Core Viewpoint - The fourth quarter earnings season has commenced, with significant reports from Delta Air Lines and JPMorgan Chase, and additional bank earnings expected later in the week [1]. Group 1: Earnings Expectations - Wall Street analysts project an 8.3% earnings per share growth rate for S&P 500 companies in Q4, marking the 10th consecutive quarter of annual earnings growth if realized [2]. - Prior to the reporting period, analysts had increased earnings expectations, particularly for tech companies, with the consensus estimate for S&P 500 Q4 earnings growth at 7.2% as of September 30 [3]. Group 2: Market Influences - The earnings season will assess the improved stock market breadth observed at the start of 2026, with ongoing themes from 2025, such as artificial intelligence and economic policies, continuing to influence investor sentiment [4]. Group 3: Upcoming Earnings Reports - Major financial companies scheduled to report earnings this week include Bank of New York Mellon, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley, alongside Delta and JPMorgan [5].

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock, Inc. has set an optimistic price target of $1,209 for its stock, indicating a potential increase of 10.96% from its current trading price of $1,089.54, despite a downgrade from TD Cowen to Hold from Buy due to upcoming earnings expectations [1][2][5] Financial Expectations - Analysts expect BlackRock's fourth-quarter earnings to be $12.3 per share, an increase from $11.93 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is anticipated to rise to $6.75 billion from $5.68 billion year-over-year [2] Workforce and Strategic Moves - BlackRock is planning to reduce its workforce by about 1%, which may be a strategic decision to streamline operations despite the expected revenue growth [3][5] Stock Performance - BlackRock's stock closed at $1,089.54, with a slight increase of 0.03%, and fluctuated between $1,073.73 and $1,094 during the trading day [4] - Over the past year, the stock reached a high of $1,219.94 and a low of $773.74, with a market capitalization of approximately $168.83 billion [4]

Financial Reporting Schedule - Major financial institutions such as Bank of America Corporation, Wells Fargo & Company, and Citigroup Inc. are set to report their earnings pre-market on Wednesday [1] - Following these reports, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., and BlackRock Inc. will release their financial results on Thursday [1] - Next Tuesday, a significant number of reports will be released, with Netflix Inc. being a highlight after market close [1] - The following Wednesday will feature Johnson & Johnson's earnings report pre-market, along with numerous financial and real estate firms [1]

You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. Financial advisors to high-net-worth investors spend a lot of time on estate planning, but might be overlooking the tax planning services their clients want, according to the inaugural “Advisor Trends Survey” from asset management firm BlackRock. The survey, which included 1,000 advisors working across multiple channels, found that estate planning (67%), customized retirement planning (64%), ch ...

Market Overview - US stock index futures are all down, with Dow futures down 0.32%, S&P 500 futures down 0.42%, and Nasdaq futures down 0.63% [1] - The German DAX index is down 0.41%, while the UK FTSE 100 is up 0.26%, and the French CAC40 is up 0.03% [2][3] - WTI crude oil has increased by 1.19%, priced at $61.88 per barrel, and Brent crude oil has also risen by 1.19%, priced at $66.25 per barrel [3][4] Economic Insights - Expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts have shifted, with traders increasingly betting that the Fed will maintain rates throughout the year, influenced by recent labor market data and CPI indicating stable inflation [4] - A prominent investor predicts a potential 20% decline in the Dow Jones index by the end of the year, citing pressures on ordinary consumers due to high living costs [5] Debt Market Concerns - Morgan Stanley reports that the size of basis trading in US Treasuries has ballooned to approximately $1.5 trillion, necessitating close monitoring to avoid a repeat of market volatility seen in 2020 [6] Commodity Market Developments - Silver prices have surged nearly 4%, reaching $90.36 per ounce, with a peak at $91.56, driven by rising safe-haven demand amid geopolitical tensions [7] - LME tin prices have reached a historical high of $51,675 per ton, reflecting a significant increase driven by Chinese investor interest in commodities [7] Company Earnings Reports - Bank of America reported Q4 net revenue of $28.37 billion, exceeding market expectations of $27.76 billion, and net interest income of $15.75 billion, also above expectations [8] - Wells Fargo's Q4 revenue was $21.29 billion, falling short of the expected $21.64 billion, with net interest income of $12.33 billion, below the anticipated $12.43 billion [9] - Tesla is shifting its Full Self-Driving (FSD) sales model to a subscription service, effective February 14, significantly lowering the entry cost for consumers [9] - Netflix is exploring an all-cash acquisition of Warner Bros. to expedite the deal process amid competitive pressures [10] - Citigroup is set to lay off approximately 1,000 employees as part of a broader plan to reduce its workforce by 20,000 by the end of the year [10] Pharmaceutical Innovations - Amgen's experimental weight loss drug MariTide shows promise with a monthly injection regimen that helps patients maintain weight loss over two years, contrasting with the more frequent injections of existing weight loss medications [11]

