We opened the day warning that Powell’s valuation caution was well reasoned, narrow breadth, and tomorrow’s PCE inflation report could make for a choppy tape. That call played out. Stocks slipped into the red, with the S&P 500 down about 0.4%, the Nasdaq off ~0.6%, and the Dow ~0.3% lower. Tech took the heaviest hit: Nvidia, Broadcom, and Microsoft all lost ground, dragging the semis index more than 2% lower.

Commodities flipped from earlier momentum. Oil rallied for a third day, as the hits on Russian infrastructure by Ukraine continue to support prices.   Gold also eased, settling just below record highs as the stronger dollar and Powell’s “fairly high valuations” remark kept traders cautious. Treasuries weakened too, with the 10-year yield edging up near 4.18%, reflecting jitters ahead of Friday’s inflation test.

The macro noise didn’t help sentiment. Fresh U.S. data, firm GDP revisions and lower jobless claims, suggest the economy still has momentum, making rate cuts less urgent. In Washington, shutdown odds ticked higher as budget talks stalled, while Trump’s hard line on Ukraine kept geopolitical risks simmering in Europe. For markets, the takeaway is simple: leadership is narrow, Fed caution is loud, and safe havens are wobbling. With PCE tomorrow, traders are bracing for clarity… or another shake.

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You can’t outrun the “degenerate economy,” says Howard Lindzon. With his signature mix of wit and insight, he points out that wild speculation isn’t just a market fad… it’s becoming a lifestyle. Think streaming trading crypto like K-pop Idol contests: South Korea’s already live, with battles over perpetual futures playing out like esports.

Lindzon offers a few delightfully weird predictions: Squawk Box turning into a global Netflix show, Vegas sportsbooks evolving into “degenerate economy clubs”. Let us not forget even Cramer and CNBC knew they were entertainment first. He argues that the lines between investing, culture, and showbiz are blurring fast… and links out to some prime examples that might surprise you. 

The message isn’t doom, it’s upside in embracing the chaos. If you understand that markets are part theater, part casino, you can ride the trend instead of fighting it. Even the tech mega-caps are playing their own high-stakes version of this game. The degenerate economy is rising fast… and watching from the sidelines may be the riskiest position of all.

If your portfolio feels like it’s running on autopilot, Rule Breaker Investing might just be the jolt it needs. Motley Fool co-founder David Gardner walks in wearing a rebel’s hat… not to bash index funds, but to remind us there’s serious upside in finding the daredevils among stocks. He’s not talking trash picks or moonshots; he’s hunting businesses rewriting their own rules.

Gardner argues the “rules” everyone follows — buy what’s already hot, pile on earnings momentum, fade what’s under fire — are often traps. He looks for what others ignore: where sentiment is terrible, valuation is broken, and innovation lurks. He’s a pro at spotting when fear masks potential, or when consensus has moved too far.

The kicker: for everyday investors, his approach is less about gambling and more about edge. That means figuring out which names might still have room to run, staying sane through volatility, and being willing to zig when others zag. Gardner’s world is where upside surprises live…  but only if you can stomach the bumps between.