US stock futures slid on Monday after a dramatic sell-off in gold and silver unnerved investors, with tech leading the way lower as AI trade worries swirled and Federal Reserve uncertainty deepened. Nasdaq 100 futures (NQ=F) dropped 0.7%, while those on the S&P 500 (ES=F) fell about 0.5%. Contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F), which includes fewer tech names, hovered just below the flat line. All three indexes pared steeper overnight losses that followed a sharp reversal on Wall Street on F ...

US stocks found a foothold on Monday after a dramatic sell-off in gold and silver unnerved investors, shaking off AI trade worries as earnings flooded in and Federal Reserve uncertainty swirled. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose 0.6%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) added roughly 0.3%. Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) moved up 0.2%, shaking off the premarket maiaise for techs. All three indexes suffered a sharp reversal on Friday as precious metals skidded. Wall Street is heading ...

Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced a decline at the end of January, influenced by weakness in the tech sector and a significant selloff in commodities, despite solid earnings reports [3][21] - The S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq all closed lower on the last trading day of January, with the S&P 500 down 0.43% to 6,939.03 and the Dow down 0.36% to 48,892.47 [5][21] - The Russell 2000 index outperformed, surging 5% for the month, indicating a potential rotation towards small-cap stocks [4][18] Earnings Season Insights - Earnings season has shown solid but not exceptional results, with 74.4% of 133 S&P 500 companies beating expectations, slightly below the four-quarter average of 78% [8] - Q4 earnings are projected to grow by 10.2% year-over-year, with full-year 2026 earnings expected to increase by 15% [8] Tech Sector Performance - The tech sector faced significant pressure, particularly after Microsoft's disappointing cloud growth guidance, which led to a sector-wide selloff [7][21] - The "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks are under scrutiny, with even earnings beats being sold off if guidance is disappointing [7][17] Commodity Market Dynamics - The commodity markets experienced a dramatic reversal, with gold plunging 11.4% to $4,745 and silver crashing 31.4%, marking its worst single-day drop in modern history [9] - The selloff was triggered by profit-taking following a surge in prices earlier in the week, as investors reacted to the nomination of Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair [9][19] Federal Reserve and Economic Data - Kevin Warsh's nomination as Fed Chair has created uncertainty regarding the Fed's future path, as he is perceived as hawkish on inflation but dovish on rates [6][18] - Recent economic data indicated a rise in the Producer Price Index (PPI) for December by 0.5% month-over-month, suggesting the Fed may maintain higher rates for an extended period [13] Upcoming Events and Expectations - The upcoming week features significant earnings reports from major companies, including Palantir, Disney, Alphabet, and Amazon, which will be closely watched for insights into cloud growth and AI capital expenditures [15][17] - The January jobs report is anticipated to be pivotal, with expectations of a +70K increase in nonfarm payrolls, which could influence market expectations for Fed policy in 2026 [16][18]

分组1 - Economists expect nonfarm payrolls to rise by 68K last month, with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 4.4% [3] - The upcoming earnings reports from Alphabet and Amazon are anticipated to highlight AI demand and cost-cutting measures [2][5] - Amazon is projected to report an EPS of $1.94 on revenue of $211 billion, with potential for an upside surprise due to AWS capacity additions [5][6] 分组2 - Amazon's recent layoffs, approximately 10% of its corporate workforce, are seen as a shift towards AI-driven operations, which may enhance efficiency [6] - The total cryptocurrency market cap has decreased by about 4%, falling below $2.8 trillion, with Bitcoin dropping below $80K, marking its lowest level since April 2025 [8][9] - Citigroup, MetLife, and Valero are set to go ex-dividend, with payout dates in February and March, indicating ongoing income opportunities for investors [9]

Group 1: Economic Indicators - Economists expect nonfarm payrolls to rise by 68K last month, with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 4.4% [3] - The upcoming jobs numbers may be overshadowed by comments from Fed-chair nominee Kevin Warsh regarding interest rates [3][4] Group 2: Earnings Reports - Amazon is projected to report EPS of $1.94 on revenue of $211 billion, with analysts anticipating an upside surprise due to AWS capacity additions and AI infrastructure demand [5] - Alphabet is set to report earnings on Wednesday, while Amazon will follow on Thursday, highlighting the focus on megacap companies this week [5][6] Group 3: Industry Trends - Amazon's recent layoffs, approximately 10% of its corporate workforce, are seen as a shift towards AI-driven operations, reflecting a broader trend in Big Tech [6] - The labor market may face deterioration as companies increasingly adopt AI, potentially leading to more layoffs and reduced hiring [4] Group 4: Cryptocurrency Market - Bitcoin has dipped below $80K, marking its lowest level since April 2025, and has experienced a fourth consecutive monthly decline [8] - The total cryptocurrency market cap has decreased by about 4%, falling below $2.8 trillion, with Bitcoin now ranking as the 12th-largest asset by market cap [9]

Jobs Report, Amazon, Disney, Alphabet, Palantir, and More to Watch This Week - Barron'sSkip to Main ContentThis copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.# Jobs Report, Amazon, Disney, Alphabet, Palantir, and More to Watch This WeekByDan LamShareResize---ReprintsIn this ...

