1. The Dow Jones surged 300 points after a sell-off, while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 advanced. 2. Global semiconductor stocks took a hit, with over $420B in losses following ASML's disappointing forecasts. 3. Retail earnings season began positively, setting the stage for tech sector earnings. 4. Geopolitical tensions create uncertainty in energy markets, but oil remains resilient. 5. Alpha Picks' stock selection has outperformed the S&P500.