[PYPL]

A key catalyst is the report from Reuters that Stripe and Advent have proposed to acquire PayPal for $5.3 billion. If the momentum of the acquisition proposal continues and the stock price rises, I will take profits at $55.0. If the support level around $45.50 breaks, I will cut losses at $42.5. With the news of the acquisition proposal and the current stock price trading above the support level, we see this as a buying opportunity and are considering entry. Based on the strong news of Stripe and Advent's $5.3 billion acquisition proposal, we established a buying strategy above the support level and set a profit-taking target, recording a forecasted return of 6.2%. However, the actual result was a return of 24.5%, resulting in an OVERHIT designation. It is regrettable that we did not fully reflect the impact of such a significant positive development in our target, as we set it somewhat conservatively. Nonetheless, the entry decision utilizing the news flow and support level range was valid. In this trading session, when accompanied by exceptional large-scale merger and acquisition news, we will not be confined to existing resistance levels or conservative target prices. Instead, we will adopt a more flexible approach to adjust our profit-taking lines upward, reflecting the rapid increase in thematic news trends and the strong impact of catalysts in our next trading strategy. The keyword 'PayPal' overlaps with past similar success cases, including those on 2026-08-07 at 18:31:10 (return of 24.5%) and 2026-07-16 at 12:01:17 (return of 17.2%), which were successful due to the same acquisition proposal news and are worth referencing.

Reports have emerged that Stripe and Advent International are collaborating to acquire PayPal. The market views this news as a catalyst for stock price increases, leading to a rally in pre-market trading. If the stock price rises and reaches the resistance level of $49.50, I will take profits at $50.25. Conversely, if the support level of $45.50 is breached and the price reaches $44.50, I will cut losses. News related to the acquisition is acting as a strong momentum. In recent days, the stock price has shown volatility around the $56 mark while attempting to trend upward, and the participation of a strong player like Stripe is a very attractive factor. However, it is important to note that there are opinions suggesting that the acquisition offer price proposed by Michael Burry is insufficient. We accurately captured the key catalyst of the acquisition rumor and positioned ourselves well for entry. The forecasted return was conservatively set at 2.1%, but the actual result significantly exceeded this estimate, achieving a performance of 21.7%. We confirmed that the news momentum acted much more strongly than anticipated. We have learned that when engaging in news-based momentum trading, it is necessary to adopt a strategy that flexibly adjusts profit targets based on the strength of the news content. In cases like this, where strong acquisition-related news emerges, we will consider scenarios that extend the trend rather than opting for conservative profit-taking. 1) PYPL (2026-07-31): The keyword 'Stripe' overlaps with past similar success cases, aligning with the core driving force of this transaction. 2) VEEE (2026-07-16) and LRCX (2026-07-06): While there is no direct similarity, they are noteworthy top performance cases for reference.

In early July, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu while observing the chart of PYPL, which was hovering around $45. When it dropped to a low of $43.73 on July 8, the $45 level was under threat, and to be honest, my heart raced. However, starting from the 9th, it recovered to $45.32, solidifying its low, and on the 13th, it raised its high to $48.43, confirming its intent for a trend reversal. I determined that this point was a turning point for breaking through the resistance level. I particularly liked the flow on the 14th, where it took a brief pause and settled at $47.37. On the 15th, seeing it gap up to $54.85 in early trading and close at $55.52 gave me the instinct that "something has happened." Ultimately, on the 16th, upon hearing reports of a $53 billion acquisition by Stripe and Advent, I was convinced that my technical analysis aligned with the market's massive momentum. There was no reason to delay further. I decided to bet towards my target return of 8.5%. ### [Section 2: The Moment of Results and Honest Reflection] As a result, my prediction was completely off. No, it was a "positive miscalculation." The target return of 8.5% was far too modest in the face of a blockbuster piece of news regarding a $53 billion acquisition. The actual return was 17.2%. When the figure appeared on the screen, I felt more bewilderment than exhilaration. Reflecting calmly, I realized that on the 15th, I was only wary of short-term overheating and underestimated the magnitude of the fundamental momentum that could attract large capital. At 12:01:17 on the 16th, in that brief moment when I confirmed the news and entered the market, it was already filled with frenzy. To think, "I knew this would happen," would be arrogant, as the 17.2% figure was an external variable that burst outside my analytical scope. This was the result of my focus on the chart, neglecting to fully track the impact of the macro M&A scenario. ### [Section 3: Outlook and Lessons Learned] Through this experience, I was reminded that major news is not merely a tool for breaking through chart resistance but a powerful energy source that can change the entire game. Similar cases include the news that emerged at 12:01:17 on July 16, 2026, such as "Stripe, Advent offer to buy PayPal for over $53 bln - Reuters," "A $53 billion lifeline? Stripe and Advent reportedly team up to bid for battered PayPal," and "Why is PayPal stock surging today?" These news items were released in succession when I recorded a return of 17.2%. Moving forward, when such major news occurs, I should adopt a strategy that tracks in real-time whether the moving averages are expanding in a positive arrangement, rather than conservatively setting target levels, to maximize profits. **Today's lesson: Acknowledging the limits of prediction allows one to fully capture the bonus returns that the market offers.**

