A rocky first quarter for the equities markets gave way to a surprisingly strong start to April, despite ongoing uncertainty from the Middle East conflict, stubborn gas prices, and supply chain disruptions. On this episode, host Mike Townsend is joined by Joe Mazzola, head trading and derivatives strategist at Charles Schwab, for a discussion about what's driving the market right now and whether the April rally is sustainable. Joe shares his insights on relief rallies, the start to earnings season, consumer sentiment, and how companies are embracing the "higher for longer" outlook from the Federal Reserve. He also discusses new rules for day traders, the potential impact of mega IPOs on the market, and the three things he's watching for to see if the April rally can sustain its momentum. And Mike provides his perspective on the latest news out of Washington, including Kevin Warsh's confirmation hearing to become the next Fed chair, the opening of the government's tariff refund portal, and the increasing interest among lawmakers in regulating the fast-growing prediction markets.

WashingtonWise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/WashingtonWise.

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