Every morning, traders, investors, and the market-curious wake up, sip their coffee, and check the numbers. Maybe the Dow’s up 200. Maybe Bitcoin dropped 2%. Maybe the VIX is spiking.

These numbers don’t just fill space, they signal how people, capital, and risk are moving across the global financial system.

At TradeDelicious, we send seven key assets in every morning email, from U.S. stock indexes to Bitcoin to major FX pairs, so you can get a fast read on what matters. Below is your no-jargon breakdown of what each one means, how it works, and why you should care.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

What it is:
The Dow tracks 30 of the biggest U.S. companies, the household names across banking, energy, consumer goods, and more.

How it works:
It’s a price-weighted index, meaning companies with higher stock prices (not necessarily bigger ones) have more influence. It doesn’t move because of one industry it moves, when the whole economy shifts.

Why it matters:
It’s the go-to number for how “the market” is doing in the eyes of the public and the media. If the Dow’s swinging, people pay attention.

Nasdaq-100

What it is:
An index of 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. It is a tech-heavy, growth-focused group.

How it works:
It’s market cap–weighted, so the biggest players (like Apple, Amazon, and NVIDIA) carry the most weight. One big tech move can swing the whole thing.

Why it matters:
If you want to know how tech is doing (or where risk-on appetite is) this is the index to watch. It’s fast-moving, future-focused, and often leads market sentiment.

S&P 500

What it is:
A broad index of 500 large-cap U.S. companies across all major sectors, from healthcare to retail to real estate.

How it works:
Also weighted by market cap. Bigger companies = bigger influence. It’s a more balanced and diversified view of the U.S. economy than the Dow or Nasdaq.

Why it matters:
It’s the benchmark. Fund managers track it, traders watch it, and when people say “the market,” they usually mean this.

VIX (Volatility Index)

What it is:
A real-time index that measures expected volatility in the S&P 500. Traders call it the “fear gauge.”

How it works:
It’s calculated from S&P 500 options prices. When investors expect big swings (good or bad), the VIX goes up.

Why it matters:
Rising VIX = rising nerves. It’s a great tool to read market sentiment, especially in uncertain or headline-heavy environments.

Bitcoin (BTC/USD)

What it is:
The world’s first and biggest cryptocurrency. It trades 24/7 and tends to do its own thing compared to traditional assets.

How it works:
BTC/USD tracks how many U.S. dollars one Bitcoin is worth. Prices move based on supply, demand, regulation, and macro trends (like inflation and interest rates).

Why it matters:
It’s become a key part of the macro landscape. Bitcoin reacts to risk, liquidity, and global sentiment and often leads when investors are feeling bold (or nervous).

EUR/USD

What it is:
The euro versus the U.S. dollar, the most traded currency pair in the world.

How it works:
If EUR/USD goes up, the euro is gaining strength against the dollar. Movements come from central bank policy, inflation data, political news, and risk appetite.

Why it matters:
This pair drives a huge portion of global FX flows. It’s also a proxy for how Europe is performing relative to the U.S.

USD/JPY

What it is:
The U.S. dollar versus the Japanese yen, another major FX pair and a favorite in risk-on/risk-off environments.

How it works:
If USD/JPY goes up, the dollar is strengthening against the yen. The yen is often seen as a “safe haven,” so traders watch this closely when markets get choppy.

Why it matters:
It’s a clean way to gauge global risk sentiment. If USD/JPY is falling, markets may be bracing for uncertainty.

Quick Note on Pricing

All pricing is pulled after the U.S. market close using real-time financial data feeds. Bitcoin and FX runs around the clock, so we track its change each morning around 4am ET.