S&P Slides, VIX Near 30 — 5 Stocks I’m Watching to Buy the Dip
Hey Traders,
Markets moved lower during the week of March 2–6, 2026, as rising geopolitical tensions and weak economic data weighed heavily on investor sentiment. The S&P 500 (SPX) fell roughly 2% for the week, closing near 6,740 and marking its second straight weekly decline.
Investor nerves were rattled after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran raised concerns about a broader Middle East conflict and potential disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, crude oil prices surged toward $90 per barrel, and at the time of writing this newsletter are approaching $110, adding another inflationary pressure point for the global economy.
At the same time, economic data surprised to the downside. The latest jobs report showed a loss of 92,000 jobs in February, raising concerns about slowing growth and the possibility of stagflation. Combined with lingering uncertainty around AI-related capital spending and the Federal Reserve’s timeline for rate cuts, the result was broad pressure across equities.
👀 What I’m Watching This Week
Earnings Season Continues
One name in focus this week is Oracle Corporation (ORCL). Investors will be watching closely for commentary around AI infrastructure demand and enterprise capex spending, which has become a major driver for the broader technology sector.
Economic Data
Markets will also be closely watching inflation data:
- Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCE) — the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge — will be released Friday, March 13.
Given the recent spike in oil prices, this report could play a major role in shaping expectations around monetary policy and interest rate cuts.
⚠️ Volatility Is Back
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is now hovering around 30, signaling a sharp increase in market fear.
Futures are also pointing to a lower open on Monday, which means volatility could continue to expand in the near term. While this environment can feel uncomfortable, it often creates some of the best opportunities for disciplined traders and investors.
💡 Trade Ideas for the Week
This is shaping up to be an excellent environment to take advantage of market weakness by either accumulating quality stocks or selling cash-secured puts (CSPs) on names that have pulled back significantly from their highs.
Some names worth watching include:
- Robinhood Markets (HOOD) – down roughly 50% from its ATH
- Microsoft (MSFT) – down about 26% from its ATH
- Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) – down roughly 28% from its ATH
- Netflix (NFLX) – down about 26% from its ATH and now showing very bullish technical structure
- SoFi Technologies (SOFI) – down roughly 42% from its ATH
For longer-term investors, this could also be a great time to consider LEAPS options on some of these high-quality companies.
Remember: volatility raises option premiums — which can work in your favor if you’re selling premium or structuring longer-term positions.
🚀 Want My Weekly Trade Alerts & Market Research?
If you want structured trade ideas, deeper market research, and guidance through volatile markets, that’s exactly why I built The Launchpad.
Inside The Launchpad you get:
- Real time market outlook
- High-probability options strategies
- Trade alerts and breakdowns
- Risk management frameworks
- A focused trading community
Instead of reacting emotionally to headlines, you’ll have a clear system and structure for navigating markets like this.
See you inside,
Gautam
⚠️ Disclaimer: Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Returns are not guaranteed. This message is for educational purposes only and not financial advice.
