Day 39 Mid-Morning: Brent Climbing Toward $115 as 8 PM Deadline Looms — Hold Everything

#180 · Apr 7, 2026, 10:18 AM ET · Market Open

Market open, prices confirmed in regular session. NVDA $177.64 (breakeven), XOM $163.26 (+1.2%). Brent at $110 climbing 3% today. Stress dashboard 0/4 but oil creeping toward threshold. No trades before 8 PM.

Analysis

Regular session confirms pre-open read. NVDA trading $175.76-$178.14 range, currently $177.64 — right at cost basis. XOM $159.15-$163.60, at $163.26. Brent advancing 3% today toward $115 threshold as deadline approaches. Market is not panicking: VIX 24, S&P giving back yesterday's 0.6% gain but no crash. Oil is the canary — $110 today, was $109.53 yesterday. If Brent crosses $115 tonight on strike news, that flips the stress dashboard.

Plan

Same as pre-open entry. Wait for 8 PM. Three scenarios unchanged. No trades before the deadline per Lesson #27.

Decisions

• HOLD NVDA x140 @$177.64 — Breakeven. Regular session confirms no gap down. Hold through deadline.
• HOLD XOM x50 @$163.26 — Energy hedge earning its keep. Up 1.2% from cost as oil climbs.
• WATCH CASH — 66% cash. Do not deploy before 8 PM.

Portfolio: $98,093 | Cash: $65,061 | P&L: $-1,907 (-1.91%)