Group 1: Market Reaction - The prices of gold and silver experienced significant declines, with gold dropping over 12% to a low of $4682 per ounce, marking the largest single-day drop in 40 years, and closing down 9.25% at $4880 per ounce [2] - Silver saw an unprecedented drop of over 36%, reaching a low of $74.28 per ounce, and closing down 26.42% at $85.259 per ounce [2] - The U.S. stock market indices collectively fell, with the Dow Jones down 0.36%, S&P 500 down 0.43%, and Nasdaq down 0.94%, reflecting increased market concerns [3] Group 2: Influencing Factors - The sell-off in gold and silver was triggered by a rebound in the U.S. dollar, following reports of President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh as the new Federal Reserve Chairman, which was later confirmed [2][4] - Standard Chartered's global head of commodity research noted that the market was already due for a correction, and the announcement of the Fed Chair nominee, along with broader macroeconomic factors, acted as catalysts for profit-taking [2] - The U.S. dollar index saw a significant increase, marking its largest single-day rise since July of the previous year, which negatively impacted investor confidence in gold and silver [2] Group 3: Sector Performance - The gold sector faced substantial losses, with major companies like Newmont down 11.52%, Barrick Gold down 12.09%, and AngloGold down 13.28% [3] - The technology sector also experienced declines, with major tech stocks like Meta and TSMC dropping nearly 3%, while Amazon fell by 1% [3] - Chinese concept stocks saw a downturn, with the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index closing down 2.36%, and individual stocks like Bilibili and Li Auto dropping over 3% [3]

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) turned in a blockbuster quarter on Thursday, featuring record-breaking iPhone sales in the key holiday quarter. The company topped estimates on the top and bottom lines in the quarter, as revenue jumped 16% to $143.8 billion with iPhone sales up 23% to $85.3 billion. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » Profits also grew by a similar percentage, showing ...

Core Insights - The year 2026 has begun with notable cross-asset volatility due to rising geopolitical risks, late-cycle monetary uncertainty, and uneven earnings visibility, leading to sharp sector and asset-class rotations rather than broad sell-offs [1] Precious Metals - Gold has traded above $5,300/oz and silver exceeded $110/oz in January, marking one of the strongest monthly starts in decades, with gold up approximately 23% in January, its best monthly performance since the 1980s [2] - In 2025, gold rose 65.2% and silver more than 150%, significantly outperforming global equities, while gold-mining equities gained 166.4%, compared to a 23.1% increase in the FTSE All-World Index [3] Earnings Outlook - Despite macroeconomic stress, the mean earnings-per-share (EPS) estimate for the Zacks S&P 500 Composite indicates a growth of 29.3% in 2026, with capital rotating towards assets with pricing power and strong balance sheets [8] AI Capital Expenditure - Companies are increasing long-term investments in AI data centers, advanced semiconductors, and cloud infrastructure, making this spending a strategic necessity rather than a discretionary upgrade [9][10] Sector Positioning for 2026 - Selective sector allocation is recommended for 2026, focusing on three standout sectors: AI infrastructure and semiconductors, precious metals and gold-linked equities, and energy and critical materials [11] AI Infrastructure & Semiconductors - Capital is concentrating in companies with AI capacity, with NVIDIA and Micron Technology emerging as key beneficiaries, projected to report earnings growth of 57.1% and 298.7% respectively in their upcoming fiscal years [12] Precious Metals & Gold-linked Equities - Gold-mining equities are outperforming bullion due to higher realized prices and disciplined capital expenditure, with Newmont and Barrick projected to report earnings growth of 20.8% and 45% respectively in 2026 [14] Energy & Critical Materials - The demand for electricity and key inputs like copper and nickel is accelerating due to AI data centers, with utilities like NextEra expected to report earnings growth of 7.8% in 2026 [16]

