Scrap Life Podcast – Market Volatility & Tariffs Discussion

Nick:
All right, is it bloody out there today, or are we seeing clovers? What’s the market looking like?

Brett:
It’s rough. A rough go. The stock market is rough.

Nick:
Yeah, last night, I was watching the carbon market, and it was off by like 89 cents. Then I got notifications about crypto.

Brett:
Yeah, crypto got monkey-hammered.

Nick:
So, I thought I better check copper. It was down eight cents—this was around 8 or 9 PM—and I thought, oh man, I might wake up to it down 20 cents. But when I woke up, it was only down about two cents, and now I think we’re actually green.

Brett:
Yeah, it’s making a bit of a comeback. The news is always reactive.

Market Volatility & Key Factors
Nick:
It’s crazy out there right now. There’s a lot of volatility and moving parts. We thought there was a lot before the election, but there’s even more now.

Brett:
Is it because of the tariffs?

Nick:
I think the tariffs are probably the biggest factor right now. People are still trying to figure out what they mean.

Brett:
Yeah, but the data coming out of China is also affecting everything. That might even be a bigger factor than the tariffs.

Nick:
Agreed. The Chinese economy is in trouble, and a lot of people here don’t realize it. We saw that TikTok clip that Jay sent us—it broke it down really well.

Brett:
Yeah, their economy has been going through a real estate crash worse than what we had in 2008.

Nick:
Exactly. People who were around for ’08 remember how painful that was. China’s crash is on an even larger scale. They have an aging population, a struggling economy, and now on top of that, you have Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China.

Brett:
It’s a lot all at once.

Nick:
Yeah, and some people just don’t like uncertainty. When Trump got elected, people knew what to expect—there was certainty. Now, as he implements tariffs, it creates a new level of uncertainty because we don’t yet know what impact they’ll have on each industry.

How Tariffs & Deregulation Could Reshape the Economy
Brett:
Volatility is here to stay, but if anyone doubts what this administration is focused on, it’s clearly about strengthening the U.S. economy.

Nick:
Exactly. If you’ve been relying on government money, getting contracts you don’t have to justify, or working a government job where you don’t actually show up—yeah, you’re going to have to rethink your business model. But if you’re in the industrial sector, like we are, like our customers are, this could be a massive advantage.

Brett:
We’ve been at the bottom of the totem pole for a long time. Now, it feels like things are shifting in favor of industrial businesses.

Nick:
And the crazy part? Everyone’s focused on tariffs, but they’re missing the bigger picture—deregulation. If Trump cuts red tape on mining, drilling, manufacturing, and construction, watch out. Things could take off in a way we haven’t seen in years.

Brett:
Yeah, it’s about more than just tariffs—it’s about what’s possible when businesses aren’t held back by unnecessary regulations.

Market Optimism & Upcoming Podcast Preview
Nick:
If you want more details on ferrous markets, tune in to our Bulls vs. Bears episode—we’re posting that today.

Brett:
Wait, Chad Ellerbrock has good news?!

Nick:
Yep! If you’ve got some scrap lying around, you’ll want to hear this.

Brett:
Man, we’ve been waiting for this. We’ve been saying for months that February could bring some relief. Maybe this is just the beginning, but it sounds like ferrous markets are finally improving.

Nick:
Yeah, I’m excited for it. Bulls vs. Bears—check it out. Let’s go make it happen!

Brett:
Everybody have a great week!

[Music]