Double Liberation: Bulls Like Quick Fixes

Since yesterday afternoon, the market has been dominated by net buying. I’ve been looking for potential catalysts ahead of today’s Lockheed Martin (LMT) earnings, particularly related to a possible expansion in international revenue, which currently sits at 26%. This growth could be driven by increased NATO spending or new trade-related benefits.

Aerospace & Defense is definitely the best sector and will be the leader if the market makes a rebound in T+10 .

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The options market for Vietnam manufacturing stocks like Nike, Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), and Gap has been notably active recently, influenced by U.S. tariff concerns on Vietnamese imports. These companies rely heavily on Vietnam for manufacturing, making them sensitive to tariff-related news.

• Nike (NKE): On April 22, 2025, there was significant options activity, including multiple call option trades at a $60 strike for May 16, 2025, and put options at a $70 strike for June 18, 2026, indicating continued interest amid tariff speculation.

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For the record, I think as the consumer trends shift, they will shift their spending habits for either the cheapest or the most expensive. Akin to the erosion of the middle class, which ironically are the ones buying these garments.

This is also why I think it is ridiculous to even hope for these types of ‘trade deals,’ yet I can see windows of opportunity while understanding the nonsense of enablers of flawed systems.

To sell authoritarian governments F-16s to LARP Top Gun on the unknowing of their own people. It should come to no surprise that in low GDP countries it is the government that can close the trade deficit.

Whereas, if China exports to the US it’s the people that can absorb that demand. That should tell you all you need to know about the state of our world.

*The Chinese movie often described as a “Top Gun” knockoff is Born to Fly (长空之王). It closely resembles Top Gun in plot, style, and aerial combat scenes, featuring a maverick pilot recruited to test China’s latest stealth jets. However, it was criticized for inferior visual effects and storytelling compared to Top Gun: Maverick, leading to delays and limited release in China. The film was seen as a nationalist response but failed to resonate strongly with domestic audiences and was considered a second-rate imitation rather than a match for the American blockbuster.

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