Core Viewpoint - Goldman Sachs indicates that while there are fundamental justifications for the copper price rally in 2025, speculative inflows have played a significant role in driving prices upward [1] Group 1 - The fundamental factors supporting copper's price increase in 2025 are acknowledged by Goldman Sachs [1] - Speculative inflows are identified as the primary contributor to the upward momentum in copper prices [1]

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures are mixed, with Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 futures showing modest gains while Dow Jones futures are slightly down, indicating a cautious trading start [1] - The S&P 500 E-minis rose by 0.32%, Nasdaq 100 E-minis increased by 0.74%, and Dow E-minis saw a slight increase of 0.06% [2] - The U.S. stock market closed lower on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 Index down 0.53% to 6,926.60 points, Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.09% to 49,149.63 points, and Nasdaq Composite Index down 1.00% to 23,471.75 points [4] Technology Sector - A strong earnings report from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) led to a rally in the semiconductor sector, with Applied Materials (AMAT) rising 6.2%, Lam Research (LRCX) gaining 5.4%, and KLA Corporation (KLAC) up 5% [2] - Big Tech companies like Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), and Amazon (AMZN) each dropped more than 2%, while Oracle (ORCL) and Broadcom (AVGO) slid 4% each [5] - Nvidia (NVDA) shares declined 1.4% due to news that China instructed domestic firms to avoid H200 purchases, reflecting a reevaluation of tech stock valuations [5] Financial Sector - Several prominent financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs (GS), Morgan Stanley (MS), and BlackRock (BLK), are set to report quarterly results, which will be closely monitored for signs of financial sector health [7] - Wells Fargo (WFC) dropped 4.6% after reporting weaker-than-expected Q4 revenue, negatively impacting other banking giants like Citigroup (C) and Bank of America (BAC), which both fell more than 3% [7] Geopolitical and Economic Factors - Geopolitical tensions are affecting market sentiment, with reports of Chinese authorities advising domestic firms to avoid U.S. and Israeli software vendors, contributing to declines in software stocks [10] - The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield increased to approximately 4.14%, while WTI crude oil futures fell to around $59.92 per barrel [3] - Upcoming economic data releases from the U.S. Labor Department on jobless claims and retail sales are expected to influence investor sentiment [6] Company Highlights - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) reported a 20.5% year-over-year revenue increase and a 35.0% rise in diluted earnings per share, projecting robust annual growth and plans for increased U.S. manufacturing capacity [13] - Hyundai Motor Group showcased its AI Robotics Strategy at CES 2026, earning industry recognition for its human-centered, AI-driven robotics [13] - VAALCO Energy, Inc. (EGY) provided a positive operational update, reporting strong 2025 sales volumes and a successful drilling program in Gabon and Egypt [13] - Amplifon was certified as a Global Top Employer in 2026, expanding its certification in the Asia-Pacific region [13] - ChainUp was recognized among Singapore's Top Fintech Companies 2026, highlighting its growth and reliability in the digital assets market [13]

Group 1 - The core message from Goldman Sachs is that while the dominance of the US dollar is weakening, it is not collapsing yet, with a projected slow decline influenced by global growth and balanced asset returns [1][2] - Goldman Sachs predicts that the dollar will experience a "slow downward process," driven by strong global growth, despite the dollar being overvalued by approximately 15% according to their GSDEER model [1][2] - The report highlights that the most significant risks to the dollar's value may arise from structural changes in capital markets rather than traditional macroeconomic data [1][2] Group 2 - The outlook for the euro is that it is nearing "fair value" against the dollar, with further appreciation likely driven by the dollar's weakness rather than explosive growth in the Eurozone [3] - The British pound is identified as a "laggard" among G10 currencies, facing structural overvaluation and lacking fundamental support due to pressures from fiscal tightening and a weak domestic economic outlook [3] - Goldman Sachs forecasts that the Bank of England will implement more aggressive rate cuts than the market expects, which will negatively impact the pound's performance compared to its European counterparts [3] Group 3 - In Asia, Goldman Sachs sees opportunities in low-yield currencies closely tied to the technology supply chain, such as the South Korean won, New Taiwan dollar, and Malaysian ringgit, which are expected to outperform higher-yield currencies like the Indonesian rupiah and Philippine peso [5] - The South Korean won is particularly favored due to expected inflows from the inclusion in the FTSE World Government Bond Index and the resumption of foreign exchange hedging by the National Pension Service [5] - For emerging markets, Goldman Sachs recommends focusing on currencies with improving fundamentals and attractive valuations, such as the Brazilian real and Colombian peso, which offer significant carry trade potential despite political uncertainties [6]

Core Viewpoint - Goldman Sachs recommends investing in emerging market equities over the next one to five years, indicating they offer the highest expected returns compared to US stocks and other markets [1]. Group 1: Emerging Market Equities - Emerging market equities are projected to have an expected base case return of 8%, with a 55% probability assigned to this outcome [2]. - There is a 20% probability that emerging market returns will exceed expectations, while a 25% probability is assigned to a negative mid-teens return [2]. - The volatility in the base case for emerging markets is noted to be the greatest among all markets [2]. Group 2: US Stocks - US stocks, represented by the S&P 500, are forecasted to grow by 7% over the next 12 months and average 6% returns over the next five years [3]. - The report suggests that despite historically high valuations, US stock prices are expected to remain elevated due to declining volatility in the US economy, which supports a more reliable stream of corporate earnings [4]. Group 3: Other Markets - UK stocks and the MSCI All-Country World Index are projected to have average returns of 5% over the next five years, ranking third and fourth respectively [3]. - The forecasts are based on considerations of earnings growth, dividend yields, and expected changes in valuations [3]. Group 4: Investment Products - Funds that provide exposure to the expected top-performing trades include the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM), SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), Franklin FTSE United Kingdom ETF (FLGB), and iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) [4].

