GOAL KICKSTART Focus on Middle East tensions - cross-asset implications from higher oil prices Last week both geopolitics and tariffs were back in focus. US-Iran tensions escalated, leading to a spike in crude prices. This happened despite a stronger US Dollar, supported by hawkish Fed minutes, jobless claims beating expectations (206k vs 225k forecast) and rising December PCE (+3.0% y/y vs 2.9%). Separately, after the Supreme Court invalidated IEEPA tariffs, President Trump announced a 10% global tariff, r ...

The US Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, saying he exceeded his authority by invoking a federal-emergency powers law to impose his “reciprocal” tariffs as well as targeted import taxes on countries to address fentanyl trafficking.Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic said it’s prudent to have interest rates mildly restrictive as he expects US growth in 2026 to put upward pressure on inflation.The University of Michigan US Feb 1-year inflation expectations were revised lower ...

Group 1 - The dollar index (DXY00) fell by -0.19% due to reduced liquidity demand from a rally in equity markets and negative carryover from weaker US labor market news, which increased the chance of a Fed rate cut at the next FOMC meeting to 19% from 8% [1] - The dollar reached a 4-year low when President Trump expressed comfort with its weakness, compounded by foreign investors withdrawing capital amid a growing budget deficit and political polarization [2] - The University of Michigan US Feb consumer sentiment index rose unexpectedly by +0.9 to a 6-month high of 57.3, while 1-year inflation expectations fell to a 13-month low of 3.5% [3] Group 2 - US Dec consumer credit increased by $24.045 billion, significantly surpassing expectations of $8.000 billion, marking the largest increase in a year [4] - Hawkish comments from Fed officials, including Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic emphasizing the need for restrictive monetary policy to achieve a 2% inflation target, supported the dollar [5] - Swaps markets are pricing in a 19% chance of a -25 basis point rate cut at the next policy meeting, with expectations of a -50 basis point cut by 2026 [6] Group 3 - The EUR/USD pair recovered from a 2-week low, finishing up by +0.37% after initial declines due to weaker German industrial production, but rebounded following better-than-expected German trade news [7]

Group 1 - The current price of gold is reported at $4,955 per ounce [1][2] - Consumer sentiment is measured at 57.3, indicating a specific level of consumer confidence [1][2]

Core Viewpoint - ECB policymaker Jose Luis Escriva indicated that interest rates are expected to remain steady in the foreseeable future due to anchored inflation expectations [1] Group 1 - Interest rates are anticipated to stay stable, reflecting a cautious approach by the ECB in response to current economic conditions [1] - Escriva's comments suggest confidence in the stability of inflation expectations, which may influence future monetary policy decisions [1]

- MarketWatch photo illustration/iStockphoto Gold’s plunge last Friday is not the end of its struggles. That’s because, even in the wake of Friday’s plunge, gold investors are still exuberant. This absence of bearish fear suggests to contrarian analysts that more downside is ahead for gold GC00. Most Read from MarketWatch Consider the average recommended gold-market exposure among a sample of several dozen gold-market timers monitored by my performance-auditing firm. (This average is represented by the ...

Core Insights - Euro zone consumers have raised their longer-term inflation expectations to a record high in December, indicating a belief that prices will grow faster than the European Central Bank's (ECB) target for years to come [1] Group 1 - The European Central Bank conducted a poll showing that inflation expectations among consumers in the Euro zone have reached unprecedented levels [1] - This increase in inflation expectations suggests that consumers anticipate sustained price growth beyond the ECB's target rate [1] - The implications of these expectations could influence monetary policy decisions by the ECB in the future [1]

