Hello, this is JSCC2020. I’m living through these market tears every day. Today, I think Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ perfectly captures the stock market mood. “Under my umbrella, ella, ella…” Just like the lyrics, we desperately need a sturdy umbrella to shield our portfolios from this relentless storm. With both Nasdaq and S&P 500 falling, my account is already soaked to the bone.
As of early February 2026, the news of President Trump nominating a hyper-hawkish candidate for the next Fed Chair has sent a chilling wind through the US stock market. My account is feeling quite battered today.
[Notice] For the best experience, we recommend viewing the tables in this post in landscape mode on your smartphone.
🌐 3 Key Issues Defining Today’s Market
- Trump’s Hawkish Fed Nominee: President Trump has recommended a candidate who strongly favors monetary tightening, far exceeding market expectations. Fear is gripping the market as expectations for prolonged high-interest rates to curb inflation settle in.
- Nasdaq 23,400 Level Under Threat: The Nasdaq, most sensitive to interest rates, took a direct hit. Closing at 23,461.82 (-0.94%), high-valuation tech stocks are feeling a pain “like a bullet to the heart.”
- Flight to Safety Amid Rate Fears: With concerns over long-term high rates, the S&P 500 also slipped below the 7,000 mark to 6,939.03 (-0.43%). Investors are trimming tech positions and seeking refuge in stable dividend growth and income-generating assets.
1. [Group 1] Nasdaq 100 ETFs & Covered Call Comparison
| ETF Name (Ticker) | Price ($) | Daily Return | My Return | Analysis Summary |
| QQQM (Invesco) | 254.15 | -0.95% | -0.95% | Tracking Nasdaq 100. Directly hit by hawkish sentiment. |
| JEPQ (JPMorgan) | 58.71 | -0.92% | -0.92% | Nasdaq Covered Call. Defending via option premiums. |
| GPIQ (Goldman Sachs) | 52.537 | -1.43% | -1.43% | Nasdaq Core Premium. Expanded losses in high volatility. |
| QQQI (NEOS) | 53.53 | -1.69% | -1.69% | High Income. Holding on for the 10%+ distribution yield. |
| QLD (ProShares) | 70.67 | -1.78% | -1.78% | 2x Nasdaq Leverage. Account melting under double the pain. |
2. [Group 2] SCHD, High Dividend Covered Calls & S&P 500
| ETF Name (Ticker) | Price ($) | Daily Return | My Return | Analysis Summary |
| SCHD (Schwab) | 29.645 | +1.09% | +1.09% | Today’s Winner. Standing tall as a value play amid rate fears. |
| JEPI (JPMorgan) | 58.185 | -0.87% | -0.87% | S&P 500 Low Vol Income. Proving stable defense vs. Nasdaq. |
| GPIX (Goldman Sachs) | 52.69 | -1.40% | -1.40% | S&P 500 Covered Call. Strategic defensive zone for income. |
| SPYM (SPDR) | 81.05 | -0.89% | -0.89% | S&P 500 Portfolio. Relatively stable compared to Tech-heavy funds. |
| SSO (ProShares) | 58.758 | -1.74% | -1.74% | 2x S&P 500 Leverage. Losses widening as the index slides. |
3. Today’s Winners & Losers: “Raindrops on My Portfolio”
- 🏆 Today’s Winner: SCHD (+1.09%) It shined alone despite the hawkish nominee news. The true value of Dividend Investing is proven in these chaotic downturns. It was the only sturdy Umbrella protecting my account in this tech storm.
- ❌ Today’s Loser: QLD (-1.78%) As soon as the news “Next Chair is a Hawk!” broke, Nasdaq wavered, and the 2x leveraged QLD collapsed. It’s a stark reminder of how ruthless leverage can be during peak interest rate volatility.
4. Investment Insights: “Enduring the Hawk with Income”
Uncertainty regarding interest rates is likely to dominate the market for the time being following Trump’s announcement. However, we must check our cash flow calmly.
- The Power of Cash Flow: Monthly dividends from JEPQ, JEPI, and QQQI don’t stop even when prices fall. This cash becomes the actual engine that helps us endure the slump and buy the dip.
- Rediscovering Value: Today clearly proved how vital dividend growth stocks like SCHD are as a buffer in a tech-heavy portfolio.
- Crisis as Opportunity: While policy uncertainty has pushed prices down, this could be a ‘dip-buying’ opportunity to accumulate high-quality ETFs at a cheaper price than usual for the long term.
I want to ask the market, “Why are you doing this?” but I’ll trust the overwhelming track record of 2025, wipe my tears, and keep collecting shares. Let’s hope the rain stops and the market finds stability tomorrow!