How to Read US Stock Post-Market Analysis: A Beginner's Guide

US Stock @ 9niche

What this page is for

Every day at 09:30 Taipei time we auto-publish a US post-market report that compresses the technicals, macro, earnings and themes of hundreds of stocks into one page. First-time readers often feel lost, so this evergreen guide explains how to read each section. Read it once, then the daily report makes far more sense.

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Market Dashboard: Start With These 6 Numbers

The dashboard at the top of each report is a snapshot of the day's mood. Instead of scanning every ticker, use these macro readings first to judge whether the market is leaning bullish or bearish.

IndicatorWhat it showsHow to read it
S&P 500 / Nasdaq / DowThe three main indicesAll moving together = broad move; diverging = rotation between sectors
VIX (fear index)Expected volatility<18 calm, 18-25 cautious, >25 fearful; usually inverse to stocks
DXY (dollar index)US dollar strengthA strong dollar pressures commodities and emerging markets
US 10Y yieldMarket interest rateA sharp rise hurts high-valuation growth names (AI/semis)

Rule of thumb: indices up, VIX low = tailwind; indices down, VIX spiking, yields surging = headwind β€” even a high technical score deserves caution then.

How to Use the Technical Top 30

This is the core of the report. We score every stock with several public technical indicators (moving-average alignment, RSI, volume, trend strength) and rank the day's Top 30 stocks and Top 10 ETFs.

The score is a starting filter, not a buy signal. It narrows hundreds of names to a few dozen; fundamentals, earnings and risk are still yours to check.

Theme Panels & the Sector Heatmap

Stocks rarely move alone β€” they ride themes and sectors.

Theme Panels

We group the day's strong names into AI, semiconductors, China, EV, robotics, quantum, space, crypto, biotech and Mag7, so you can see at a glance which story is leading.

Sector Heatmap (11 sector ETFs)

Color depth shows the 1-day / 5-day / 1-month returns of the 11 major sector ETFs. Deeper green = stronger, deeper red = weaker. When defensive sectors (utilities, staples) turn strong, it often signals a more cautious market.

Market Breadth: The Many or the Few?

A rising index doesn't mean everything rose. Breadth tells you how broad the move is.

Earnings & Economic Events: Don't Walk Into Landmines

Even great technicals can flip on earnings or major data. The report lists:

Handy habit: before entering, check whether the stock reports within a few days and whether there's an FOMC or CPI this week. It avoids a lot of avoidable surprises.

FAQ

Can I buy a stock just because its technical score is high?

No. The score only reflects current technical strength; it's a screening tool that narrows hundreds of names, not a buy signal. Fundamentals, earnings timing and your own risk tolerance still apply.

What time is the report updated?

Automatically at 09:30 Taipei time on each trading day, after the prior US session's post-market data is in.

What VIX level counts as high?

Roughly: below 18 is calm, 18-25 cautious, above 25 fearful. VIX usually moves inverse to stocks; a spike means rising hedging demand.

Do I need to pay or register?

No. All post-market analysis and this guide are free and public β€” no login required.