Federal Reserve Decision - The Federal Reserve decided to keep benchmark rates unchanged, with two dissenting votes and a slight upgrade in their view of the labor market [1][3] - The market reaction was muted, with the S&P 500 remaining largely unchanged and the dollar rising as measured by the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index [2] Market Reactions - Treasury yields showed little movement, while gold prices increased by approximately 4% [2] - Portfolio managers believe the Fed is likely to remain on hold until new data suggests otherwise, with potential rate cuts expected later in the year [4][5] Company Earnings Reports - Major companies like Microsoft, Meta, and Tesla are set to report earnings, with significant market capitalization implications [14] - Microsoft reported $81.27 billion in revenue, exceeding expectations of $80.3 billion, while its cloud revenue grew by 38% [18][32] - Meta's fourth-quarter revenue was $59.89 billion, better than estimates, with a focus on AI investments [19][20] Investment Strategies - Investors are advised to diversify their fixed income and equity portfolios, with a focus on shorter-duration credit markets [10][12] - The corporate credit markets are tight, with spreads approaching 250 basis points, indicating a cautious but stable investment environment [11] Tesla's Future Plans - Tesla plans to invest $2 billion in preferred shares of XAI, Elon Musk's AI venture, indicating a shift towards AI and robotics [36][59] - The company aims to deliver 20 million EVs by 2026, although there are concerns about the feasibility of these targets given recent revenue declines [62][70] Market Sentiment - Investor sentiment appears to be driven more by long-term narratives rather than short-term fundamentals, particularly for companies like Tesla [64][80] - Concerns exist regarding the sustainability of high valuations in the face of deteriorating economic fundamentals for some tech companies [73][74]
Fed Holds Rates as Big Tech Earnings Hit Markets | The Close 1/28/2026