The week started off strong with a nice bounce, but things downshifted yesterday after some rough jobs data hit the tape.

One private report showed last month had the most layoffs since October 2003. 

Ouch. 

On top of that, folks are still nervous about stretched tech valuations and all the noise coming out of Washington.

Could the market bounce back again? Absolutely.

But instead of guessing, I’m watching for new leaders to step up.

We’re starting to see some solid names building real trends, and that’s where the best setups come from.

Here are some tickers I’ve got my eye on right now.

Take a Look at These

Top Watch: Rani Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RANI)

This one’s got a great trend shaping up. A few weeks ago, RANI had a big volume pop and now it’s holding strong. The key level to watch is $2.75 per share. If it clears that, we could see a run back toward the highs. 

Trend Trying to Turn: Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTZ)

HTZ took a beating yesterday after some negative comments by a company executive, but if it can turn back around, it might become a nice trend-join. Before yesterday’s session, Hertz had surged 36% after reporting its first quarterly profit in two years. That $6.70–$7 area is a big zone. 

Strong Hold: Strive Asset Management, LLC (NASDAQ: ASST)

I’m really impressed by how well this ticker held up when the market was shaky. A break over $1.80 would give it a powerful look. It’s definitely one to watch.

Red-to-Green Plays

These stocks opened weak but snapped back strong — a move we call “red to green” (r/g). It’s one of my favorite setups when done right:

• Soluna Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLNH): If this one clears $4 on a r/g move, that could get fun.

• Solid Power, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLDP): Had solid earnings. A weak open and then push higher would be ideal.

• Amprius Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: AMPX): Down yesterday but looking solid overall. Weak open, but it’s forming a really strong base.

Also on the Radar

• New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAI): $6 is the level to watch. I could see this pushing higher.

• T1 Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: TE): Starting to trade more volume. It’s still early, but I’m watching how this develops.

• QuantumScape Corporation (NASDAQ: QS): Quietly building a strong base. The longer it stays in this range, the better the setup gets.

• Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL): Love this sideways action. If it breaks $14 in the next few days, that could trigger a strong move.

Hopefully these have helped put things in perspective in a jittery market environment. 

Just stay focused, keep your watchlist tight, and let the plays come to you.

Jack Kellogg