Group 1: Silver Market Activity - Silver experienced extreme volatility on January 26, with nearly $2 trillion in market cap changing hands within 14 hours [1] - During the session, silver's market value increased by approximately $500 billion from 9:00 AM ET to 1:00 PM ET, followed by a drop of about $950 billion, and then a recovery of another $500 billion by 10:30 PM ET [1][2] - Spot silver prices surged to record levels, trading between $110 and $117 per ounce, driven by a weaker US dollar, global tensions, and broader market stress [3] Group 2: Bitcoin Market Performance - Bitcoin lagged behind silver during the same period, declining about 3% over the past week and remaining below the key $90,000 level, with its current market cap around $1.76 trillion [4] - The market cap of Bitcoin reached $2.49 trillion during an early October 2025 rally but has since decreased [4] Group 3: Investment Insights - Over a 20-year span, investors holding gold and silver would have earned approximately 10.6% per year, while silver's return was only 4.5% last year, which has since improved [5] - Metals and cryptocurrencies often experience significant gains in short bursts, indicating that investors should exercise patience [5] Group 4: Market Focus - The trading community is focused on January 28, referred to as "Super Wednesday," with attention on U.S. crude oil inventory data and the Federal Reserve's rate decision, which could impact inflation expectations and overall market risk appetite [6] - WTI crude futures were last traded at $60.73 per barrel, down 0.72% on the day, with a notable decrease in open interest [6][7]

Core Insights - Mortgage rates are currently stable, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.09%, the lowest in three years, but have slightly increased by 10 basis points recently [3][11] - The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain interest rates, but mortgage rates are influenced by a variety of factors beyond the Fed's decisions [4][11] - The bond market, particularly the 10-year Treasury yield, is the primary driver of 30-year mortgage rates, making them less predictable around Fed meetings [8][10] Mortgage Rate Trends - The average 30-year mortgage rate has seen fluctuations, with a notable increase of almost 1.25 percentage points following a Fed rate cut in late 2024, illustrating the complex relationship between Fed actions and mortgage rates [9][10] - Fannie Mae projects that 30-year mortgage rates will remain relatively stable, with a slight decrease from 6.1% to 6.0% expected through 2026 [13] Homebuyer Guidance - Timing the mortgage market is challenging, as rates can change for reasons unrelated to Fed decisions; buyers are advised to act when financially ready rather than waiting for a specific rate drop [12][15] - Existing homeowners with high mortgage rates (7% or 8%) may consider refinancing, but should evaluate the costs against potential savings to determine if it is worthwhile [14]

Group 1: Energy Sector - WTI crude oil prices increased by more than +2% to a 1-week high, positively impacting energy producers due to President Trump's renewed military threats against Iran [1] - The rise in crude prices was also influenced by reports of the US threatening to limit dollar supply for Iraqi oil sales, pressuring Iraq's politicians to form a government excluding Iran-backed groups [1] Group 2: Precious Metals and Mining Stocks - Gold, silver, and platinum prices reached new record highs, driven by a weaker dollar and geopolitical risks, leading to a boost in mining stocks [2] - Barrick Mining closed up more than +3%, while Newmont Mining and Freeport-McMoRan both closed up more than +2% [16] Group 3: Consumer Sentiment and Economic Indicators - The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index for January was revised upward by +2.4 to a 5-month high of 56.4, exceeding expectations [3][4] - The S&P manufacturing PMI for January rose by +0.1 to 51.9, slightly below expectations [3] Group 4: Stock Market Performance - The broader market saw recovery after early losses, supported by the performance of the Magnificent Seven technology stocks, with Microsoft and Amazon closing up more than +3% and +2% respectively [5][15] - The S&P 500 Index closed up +0.03%, while the Dow Jones closed down -0.58% and the Nasdaq 100 closed up +0.34% [6] Group 5: Earnings Reports and Forecasts - Q4 earnings season began positively, with 81% of the 40 S&P 500 companies that reported beating expectations, and S&P earnings growth projected to increase by +8.4% in Q4 [8] - Capital One Financial Corp reported Q4 adjusted EPS of $3.86, below the consensus of $4.15, leading to a decline of more than -7% in its stock [22]