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock is reducing its global workforce by approximately 1%, equating to around 250 positions, as part of a review aimed at enhancing operational efficiency [1][2]. Group 1: Workforce Reduction - The decision to cut jobs is part of BlackRock's annual review process to align resources with objectives and improve service to clients [2]. - The company has not disclosed the timeline for the layoffs or specific reasons for the decision [2]. Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - Under CEO Larry Fink, BlackRock completed a $12 billion acquisition of HPS Investment Partners in July, expanding its capabilities in private credit and infrastructure investments [3]. - The integration of new leadership from acquisitions and the preparation of new funds for clients is currently ongoing [3]. Group 3: Financial Performance - BlackRock's assets under management reached $13.46 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, reflecting a 17% increase from $11.47 trillion a year earlier [4]. - Adjusted net income for the same period rose to $1.9 billion, up from $1.7 billion in the previous year's corresponding quarter [4]. Group 4: Investment Focus - For 2026, BlackRock has identified investment themes that include artificial intelligence, income generation, and greater diversification [3]. - The company offers a technology-focused exchange-traded fund dedicated to AI companies [4].

BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) will release earnings for the fourth quarter before the opening bell on Thursday, Jan. 15.Analysts expect the New York-based company to report fourth-quarter earnings of $12.3 per share. That's up from $11.93 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for BlackRock's quarterly revenue is $6.75 billion (it reported $5.68 billion last year), according to Benzinga Pro.BlackRock is trimming about 1% of staff, Bloomberg reported.Shares of BlackRock rose 0.1% to close at $ ...

BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) will release earnings for the fourth quarter before the opening bell on Thursday, Jan. 15.Analysts expect the New York-based company to report fourth-quarter earnings of $12.3 per share. That's up from $11.93 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for BlackRock's quarterly revenue is $6.75 billion (it reported $5.68 billion last year), according to Benzinga Pro.BlackRock is trimming about 1% of staff, Bloomberg reported.Shares of BlackRock rose 0.1% to close at $ ...

Group 1 - The recent inflow of $117 million into US spot Bitcoin ETFs indicates a resurgence of interest from large investors after a period of quiet trading [1][3] - Bitcoin ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without directly holding it, similar to investing in gold through a broker [2] - The inflow of funds into Bitcoin ETFs reflects a preference for Bitcoin over other assets, signaling strong demand from institutional investors [2][3] Group 2 - Earlier in 2025, US Bitcoin ETFs experienced significant inflows, totaling approximately $118 billion in the third quarter, highlighting robust interest from traditional finance [4] - Historical patterns show that large funds tend to react quickly to changes in market conditions, with notable inflows recorded on days of improved trading conditions [5] - ETF buying does not guarantee price increases but reduces the risk of large investors exiting the market entirely, maintaining a pathway for institutional exposure to Bitcoin [6] Group 3 - Bitcoin's price often reacts more swiftly than smaller cryptocurrencies due to direct demand from ETFs, which primarily invest in Bitcoin rather than altcoins [7]

Group 1 - BitGo Holdings has initiated its initial public offering (IPO), offering approximately 11.8 million shares of Class A common stock, with 11 million shares being offered directly by the company and the remainder by existing shareholders [1] - The anticipated price range for the IPO is between $15 and $17 per share, potentially valuing the firm at around $1.75 billion at the upper end [2] - BitGo will list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "BTGO," marking a significant step toward mainstream adoption for crypto custodians [2] Group 2 - The IPO trend in the digital assets space follows notable public listings, including Coinbase's direct listing in 2021, which initially valued it at over $85 billion, and Circle's public offering in June 2025, which raised $1.05 billion at $31 per share [3] - Other firms, such as Consensys and Animoca Brands, are planning IPOs in 2026, indicating sustained momentum in the sector [4] - Newly launched IPOs in emerging sectors like digital assets often exhibit high volatility due to speculative trading and regulatory uncertainties, as seen with Circle's stock performance [5][6] Group 3 - The evolution of digital assets into a core component of modern finance is underscored by institutional integration, with firms like BlackRock and Fidelity adopting cryptocurrencies through ETFs and custody solutions [7] - The surge in crypto venture capital funding to $19.7 billion in 2025 reflects growing investor confidence, driven by regulatory clarity under pro-crypto policies [8] - Predictions for 2026 suggest further institutional inflows and record mergers and acquisitions, positioning IPOs like BitGo's as milestones in bridging traditional and decentralized finance [8]