From July 7 to 15, PYPL's chart was a continuous tension. When the stock price, which had been hovering around $45, dropped to $44.53 on the 8th, I felt a sense of dread. However, it recovered to $45.32 on the 9th, confirming support, and showed a willingness to rise by closing at $46.32 on the 10th, breaking through a resistance level. After reaching a high of $48.43 on the 13th, it took a brief pause at $47.37 on the 14th, which I interpreted as a technical correction. The decisive moment came on the 15th. The overwhelming candle that opened at $54.85 and closed at $55.52 hinted that a significant issue had emerged. The moment I confirmed the news of "Stripe and Advent's acquisition rumors," I instinctively felt that my profit target of 3.2% was too modest. At noon on the 16th, I decided to ride this volatility. I was convinced that the strong energy burst shown on the chart was the beginning of a massive trend beyond a simple technical rebound. ### Section 2: The Moment of Results and Honest Reflection The result was 'OVERHIT.' The figure of 3.2% was dwarfed by an enormous 17.2% return recorded in my account. To be honest, I did not anticipate such explosive growth at all. When I was betting on the news, it was merely a short-term trade aiming for a technical trend reversal; I never expected that a massive trigger like "Stripe, Advent offer to buy PayPal for over $53 bln" would occur. Reflecting calmly, I interpreted the opening price of $54.85 on the 15th not merely as a chart movement but as the market reflecting information in advance, which I saw only as 'bullish intent.' If I had been sharper, I should have recognized the news environment that could lead to an acquisition of this scale beforehand. The target return of 3.2% was too narrow a vessel to capture a news-driven short-term surge. My prediction was off, and fortunately, it was a positive miscalculation. ### Section 3: Outlook and Lessons This experience left a significant assignment for my analytical system. The question "Why is PYPL surging today?" should not end with a simple search term but connect to movements of large capital, such as "A $53 billion lifeline? Stripe and Advent reportedly team up to bid for battered PayPal." Moving forward, I need to develop the habit of immediately prioritizing M&A or industry restructuring possibilities when I see a surge in trading volume on the chart. The successful case cited on 2026-07-16 at 12:01:17, with a 17.2% return, will be a turning point in my investment life where luck and skill are intriguingly mixed. The market sometimes offers rewards more extreme than the precise figures I set, but to fully claim those rewards, I must hone my ability to read the 'weight' of news. **Today's lesson: Returns exceeding five times the forecast are a gift from 'news,' not skill; be humble but learn to read the impact of that news more promptly next time.**

The chart from July 7 to 15 tested my patience. When it fluctuated around $45, I sensed that the rumor of PayPal's "$53 billion sale" would become a significant turning point beyond mere speculation. On July 8, when it dropped to a low of $43.73 and broke the $45 mark, I felt my heart sink. However, on the 9th, it rebounded to $45.32, regaining the resistance level, which gave me confidence. Particularly on the 13th, after reaching a high of $48.43 and gaining upward momentum, I was contemplating the optimal timing to hit the buy button while observing a candle that paused at $47.37 on the 14th. On the 15th, the strong buying pressure, which gapped up to $55.52 compared to the previous day, indicated that the market was already reacting strongly to this news. Ultimately, on the 16th, I entered with conviction. Despite the market's harsh evaluations, this "lifeline" was undoubtedly a bet with potential. ### Section 2: The Moment of Results and Honest Reflection The result was an 'OVERHIT'. Honestly, I am stunned. I had considered this trade a success if I managed to secure around 8.5% profit, but I faced a figure of 17.2%. To be frank, I did not expect the acquisition rumors of Stripe and Advent to generate such explosive enthusiasm. While I sensed the fire when I saw the closing price of $55.52 on the 15th, I did not anticipate that the market would interpret the selling entity as a "confirmed lifeline" rather than just an "expectation," leading to a mix of panic selling and chasing buys. I do not want to act as if I knew this would happen. This was not skill but rather a fortunate outcome that exceeded my predictive range due to market volatility. Reflecting on past similar success cases, such as 2026-07-16 12:01:17 (return of 17.2%, news: Stripe, Advent offer to buy PayPal for over $53 bln - Reuters, etc.), it seems I had been too conservative in estimating the size of the wave I was riding. ### Section 3: Outlook and Lessons Learned Through this PayPal (PYPL) case, I learned once again about the destructive power of a 'news-driven' strategy. When major M&A issues arise, the market reacts much more violently than expected, often disregarding technical support levels. In the future, when facing such patterns, I concluded that it might be better to indulge a bit more in greed until the trend accompanied by volume reverses, rather than getting caught up in predicted returns and preemptively reducing my position. Of course, one must not forget that a strong pullback inevitably follows such surges. This time, I was lucky to smile at the peak of the overshoot, but there is no guarantee that such luck will accompany me next time. **Today's lesson: The 'lifeline' the market sends can sometimes extend much longer than expected. However, whether to hold on and endure or to jump off at a reasonable rise depends solely on the tightrope between one's desires and principles.**