After the Selloff: Smart Moves for Traders and Investors This Week

The recent plunge in the market—especially the drop in SPY to near $505—has rattled many, but it’s also offered a reality check: volatility is back, and sentiment has shifted decisively bearish in the short term. For me personally, while the headlines are intense, I’m staying focused on my long-term strategy. I’m currently holding several stocks—WEN, AAL, NKE, PYPL, MU and ALLY — and continuing to dollar-cost average (DCA) into my positions. This allows me to stay invested without trying to time the bottom, which is especially tough during high-volatility periods like this. I also have open option trades on AMD, NVDA and IWM, where I'm managing risk the best I can given the increased intraday swings.

Looking ahead, the market will be watching some critical economic reports. Most notably, the nonfarm payrolls report drops on Friday, April 5, and will give insight into the labor market’s strength amid the rising geopolitical and trade tensions. After that, CPI and PPI inflation reports (set for April 10–11) could either calm or further shake investors depending on how sticky inflation looks. With sentiment already fragile from the U.S.-China tariff standoff, these reports could add fuel to the fire or offer a short-term relief bounce—either way, it pays to be prepared.

Whether you’re actively trading or investing for the long haul, now’s the time to focus on discipline, flexibility, and risk control. Traders should stick to defined-risk setups, trade smaller, and avoid overcommitting in choppy waters. Investors—like myself—can continue to DCA, review sector allocations, and avoid making fear-based decisions. Markets may continue to move erratically, but staying calm and consistent is often the best edge you can have when others are panicking.