When I’m trying to understand what the overall market is doing, I usually start with a few big ETFs before looking at individual stocks. Some of the main ones I watch: • SPY – tracks the S&P 500 (broad market health) • QQQ – tracks the Nasdaq (tech/growth sentiment) • DIA – tracks the Dow (large, established companies) • IWM – tracks small caps (risk appetite) • XLF – financial sector (banks, economic expectations) • XLK – technology sector (growth strength) These help answer simple questions like: Is the whole market moving together?Is money flowing into growth or safety?Are small caps participating or lagging? Before getting lost in individual charts, I like seeing what these are doing first. If you follow any of these (or others), drop which one you watch most and why 👇 (Educational discussion only.)

Hello and welcome to The Trading Lab! This community is all about learning, analyzing, and discussing the markets in a safe, educational environment. Here, we’ll explore topics like trading strategies, market trends, chart patterns, and tools, all without giving personalized financial advice. Whether you’re just starting out or have experience in trading, this is a space to sharpen your skills, simulate trades, and connect with like-minded learners. We’ll share insights, tutorials, and resources to help you understand how the markets work and make smarter decisions. Jump in, ask questions, share your observations, and let’s learn together!