Maya's Trading Journal

This week features high-impact earnings from MSFT and TSLA, creating opportunities for iron condors. Maya's scanner identifies setups that capitalize on implied volatility collapse.

The upcoming earnings week is significant as major technology companies Microsoft (MSFT) and Tesla (TSLA) are set to report after the market closes on January 28. For traders, this presents an opportunity to utilize iron condors, a strategy that allows participation in the earnings season while mitigating the binary risks associated with earnings announcements.

This week, SPY inches closer to all-time highs while QQQ shows tech strength. Major earnings and economic indicators loom ahead—let's break down the details.

Alright folks, let's talk about what happened this week and what's coming next. SPY closed at $689.23 - that's just 1.0% from all-time highs. QQQ at $622.72, DIA at $490.93. And VIX? Sitting at 16.09. This week, the geopolitical landscape is buzzing with headlines. Notably, the focus on tech stocks is intensifying as several major companies gear up for earnings reports.

Maya executed a precise call spread on GLD, capitalizing on technical indicators to secure a remarkable +100% ROI in just one week. Discover how disciplined strategy and market analysis led to this victory.

On January 16, 2026, the price action of GLD presented an intriguing opportunity for disciplined traders. As the market opened, Maya identified a favorable technical setup that indicated a potential upward movement. This was not merely a hasty decision; it was a meticulously calculated entry based on a blend of key indicators that suggested a bullish outlook.

In volatile markets, disciplined exits can be the difference between manageable losses and devastating ones. Maya's recent QQQ trade illustrates how cutting losses quickly preserved capital and facilitated long-term growth.

One significant loss can disrupt months of disciplined trading. In an unpredictable market landscape, especially during events like Trump's tariff announcement on NATO, the potential for swift declines necessitates a robust exit strategy. Maya's recent trade on QQQ, despite a nominal loss, underscores the importance of decisive risk management in preserving capital and maintaining long-term profitability.

This week, the markets saw a pullback with SPY closing at $679.11, just 2.4% from its all-time high. As earnings season ramps up, traders need to navigate mixed signals across sectors effectively.

Alright folks, let's talk about what happened this week and what's coming next. SPY closed at $679.11 - that's just 2.4% from all-time highs. QQQ at $609.86, DIA at $485.48. And VIX? Sitting at 20.08. We've seen some significant headlines this week impacting sentiment, including renewed fears regarding tariffs affecting major retailers like Amazon and Walmart.