Why 2026 will be 'very volatile' for stocks, DraftKings CEO talks Super Bowl, sports betting outlook

Market Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 50,000 for the first time, marking a significant milestone with an increase of over 2% for the day [1][6] - The NASDAQ and S&P 500 also saw gains of more than 2%, indicating a sharp rebound from a volatile week [2][6] - Key sectors leading the gains included technology, industrials, and materials, with a notable rotation into consumer staples observed throughout January [3][4] Technology Sector Insights - Major technology stocks like Nvidia, Walmart, JP Morgan, and Amazon experienced declines of over 5%, although some cut their losses by the end of the trading day [4] - The software sector faced significant pressure this week, but there was a bounce back observed in some software stocks [4][5] - The market is questioning long-term returns for hyperscalers, with a distinct repricing of expectations affecting their suppliers, while hardware suppliers continue to perform well [8][9] Cryptocurrency Market - Bitcoin rebounded sharply, increasing by over 10% and making a $10,000 move per token, while Ethereum also rose more than 10% [5][6] - Despite the recovery, some strategists caution that the downward trend in the crypto market may not be over yet [6] Federal Reserve Outlook - Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson indicated a hawkish tone on interest rates, suggesting the current policy stance is well-positioned to stabilize the labor market while addressing inflation risks [20][21] - Jefferson raised his GDP outlook to 2.2%, aligning with last year's performance, while noting that inflation has stalled due to tariffs [21][22] - Concerns about the job market persist, with expectations that the unemployment rate will remain steady around 4.4% [22][23] DraftKings and Super Bowl Betting - DraftKings anticipates significant customer engagement and acquisition during the Super Bowl, estimating $1.7 billion in wagers for the event [27][28] - The company has launched DraftKings Predictions and added Crypto.com to its platform, enhancing its offerings for the Super Bowl [35][36] - DraftKings is focusing on states without legal online sports betting for its prediction products, aligning consumer demand with regulatory compliance [41][42]