A devastating fire at a major aluminum plant in New York in mid-September is set to roil the U.S. auto industry and could even disrupt production of Ford (F​​​​​​​) Motor's F-150 pickup trucks

Let's explore how to position your portfolio ahead of market shocks, especially given speculative surges in tech and AI. It argues for underweighting risky sectors, adding negatively correlated assets, and preparing defensively for crises.

The incoming industrial and retail data for August was mixed once again. Hopes that the industrial downturn was ending have been dashed, but retail sales may provide some hope for the future.

Stocks are slipping into the red midday, as the government shutdown reaches its seventh day.