The U.S. economy may be sending mixed signals, but that’s no reason to stay on the sidelines. Volatility brings opportunity, as shown by our big win this week on a TSLA play. And don’t miss our free video for more market insights.
Dear Investor,
The U.S. economy feels like a sequel to the Talking Heads’ concert film Stop Making Sense.
On paper, things don’t look bad. Unemployment (at least in the last reported numbers) remains relatively low. Corporate earnings growth, while uneven, shows overall strength. The artificial intelligence boom is red-hot, helping drive stocks to record highs.
Despite the trade war, inflation has remained muted. This morning’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed inflation running at 3% in the 12 months through September, slightly softer than consensus forecasts for 3.1%. Monthly inflation slowed to 0.3%, when it had been forecast to hold steady at 0.4%.
And yet…consumers are glum. Sentiment surveys show Americans feeling as bad about the economy as they did during the depths of the 2008-09 financial crisis. Hiring is tepid. People who lose jobs are struggling to find new ones. Credit risk is mounting.
Part of this disconnect may simply be fallout from the nation’s political strife. But the contradictions are puzzling. So, what’s really going on?
A Bifurcated Boom
On one side, Silicon Valley and its suppliers are printing money thanks to the high-tech renaissance. On the other, car loan delinquencies and credit card defaults are creeping up, suggesting stress in middle-income households. Grocers report a surge in shoppers trading down to cheaper brands.
This imbalance creates an illusion of overall growth, but one that rests on a narrow foundation. Economists are muttering about bubbles.
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase (JPM), even compared today’s private-credit excesses to the subprime lending that tanked the economy in 2008. “When you see one cockroach,” he warned, “there are probably more.” Yikes.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The folks at Base Camp Trading aren’t predicting a stock market crash. Far from it. We’re witnessing game-changing innovations in a litany of sectors: artificial intelligence, 5G wireless, electric vehicles, robotics, virtual/augmented reality, nanotechnology, space exploration, genetic engineering, the Internet of Things…you name it. Profitable opportunities will continue to unfold far into the future.
However, in the interim, investors should recognize that the market’s current resilience rests on selective strength.
Enter Crypto: Growth, with a Hedge
In times like these, when traditional markets wobble and policymakers seem to be guessing as much as governing, cryptocurrency offers both diversification and opportunity.
The crypto sector, once the wild west of speculation, is maturing in compelling ways. Institutional investors are piling in, regulations are tightening, and blockchain-based tools are becoming cash-flow-positive.
Crypto prices remain below prior peaks, meaning investors can still enter at appealing levels. And because digital assets tend to move independently of traditional stocks and bonds, they can help buffer portfolio risk, while still offering the potential for outsized returns.
That’s why Base Camp Trading has expanded its expertise into select crypto plays that align with broader macro trends — not meme coins, but serious projects with liquidity, adoption, and momentum.
Our Turbo Trade on Tesla
That focus on liquidity, adoption, and timing drives all of our investment strategies, most recently showcased in our Tesla (TSLA) trade.
All eyes were on Tesla after its Q3 earnings hit the wires on October 22. The headline numbers were mixed. The electric vehicle maker posted record revenue of $28.1 billion, but a profit miss at 50 cents per share. The stock promptly gapped lower at the open.
Most traders saw a disappointment. Base Camp Trading’s in-house strategist Thomas Wood saw an opportunity.
Tom had been watching the tape closely, noting heavy, unusual options activity in the days leading up to the report, a hint that big money expected a move higher once the dust settled. When Tesla began clawing its way back from the morning drop, Wood waited for confirmation: a clean break of intraday resistance on the five-minute chart. That was his trigger.
Tom jumped in with December 2025 $500 call options, catching the surge just as momentum flipped from fear to renewed optimism. Over the next two and a half hours, those calls rocketed roughly 71% and Tom closed. It was a textbook example of intraday timing: not guessing earnings but exploiting the emotional whiplash that followed them.
By the time most traders realized Tesla had shaken off its early weakness, the move was already in motion. Wood’s quick read of sentiment, backed by precise technical timing, turned a volatile morning into one of our sharpest same-day gains of the season.
This shows what can be accomplished when you combine technical analysis with unusual options along with a fundamental catalyst.
Tom’s quick hit on TSLA wasn’t a lucky swing; it was a textbook EGOS trade, his signature system for pinpointing explosive setups.
When Tom talks about EGOS, he’s not feeding his own. It’s his shorthand for Explosive Growth Options & Stocks, a strategy he’s honed over years of studying how momentum meets precision.
EGOS is Tom’s playbook for turning volatility into advantage. It blends sharp technical reads with solid fundamentals, a disciplined framework that separates smart trading from mere gambling.
That’s what made this Tesla play stand out. Tom spotted the setup, made the move, hit his target, and exited clean. No guesswork. Just EGOS in motion.
Key Economic Data and Fed Moves This Week
In a market already jittery from volatility, understanding which data points matter most can help investors position themselves strategically.
MONDAY, OCT. 27
• Durable-goods orders (Sept.) – Signals manufacturing demand and capital spending trends, helping investors gauge economic momentum.
TUESDAY, OCT. 28
• S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index (Aug.) – Measures housing price trends that affect consumer wealth and mortgage-sensitive sectors.
• Consumer confidence (Oct.) – Indicates household sentiment, which drives spending and corporate earnings expectations.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29
• Pending home sales (Sept.) – Tracks real estate demand, offering clues on housing sector strength.
• Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) interest-rate decision – Sets borrowing costs, directly impacting equities, bonds, and investor sentiment.
• Fed Chair Jerome Powell press conference – Markets watch for guidance on inflation, rates, and the economic outlook.
THURSDAY, OCT. 30
• Initial jobless claims (Oct. 25) – A weekly pulse on labor market health that can influence Fed policy expectations.
• GDP (Q3) – The broadest measure of economic growth, key for equity valuations and bond yields.
FRIDAY, OCT. 31
• Personal income (Sept.) – Indicates household spending potential and consumer-driven growth.
• Personal spending (Sept.) – Reveals real-time consumption trends critical for GDP and corporate revenue forecasts.
• Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index (Sept.) – The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, closely monitored for future rate moves.
Data subject to delay if government shutdown continues
Trade Like a Pro with Base Camp Trading
We’re still bullish over the long haul, but the path forward won’t be smooth. Watch Base Camp Trading’s free video for a glimpse into how our traders reap quick gains…even in markets that have stopped making sense. Weak CPI Pushes Markets To New All Time High