful new system designed to help YOU uncover the biggest Smart Money trading opportunities.
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Join us TODAY, March 17 @ 12 p.m. EST for a LIVE OMEN WORKSHOP, where we’ll walk you through all of the new tools (and how to put them to work).
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*Past performance does not indicate future results
