Happy Wednesday! Wall Street’s remarkable rally from the April lows now has the S&P 500 and Nasdaq close to record highs. However, this under-the-radar driver might be fueling this surge more than you think. Dive in to uncover the surprising force behind the market’s comeback and what it could mean for investors going forward.

Also, this powerful income strategy helps turn stagnation in stocks into opportunities. Read on for these five standout stocks that could be your next income engines.

Plus, if you’re looking to capitalize on the growing momentum behind uranium as a strategic energy asset, check out today’s sponsor.

In Today's Edition

• MARKET RECAP

• FIVE ZINGERS

• MARKET HISTORY

• ONE FOR THE ROAD

Stock Buybacks Are Quietly Powering Wall Street's 2025 Rally

From tumbling to bear market territory in April, to now being within 2% of all-time highs for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, the stock market has staged a remarkable comeback in what has been a rollercoaster first half on Wall Street.

While the focus continues to be on the usual suspects — AI, interest rates and economic data — a quieter force is working behind the scenes: an unprecedented wave of corporate stock buybacks. This overlooked catalyst may be doing more to fuel the rally than most investors realize.

So far this year, buyback authorizations have soared past $750 billion, significantly outpacing the $600 billion that was authorized in 2023 and 2024.

Companies aren’t just talking, they’re acting. Tech giants like Apple, Meta and Nvidia are leading the charge, but financials and communications firms are in hot pursuit. These companies are putting serious money behind their stock, and the market is responding. Yet the question remains: is this momentum sustainable? Read on to find out.

Uranium is gaining renewed relevance as demand from AI-driven data centers, national energy strategies and nuclear infrastructure accelerates. With U.S. policy shifts fast-tracking reactor approvals and incentivizing domestic production, the market is seeing rising institutional interest.

Meanwhile, supply remains structurally constrained, with major producers holding output steady and new projects lagging. This imbalance supports stronger pricing and highlights uranium’s role as a strategic asset in the evolving global energy mix. For investors looking to tap into this momentum, Sprott’s suite of uranium-focused funds offers targeted exposure across physical commodities and mining equities. To learn more about these products, click here.

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Yesterday: U.S. indexes continued to rally, with the S&P 500 notching its third consecutive day of gains as energy and consumer discretionary sectors led broad-based gains. Investors were focused on ongoing U.S.–China trade talks in London, which showed signs of progress amid discussions on easing technology export controls. The NFIB small business index rose in May, ending a four-month decline and signaling improved sentiment. Treasury yields were mixed, with the 10-year falling slightly to 4.47% and the 2-year holding near 4%. Bitcoin continues to flirt near all-time highs, and oil was down slightly, but still near 1-month highs. All eyes are on this morning’s CPI release to see how inflation is trending amid all the tariff concerns.

On Our Radar: In addition to the CPI report, analysts will be paying attention to the monthly U.S. federal budget, which will be released later today. On the earnings front, Oracle (ORCL) headlines the companies reporting after the bell today, while Lovesac (LOVE) reports before the market opens tomorrow.

Ctrl+Alt+Deplete?: Oracle reports Q4 earnings today amid pressure to break two consecutive underwhelming quarters and prove its AI infrastructure bet is worth the spend. Will cloud revenue growth turn into cloud nine — or just cloud the bottom line? Click to see what the market's top strategists are watching.

Picture Perfect: Shutterstock shares soared after shareholders approved the merger with Getty Images, paving the way for a powerful new leader in visual content. This deal promises to unlock growth and value — click to find out how investors stand to benefit.

Creator Capital: YouTube, a subsidiary of Alphabet, revealed that its creative ecosystem contributed significantly to the U.S. GDP in 2024, nearly doubling what it brought in two years ago. With Congress tuning in, see why many are calling the creator economy the next big financial frontier.

Sticky Situation: Smucker’s shares nosedived after missing earnings estimates and issuing a disappointing FY26 earnings forecast which was below Wall Street expectations. With key segments dragging down performance, investors are questioning what’s next for the iconic food giant. Read on for the full breakdown and if Tuesday’s selloff presents a good buying opportunity.

Insider Edge: When company leaders are heavily invested in their own stock, their interests align with yours — boosting the odds of long-term success. Discover three undervalued stocks where insiders are all-in and are betting big on themselves.

Turn volatility into opportunity with former hedge fund trader Chris Capre's system. While others panic during market swings, Trading Waves members receive precise alerts for potential quick gains. Access institutional-level analysis designed for today's unpredictable markets.

On This Day In 1971…

The United States eased its 21-year trade embargo with China, marking a major step toward the normalization of diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries. This allowed U.S. exporters to sell a range of nonstrategic items to China, including agricultural equipment, industrial and office equipment, fertilizers, farm products and select chemicals. Locomotives and large-scale transportation equipment remained prohibited. This laid the groundwork for President Nixon’s historic visit to China the following year and the eventual opening of one of the world’s largest consumer markets.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Know what you own, and know why you own it.”

— Peter Lynch

5 Best Stocks To Trade For Income

Many investors face the frustrating reality of range-bound stocks that seem unable to pick a direction, leading to wasted capital and missed opportunities. But what if there was a way to generate income while waiting for these stocks to finally break out?

There's a trading strategy that allows you to do just that: collect income on assets that are going sideways by selling a call option on a stock you already own. This approach lets you capitalize on a stock's stagnation, turning a potential drag on your portfolio into a consistent income stream. By selling call options, you can earn premiums while holding onto your shares, offering a unique blend of income generation and downside protection.

Don't let your range-bound stocks sit idle — put them to work for you.

Read on to learn more about this strategy and discover five stocks that are exhibiting range-bound behavior and are great candidates for this approach.

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