Why It’s So Important to Track the Overall Market

Why It’s So Important to Track the Overall Market

Oct 10, 2025

By Barrie Einarson

Hey everyone, Barrie Einarson here from Trade Ideas.

Today I want to talk about something that caught a lot of traders off guard — and it’s a great reminder of why tracking the overall market is absolutely essential. To Subscribe: https://go.trade-ideas.com/SHQ
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Around 10:50 this morning, the SPY suddenly dropped from about 672 down to 659. That’s a big move in a short amount of time. What caused it? News out of the White House — a statement blasting China and hinting at possible new sweeping tariffs. That headline rocked the markets instantly.

Now, here’s the key takeaway — if you were trading big names like Microsoft or Amazon, you wouldn’t have seen that coming from your individual stock charts. There was no warning. The only way to spot it early was to have a view of the broader market.

That’s why I always stress the importance of watching the SPY or QQQ, even when you’re focused on individual setups. The market can shift in seconds, and having the right tools to track those moves can make all the difference between reacting fast — or getting blindsided.

So remember, don’t just watch your trades — watch the whole market.

Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you all Monday!