分组1 - Starbucks is focusing on operational excellence and customer service through its Green Apron service program, which aims to enhance the customer experience and improve transaction growth [2][34][37] - The company reported positive same-store sales in the US and strong growth in China, indicating a successful turnaround strategy [33][34] - Starbucks plans to introduce new drinks, food items, and an upgraded rewards program, along with remodeling stores to enhance customer experience [34][41][46] 分组2 - In the tech sector, companies that fail to deliver on AI promises during earnings reports, such as Microsoft and ServiceNow, are facing significant market penalties, with Microsoft losing $357 billion in market cap [5][6] - Conversely, companies like Apple that demonstrate strong performance and potential in AI, particularly with a $16 billion year-over-year increase in iPhone sales, are being rewarded by the market [7][10] - The S&P 500 software and services index has reached a nine-month low, highlighting a bifurcation in tech stocks where only those with strong AI strategies are thriving [6][22] 分组3 - The recent appointment of Kevin Walsh as the next Fed chairman could influence market dynamics, particularly regarding interest rates and asset allocation strategies [3][31] - The market is currently experiencing volatility in precious metals, with gold prices dropping significantly, indicating potential shifts in investor sentiment [24][25][28] - Analysts are observing a super cycle in memory stocks, driven by demand for AI-related technologies, which could present investment opportunities [18][19]

Group 1 - Micron Technology's stock rose over 3%, marking a cumulative increase of over 57% for the month [1] - The company's market capitalization has surpassed $500 billion for the first time [1]

Core Viewpoint - Micron Technology (MU.US) shares rose nearly 4% to $452.89, reaching a new all-time high, as major memory chip manufacturers take unprecedented measures to curb customer stockpiling behavior amid ongoing supply constraints [1] Group 1: Industry Actions - The three major memory chip manufacturers, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron, have begun to tighten order requirements and demand disclosure of end-user and order volume information from customers to ensure the authenticity of demand and prevent excessive stockpiling [1] - The inventory levels of these memory giants have dropped to historical lows, with SK Hynix's DRAM inventory significantly decreasing year-over-year in Q4, and Samsung's DRAM inventory reduced to approximately six weeks of supply, which is about half of the normal 10-12 weeks level [1] Group 2: Market Conditions - The tightening of order requirements and stricter monitoring of customer purchasing behavior by the three companies highlight the severe imbalance between supply and demand in the current memory chip market [1]

Core Viewpoint - Micron Technology (MU.US) shares rose nearly 4% to $452.89, reaching a new all-time high, as major memory chip manufacturers take unprecedented measures to curb customer stockpiling behavior amid ongoing supply constraints [1] Group 1: Industry Actions - The three major memory chip giants, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron, have begun to tighten order requirements and demand disclosure of end-user and order volume information from customers to ensure the authenticity of demand and prevent excessive stockpiling [1] - Current inventory levels for these memory giants have dropped to historical lows, with SK Hynix's DRAM inventory significantly decreasing year-over-year in Q4, and Samsung's DRAM inventory reduced to approximately six weeks of supply, which is about half of the normal 10-12 weeks level [1] Group 2: Market Conditions - The tightening of order requirements and stricter monitoring of customer purchasing behavior by these companies highlights the severe imbalance between supply and demand in the current memory chip market [1]

Group 1 - Micron Technology's stock rose over 3%, marking a cumulative increase of over 57% this month [1] - The company's market capitalization has surpassed $500 billion for the first time [1]

Core Viewpoint - Micron Technology has been granted a patent for "Hybrid Fan-Out Semiconductor Components and Related Methods and Systems," indicating advancements in semiconductor technology [1] Group 1 - The patent was officially announced with the authorization number CN114551413B [1] - The application date for the patent was November 2021 [1]

Core Viewpoint - Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) has seen a significant increase in its stock price, attributed to its capability in manufacturing advanced memory chips and ongoing demand driven by data centers [2][3]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Micron Technology's shares have risen by 387% over the year [2]. - Bernstein analysts raised the price target for Micron from $270 to $330 while maintaining an Outperform rating [2]. - HSBC increased Micron's price target from $350 to $500, citing strong pricing power and a Buy rating [2]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The company is positioned to benefit from strong memory chip prices through 2026 due to robust demand from data centers [2]. - Jim Cramer highlighted that Micron is experiencing a shortage, which is affecting its ability to meet demand rather than a lack of demand itself [3]. Group 3: Investment Perspective - While Micron is viewed as a potential investment, there is a belief that some AI stocks may offer higher returns with limited downside risk [3].