Employment Data and Economic Indicators - The January employment report is crucial for assessing labor market health amid a new Fed chair nominee, with nonfarm payrolls, unemployment rate, and wage growth data being key indicators [1] - The ADP employment report and JOLTS job openings will provide insights into private sector employment and labor demand trends, while initial jobless claims will complete the employment picture [1] - Strong employment numbers could complicate the new Fed chair's policy stance, suggesting persistent economic strength, while significant weakness could allow for a dovish approach [1] Market Reactions and Economic Context - February begins with a volatile market following January's trading, influenced by unexpected inflation data and the new Federal Reserve chair nominee [2] - Precious metals, particularly silver, experienced significant selloffs, with silver dropping over 27% after a rally, indicating market turbulence [2] - The upcoming week features critical employment data and earnings reports from major companies, creating a complex backdrop for market positioning [2] Technology Sector Insights - Earnings reports from Alphabet and Amazon are critical for evaluating the health of digital advertising and cloud infrastructure investments [3] - Alphabet's performance will be analyzed for trends in search advertising and YouTube, while Amazon's results will provide insights into e-commerce margins and AWS performance [3] - Both companies' commentary on AI integration and enterprise cloud spending will be vital for technology sector sentiment [3] Pharmaceutical Sector Developments - Earnings from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk will shed light on the GLP-1 weight loss drug market, which has significantly impacted their market capitalizations [4] - Key metrics such as patient demand, production capacity, and insurance coverage trends will be scrutinized to assess market sustainability [4] - Broader pharmaceutical earnings from Pfizer and Merck will provide context on drug pricing and healthcare spending trends [4] Semiconductor Sector Analysis - Earnings from AMD, Qualcomm, and Arm Holdings will offer insights into the semiconductor sector following recent volatility in AI infrastructure [5] - AMD's results will be critical for understanding its competitive position against Nvidia in the data center GPU market [5] - The earnings will also provide perspectives on consumer electronics demand through smartphone and mobile computing trends [6] Manufacturing and Services Sector Data - The ISM Manufacturing PMI and Manufacturing PMI will provide initial economic data for February, focusing on industrial sector health and pricing pressures [7] - Services sector assessments through Services PMI and ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI will offer insights into the economy's largest sector [7] - The convergence of manufacturing and services data will help determine the economic momentum entering 2026, influencing Fed policy considerations [7]

Technology stocks are likely to continue leading the broader market higher in 2026, fueled by the artificial intelligence boom.The benchmark S&P 500 index returned 16.4% during 2025, far outpacing its average annual gain of 10.6% dating back to its inception in 1957. However, had investors bought the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT 1.69%) at the start of last year instead, they would have earned a much higher return of 21.2%. This Vanguard exchange-traded fund (ETF) exclusively invests in companies ...

Core Viewpoint - The software sector is experiencing its worst month since the Lehman Brothers collapse, with significant declines in stock prices and growing concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on traditional business models [1][5]. Group 1: Market Performance - The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (NYSE:IGV) is on track for its steepest monthly drop since October 2008, with a single-day decline of approximately 6% [1][3]. - Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:MSFT) saw a drop of over 12%, marking its worst day since the onset of the lockdown [2]. - High-profile software companies like Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:PLTR), Oracle Corp (NASDAQ:ORCL), and AppLovin Corp (NASDAQ:APP) have all experienced declines of about 20% for the month [3]. Group 2: Analyst Insights - Analysts are increasingly suggesting that the current selloff reflects changing fundamentals rather than just short-term disappointments, as AI technology begins to transform software development and consumption [5]. - Thomas Shipp from LPL Financial raised the question of whether software businesses can survive the advancements in AI, noting the historical scalability of software businesses [5]. - Subscription-based models have traditionally supported premium valuations, but these could be at risk if software companies are displaced by AI advancements [6]. Group 3: Future Considerations - Most software producers will need to integrate their own AI enhancements to maintain market share in the evolving landscape [7].

Core Viewpoint - The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) has significantly outperformed the broader market, including the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, with an increase of 8.50% this year, reaching an all-time high, while the S&P 500 has only risen by 1% [1]. Group 1: Performance and Market Trends - The SCHD ETF has surged nearly 30% from its lowest level in April last year, primarily due to a rotation from technology stocks to value stocks [2]. - Many technology stocks have experienced significant declines, with NVIDIA dropping 10% and Microsoft falling 22% from their respective highs [3]. Group 2: Sector Contributions - The energy sector has played a crucial role in the SCHD stock rally, comprising 20% of the fund, as energy stocks have surged due to rising crude oil prices, with Brent reaching $70 [4]. - The State Street Energy Select Sector ETF (XLE) has also seen a 40% increase from its lowest level in April last year, reaching a record high [5]. Group 3: Upcoming Catalysts - Key corporate earnings reports from major companies, including Palantir, Walt Disney, and AMD, are expected to impact SCHD's performance this week [6]. - Additional catalysts include the upcoming US non-farm payrolls data and the nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair [7]. Group 4: Technical Analysis - The SCHD ETF has shown a strong uptrend, rising from a low of $23.20 in April last year to the current price of $29.82, consistently staying above the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages [10]. - The Average Directional Index (ADX) has reached 43, indicating strong momentum, with bulls targeting a resistance level at $35, while a drop below $28 would invalidate the bullish outlook [11].