Group 1: Gold Market Insights - Spot gold prices approached $4,900 per ounce, raising speculation about reaching $5,000 for the first time [2] - The increase in gold prices is attributed to geopolitical uncertainties, particularly involving U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders [2][32] - Gold's recent trading levels were around $4,800, with a slight cooling as market tensions eased [3] Group 2: U.S. Housing Market Dynamics - In December, there were 631,535 more home sellers than buyers, marking a 47% gap, the widest since Redfin began tracking in 2013 [7][8] - Despite the surplus of sellers, existing-home prices rose for the 30th consecutive month, reaching a median of $405,400 [8] - High mortgage rates above 6% have contributed to housing unaffordability, impacting buyer activity [8] Group 3: Airline Industry Performance - United Airlines reported a profit of $3.4 billion in 2025, but its cost per available seat mile (CASM) exceeded passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) [37][38] - This trend indicates that major U.S. airlines may struggle to profit from passenger transport, relying instead on ancillary revenue sources [37] Group 4: Stock Market Reactions - Following President Trump's comments on Greenland, stocks experienced volatility, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.1% [34][35] - Some Wall Street strategists view this volatility as a buying opportunity, citing strong long-term trends in innovation and AI [10][34] - The energy sector outperformed others, with a 2.3% increase, led by companies like EQT and Texas Pacific Land Trust [22][23] Group 5: Netflix's Market Challenges - Netflix's stock fell nearly 5% after reporting earnings that narrowly exceeded estimates, raising concerns about its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery [19][20] - The stock has declined nearly 40% from its highs last summer, reflecting investor skepticism about its growth prospects [21] Group 6: Treasury Yield Trends - The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to 4.30%, its highest level in months, following geopolitical tensions related to Trump's Greenland acquisition proposal [42][43] - This increase in yields could impact mortgage rates and business investment decisions, raising concerns among investors [42]
Markets News, Jan. 21, 2026: Stocks End Sharply Higher as Trump Rules Out Force in Greenland, Backs Off Threat of New Tariffs