Yesterday, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Wall Street continued its recovery as the Federal Reserve opened its two-day policy meeting. Despite crude oil ticking back above the $100 mark, investors appeared to be "looking past" the immediate Iran conflict, focusing instead on strong corporate news and the potential for a stabilizing Fed commentary today.

📉 Active Option Trade Tracker

We are absolutely smashing it this year. Our disciplined approach to high-probability trading continues to widen the gap between our returns and the broader market.

• US 500 Strategy (IG): Up +9.12% YTD.
• XSP/SPY Strategy (IBKR): Up +7.25% YTD.
• S&P 500 Index: Down -1.88% YTD.

US 500 Challenge Update: March 18, 2026

Current Trade Performance Our current US 500 short put trade is performing exceptionally well, currently up 2.2% in just 13 days. As the index rose +0.25% yesterday and the VIX dropped another 5% to 22.37, the premium is melting away exactly as planned. We are almost ready to lock in these gains.

The Probability Advantage Our ability to stay profitable while the benchmark is nearly 2% in the red for the year highlights the resilience of this strategy. We aren't just surviving this volatility; we are thriving in it.

📋 Long-Term Stock Buy & Hold Watchlist

We are maintaining our cautious stance on the broader equity market, but the "shopping list" is becoming more attractive by the day.

• Domestic Airlines: We are seeing significant deep-value opportunities here as fuel-price fears have reached a fever pitch. Alaska Air (ALK) remains our top pick for a domestic recovery play.
• Tech Leaders (The "Big Three"): We are on high alert to buy NVDA, ORCL, and CRM.

• ORCL announced Java 26, further cementing its AI infrastructure dominance.
  ​The "Wait" Strategy: We are strictly waiting for a clear sign of an off-ramp in the Iran war before we commit our long-term capital. We want to see the "geopolitical tax" removed before we start the next major accumulation phase.

📅 Market Review for Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Overview: The "Fear Gauge" (VIX) fell to 22.37 yesterday, its lowest level in over a week. This relaxation in market stress allowed the S&P 500 to notch its second consecutive gain, even as energy prices remained elevated.

📈 Major Indices & Commodities

• S&P 500: Gained +0.25%, closing at 6,716.09.
• Nasdaq Composite: Jumped +0.47%, finishing at 22,479.53.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Added +0.10%, closing at 46,993.26.
• WTI Crude Oil: Settled higher near $96.95 per barrel as supply threats persisted.

Strategy Assistance

If you require assistance with trade setup, risk management, or strategy review, please schedule a strategy call.

• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
• All Other Members: Strategy calls can be scheduled at a rate of €100 per half hour.

Happy Investing

Share Navigator Support

www.sharenavigator.ie