[DowJonesToday]Wall Street Navigates Political Headwinds as Dow Shows Modest Gains

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market experienced a mixed trading environment on January 12th, 2026, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing by 24.69 points (0.0499%) and Dow Futures rising by 26.00 points (0.0523%) [1][2]. Political Developments - Significant political developments influenced market sentiment, particularly the initiation of a criminal investigation by the Justice Department into Fed Chair Jerome Powell regarding his testimony on Fed building renovations, which Powell claims undermines the central bank's independence [2]. - President Donald Trump proposed a one-year, 10% cap on credit card interest rates, which is expected to have a direct impact on the financial sector [2]. Sector Performance - Walmart (WMT) was the top gainer among Dow components, rising by 3.20%, followed by Caterpillar (CAT) with a 1.92% increase and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) up by 1.85% [3]. - The financial sector faced challenges due to political announcements, with American Express (AXP) experiencing the largest decline at 4.02%, followed by Disney (DIS) down 2.42% and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) falling by 2.03% [3].