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) will release earnings for the fourth quarter before the opening bell on Thursday, Jan. 15.Analysts expect the bank to report fourth-quarter earnings of $11.67 per share. That's down from $11.95 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Goldman Sachs’ quarterly revenue is $14.12 billion (it reported $13.87 billion last year), according to Benzinga Pro.The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in nine straight quarters and beaten ...

Core Viewpoint - Goldman Sachs is set to release its fourth-quarter earnings on January 15, with expectations of a decline in earnings per share compared to the previous year [1] Earnings Expectations - Analysts predict fourth-quarter earnings of $11.67 per share, down from $11.95 per share in the same period last year [1] - The consensus estimate for quarterly revenue is $14.12 billion, an increase from $13.87 billion reported last year [1] Performance History - Goldman Sachs has exceeded analyst estimates for earnings per share for nine consecutive quarters [2] - The bank has also surpassed revenue estimates for ten straight quarters [2] Stock Performance - Shares of Goldman Sachs fell by 0.6%, closing at $932.67 on Wednesday [2] Analyst Ratings - JP Morgan analyst Kian Abouhossein maintains a Neutral rating, raising the price target from $750 to $775 [3] - Barclays analyst Jason Goldberg holds an Overweight rating, increasing the price target from $850 to $1,048 [3] - Keefe, Bruyette & Woods analyst David Konrad maintains a Market Perform rating, boosting the price target from $870 to $971 [3] - Citigroup analyst Keith Horowitz keeps a Neutral rating, raising the price target from $700 to $765 [3] - Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck maintains an Equal-Weight rating, lowering the price target from $854 to $828 [3]

Core Viewpoint - LESG share price has faced significant pressure in 2025 due to a slowdown in its exchange business amid a drought of London IPOs [1] Group 1 - The share price of LESG has retreated to a low of 8,102p [1] - This represents a decline of 32% from the yearly high of 12,015p [1]

Core Viewpoint - Earnings reports from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are anticipated, which may provide insights into the financial sector's performance and outlook [1] Company Summaries - Goldman Sachs is expected to release its earnings report, which will be closely monitored for indicators of its financial health and market position [1] - Morgan Stanley's earnings report is also due, and analysts will be looking for key metrics that could influence investor sentiment and stock performance [1]

Group 1: Earnings Reports - Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is expected to report quarterly earnings of $11.65 per share on revenue of $13.79 billion, with shares slipping 0.4% to $928.99 in after-hours trading [1] - Morgan Stanley is anticipated to post quarterly earnings of $2.44 per share on revenue of $17.76 billion, with shares rising 0.1% to $181.00 in after-hours trading [1] - BlackRock Inc. is projected to report quarterly earnings of $12.30 per share on revenue of $6.74 billion, with shares falling 0.4% to $1,087.99 in after-hours trading [1] Group 2: Company Performance - Calavo Growers Inc. reported disappointing results for the fourth quarter, but shares jumped 12.9% to $25.50 after Mission Produce announced plans to acquire the company at $27 per share [1] - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. experienced a 35% surge in profit for the fourth quarter, with net profit reaching T$505.7 billion ($16 billion), marking its seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, and shares gained 0.3% to $328.00 in after-hours trading [1]

Core Viewpoint - Goldman Sachs warns that the recent surge in copper prices has likely peaked, with increasing risks of a price correction ahead [1][5]. Group 1: Market Performance - On January 15, the main copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange experienced a sharp decline, dropping nearly 3% at one point, and closing down 2.21% at 101,870 yuan per ton [1]. - In the international market, most base metals also saw declines, with London copper down 1.27%, nickel down 1.55%, aluminum down 0.9%, and tin down 0.5% as of 14:00 Beijing time [3]. Group 2: Price Trends and Predictions - Copper prices have surged nearly 24% since November 20, 2025, but have recently retreated from historical highs due to easing concerns over potential U.S. tariffs on key minerals and a strengthening dollar [4]. - Citigroup's research team indicates that January may represent the peak price for copper in 2026, with a forecast of a return to around $13,000 per ton as a more sustainable level [6][7]. - Goldman Sachs also predicts that the current price surge is primarily driven by speculative trading and concerns over U.S. tariffs, suggesting that once tariff policies become clearer, accumulated metal inventories in the U.S. may flood the global market, exerting downward pressure on prices [4][5]. Group 3: Other Metals and Market Dynamics - Citigroup has raised the probability of a bullish scenario for copper prices reaching $15,000 per ton to 30%, reflecting a higher potential for price increases [8]. - Aluminum is highlighted as having significant structural opportunities, facing its most severe supply shortage in two decades, with short-term targets set at $3,400 per ton and mid-term at $3,500 per ton [8]. - Citigroup has also increased its three-month target price for lithium carbonate to $25,000 per ton, driven by preemptive stocking by downstream battery companies amid tight inventory conditions [9].