Happy Good Friday, traders…
The market’s closed today. And after the kind of week we just had, maybe that’s not such a bad thing…
I didn’t trade much because price action was all over the place. High VIX, choppy moves, expiration pressure, and enough fakeouts to keep even the most disciplined trader on edge.
It was one of those stretches where the best trade might’ve been no trade at all.
But that’s not always easy. We’re so wired to do something. Take action. Be productive. Find the next opportunity.
So when the market shuts off for a day, it can feel a little strange. Like we’re missing something.
But these are the days that can actually move you forward the most. Not because you’re clicking buttons, but because you have space.
- Space to think clearly.
- Space to reset.
- Space to prepare.
It’s the same in life. And this week, that reminder came for me not through trading, but at a baseball game…
The Trading Lesson in Catching 3 Foul Balls
Earlier this week, I took two of my sons to a Tampa Bay Rays game.
My nephew was in town, and I’d done some research (yes, I read nerdy “stadium blogs” — don’t judge me) to find the best seats for catching a foul ball.
Near first base, three rows up in Section 104. That was the spot.
And for the first time, all three boys got a ball:
I’ve been to many baseball games in my day, and I’ve never seen that happen. The joy on their faces was one of those moments you hope never gets lost in memory. So much fun.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: where’s the trading lesson in this?
Well, I didn’t just stumble into that outcome. The foul balls didn’t magically land in the boys’ gloves.
I planned for it. I did the quiet, crucial preparation ahead of time. I didn’t just show up and hope for the best. I gave us the best chance I could.
And that’s exactly how I treat trading.
The setups I trust most are the ones I’ve already done the work on — the ones I’ve studied, charted, and waited for.
They don’t always land. But when they do, it’s not luck. It’s preparation meeting opportunity.
Just like those baseballs.
The Practice of Patience
Every year during Easter weekend, I try to take an hour on Saturday — just to sit.
Nothing fancy. No phone. No charts. Just an intentional pause.
For me, it’s a reflection on that middle space between Good Friday and Easter Sunday — what’s often called Silent Saturday. A day when nothing seemed to be happening. Just waiting.
And if there’s anything trading has taught me (and parenting too, to be honest), it’s that waiting well is a skill most people ignore — but it’s one of the most important ones to develop.
Because sometimes in trading, doing nothing is exactly the right move.
- Not jumping in on the open.
- Not forcing a setup.
- Not chasing a move that already ran.
Just waiting.
The great Warren Buffett once said, “The stock market is designed to transfer money from the Active to the Patient.”
That one hit me when I was a brand-new trader. Still hits.
You’re not going to be impatient in life and magically become patient in front of a chart.
So maybe, whether you’re observing the holiday or not, take a little time this weekend to practice waiting — even if it’s just in the longest line at the grocery store.
Sounds silly, but it’s those little moments that add up.
What I’m Watching Right Now
This week wasn’t just a regular one for the markets. It was Opex Week — options expiration week — and not just any opex … it was a shortened one with markets closing today.
That meant fewer trading days and more volume squeezed into a tighter window. Historically, this week earns the nickname ChopEx — a stretch known for confusing moves, fakeouts, and the kind of volatility that slowly decays options.
Now, let’s look ahead to next week…
Quick pulse check on the market:
- The VIX is still hovering in the 30s. Until it breaks that psychological level, we stay small and nimble.
- Skew is signaling some potential for a bounce, especially with short-dated calls seeing attention.
- Market internals are shifting. We’ve got indicators crossing for the first time in a while on the 15-minute charts.
- Watch names like Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM), Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.B), TJX Companies Inc. (NYSE: TJX), Fortinet Inc. (NASDAQ: FTNT), and the iShares Bitcoin Trust (NYSEARCA: IBIT).
- And if you want proof that Smart Money knows stuff before we do, go look at Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE: LLY). Somebody loaded the $800 calls when it was still trading down at $734. It’s at $822 now. Wild.
And whether you’re celebrating Easter or not, we’ve got something special for you…
Last earnings, we had 100 wins in a row in Earnings Edge.*
But now that earnings season is heating up again, Danny Phee’s ready to map out what’s next — so you don’t miss the next 100.*
Join him for a LIVE Earnings Edge Workshop — This EASTER SUNDAY, April 20 at 4:00 p.m. EST.
Seats are running out — Click here to grab yours before it’s too late.
Have a great long weekend,
Ben Sturgill
*Past performance does not indicate future results
