March 24, 2025 | Read Online

Don Kaufman here.

Well, here we are—the market is heading into the close, and what a wild ride it's been! If you glanced at your screen today, you probably thought, "Wow, EVERYTHING is up!"

And you'd be right.

This is what we call a unified market—when everything seems to move together, like a giant school of fish swimming in the same direction.

Today, the S&P ripped higher, the Nasdaq soared, and Tesla... well, Elon Musk probably just bought a 10% stake in the moon with how much his stock is up.

But as we head into the close, let's take a step back and break down what a unified market rally like this really means, why it happens, and how you can trade it without losing your shirt—or your sanity.

What Is a Unified Market Rally?

When you think of normal market behavior, you imagine some stocks going up, others going down, and overall, a bit of balance. But today? Forget balance. This is a full-on everything rally.

The advanced-decline line is screaming higher, with far more stocks advancing than declining.
Sectors that rarely hang out together—like tech, financials, and energy—are all partying like it's 1999.
Even consumer staples (you know, cereal and toothpaste stocks) are joining the fun.

It doesn't matter whether a stock has good news, bad news, or no news at all—everything is getting lifted by the same tide.

Why Does This Happen?

Unified markets aren't random. They happen when certain forces align to push everything in the same direction. Here's why today looks like it does:

A. Short-Covering Frenzy

When traders short the market (betting it will go down), they have to buy back those positions when prices rise. That buying, in turn, pushes prices even higher. It's like a chain reaction—once it starts, it feeds on itself.

B. Gamma Squeeze

If you've been around here long enough, you've heard me talk about gamma squeezes. When traders pile into call options, market makers are forced to buy the underlying stocks to hedge their positions. This creates a self-reinforcing loop of buying. Today's rally has "gamma squeeze" written all over it.

C. Algos Gone Wild

Algorithmic trading programs love correlated moves. When they detect momentum in one direction, they pile in across the board. That's why even stocks with terrible fundamentals (looking at you, Tesla!) are rallying alongside the broader market.

The Hidden Danger of Unified Markets

Before you start high-fiving your portfolio, let me give you a little reality check. Unified markets like this are fragile.

When everything is moving in the same direction, it means the market is being driven by technicals and positioning—not fundamentals. That's fine for now, but it also means the rally can reverse just as quickly.

Think of it like this: Everyone is marching to the same beat, but if the music stops, there's no support. And when things turn, they don't just turn—they collapse.

How to Trade a Unified Market

Here's the good news: Unified markets create opportunities for traders who know how to read the flow. Here's how I approach days like today:

A. Follow the Correlation

When the entire market is moving together, don't waste time analyzing individual stocks. Just focus on the big picture:

If the S&P is up 1.5%, chances are the Nasdaq and Dow are moving in lockstep.
If Tesla is up 10%, you can bet Nvidia, Meta, and Amazon are all riding the same wave.

B. Look for Extremes

Moves like today often stretch beyond what's statistically normal. For example, the S&P hit a two-standard-deviation move earlier.

That's rare.

When the market gets stretched this far, the risk-reward starts shifting toward a reversal.

This morning, I bought SPY puts for $1.18—not because I knew the market would reverse, but because the probabilities made sense. If the market stays strong, I lose a small, defined amount. But if we see even a small pullback into the close, those puts could pay off big.

C. Keep an Eye on Volatility

Volatility (the VIX) is the canary in the coal mine. If it starts creeping higher while the market is still rallying, that's your first clue that the tide is turning. Today, volatility has been easing, which supports the rally—for now.

5. The Lesson of the Day

Unified markets are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they give you clear direction (up!). On the other hand, they can flip without warning.

If you're trading in this environment, here's what you need to remember:

Don't chase the rally. If you're not already long, now is not the time to pile in. Instead, look for opportunities to fade the move with defined-risk trades.
Trust the math. Moves this extreme often revert, so focus on probability-based trades.
Stay nimble. Unified markets are driven by technicals, not logic. The second the music stops, things can get ugly fast.

Wrapping It Up

As we head into the close, the market is still trending higher, and the rally looks unstoppable.

But remember: What goes up fast can come down even faster. Stay cautious, trade small, and never forget that the market doesn't care about your feelings—it only cares about probabilities.

To your success,

Don Kaufman

The Market's Rallying, But Volatility Is Just Hiding

WARNING: The strategy I'm about to reveal has been my secret weapon for turning wild market swings into consistent income—whether stocks are soaring, crashing, or stuck in a range.

Today's market is on fire. Headlines are screaming about "Rip Your Face Off Rallies" and "Tech Stocks Leading the Charge," but what most traders don't realize is this: volatility doesn't disappear—it hides.

And when it comes back (and trust me, it always does), those who aren't prepared will get caught off guard.

Hi, I'm Don Kaufman. For over two decades, I've been doing what most traders think is impossible: consistently profiting from market volatility—whether the market is up, down, or sideways.

And on Thursday, May 1st, I'm revealing my entire volatility playbook in an exclusive 4-week mentorship program.

This isn't theory. It's the exact blueprint I use to:

Construct VIX volatility spreads that pay off in ANY market direction
Trade volatility futures without the typical day trader headaches
Use the VIX not just as a fear gauge, but as a profit-generating machine

Why am I sharing this now?

Because today's rally is just the calm before the next storm. Volatility hasn't gone away—it's just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

While most traders are chasing today's green screens, my students and I are preparing for the next big move. When the market flips, we don't panic—we profit.

Imagine looking at your trading screen during a massive market swing and feeling EXCITED instead of terrified. That's what happens when you know how to monetize volatility.

What makes this different?

No fluff. No recycled strategies. Just battle-tested techniques that work when markets move—up, down, or sideways.
You'll learn how to turn volatility into opportunity, even when the market seems calm.

My mentorship isn't for everyone. It's for serious traders who understand that the biggest opportunities often come when the market looks its most "stable."

The next major market shock is coming. The only question is: Will you be prepared to profit from it?

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