Lazy Bull Weekly #5 – "Tariff Tantrums & Tech Rockets"

📈 S&P 500: Streaking Like It’s 2004
The S&P just pulled off an 8-day winning streak – longest since flip phones were hot. Tech giants like Microsoft and Meta showed up big on earnings, AI hype’s still pumping, and markets are vibing.
Yes, vibing.
Tariff fears? Last quarter’s problem.

🇺🇸 Trump’s Trade Chaos – Season 2
Trump’s tariffs are still doing their drama.

• China’s opening the door for talks (peekaboo negotiations).

• Canadian PM Mark Carney is flying in for some good old trade diplomacy.

• U.S. automakers got a free pass (for now), but auto parts? Tariffed.

• Japan? Stuck in neutral, no progress.

💼 Jobs: Not Great, Not Awful
April’s jobs report: Meh.
Unemployment’s up to 4.2%, above forecast.
Jobless claims? Higher than expected.
Translation: Companies are holding tight, not hiring much, thanks to tariff-induced whiplash.

💰 Budget Cuts & Sanctions: Trump’s Spring Cleaning
Trump slashed $163B from the federal budget.
Where’s the cash going?

• $3.2B to the World Bank’s poverty fund.

• More sanctions on Russia, especially banks and energy.

🌍 Around the World in a Few Lines

• China’s boosting its own markets to fight back against U.S. tariffs.

• India’s factory activity is humming — PMI hit 58.2.

• Gold? Slipped. Strong jobs report + less panic = less shiny.

🧠 Core Holdings (60%)

“Let the bull do its thing”

• VTI (Total US Stock Market) – Tech’s flying, and VTI catches all of it without betting on just the cool kids.

• VOO or IVV (S&P 500) – Riding that 8-day win streak wave. Can’t go wrong being boring sometimes.

• QQQ (Nasdaq 100) – Because AI. Because Microsoft. Because Meta. (Because fear of missing out.)

🌏 International (15%)

“The rest of the world didn’t disappear”

• VXUS or VEU (Ex-US stocks) – China’s bouncing back a little. India’s heating up. Keep some abroad.

• INDA (India ETF) – PMI hit 58.2. That’s some healthy factory flex.

🛡️ Defensive Hedge (15%)

“When Trump tweets, and markets freak”

• GLD or IAU (Gold ETFs) – Gold slipped, but tariffs + uncertainty = stay shiny.

• TLT (Long-Term Treasuries) – If things go downhill, this usually goes up.

🎯 Optional Wildcards (10%)

“Because why not live a little?”

• SOXX or SMH (Semiconductor ETFs) – AI boom = chip boom.

• ARKK (only if you enjoy emotional rollercoasters)

• SLV (Silver ETF) – If gold moves, silver might sprint.

🥱 Lazy Summary:
You’re not day trading geopolitics. You’re just staying in the game.

• Ride the U.S. tech wave

• Keep some gold in the drawer (you know, just in case)

• Don’t ignore India — quietly crushing it

• Be lazy, but not blind
  

  – Lazy Bull

  Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. The content provided is for informational purposes only. Always do your own research