This has not changed in 2026, and the Trump administration is clearly pulling every lever it can to accelerate growth and support the market.James Foord is an economist by trade and has been analyzing global markets for the past decade. He leads the investing group The Pragmatic Investor where the focus is on building robust and truly diversified portfolios that will continually preserve and increase wealth. The Pragmatic Investor covers global macro, international equities, commodities, tech and cryptocurr ...

Small deep value individual investor, with a modest private investment portfolio, split approx. 50%-50% between shares and call options. I have a B.Sc. in aeronautical engineering and over 6 years of experience as an engineering consultant in the aerospace sector. The latter statement is not relevant in any way whatsoever to my investment style, but I thought to add it for self-indulgent purposes. I have a contrarian investment style, highly risky, and often dealing with illiquid options. How illiquid? Well ...

Small deep value individual investor, with a modest private investment portfolio, split approx. 50%-50% between shares and call options. I have a B.Sc. in aeronautical engineering and over 6 years of experience as an engineering consultant in the aerospace sector. The latter statement is not relevant in any way whatsoever to my investment style, but I thought to add it for self-indulgent purposes. I have a contrarian investment style, highly risky, and often dealing with illiquid options. How illiquid? Well ...

Small deep value individual investor, with a modest private investment portfolio, split approx. 50%-50% between shares and call options. I have a B.Sc. in aeronautical engineering and over 6 years of experience as an engineering consultant in the aerospace sector. The latter statement is not relevant in any way whatsoever to my investment style, but I thought to add it for self-indulgent purposes. I have a contrarian investment style, highly risky, and often dealing with illiquid options. How illiquid? Well ...

Core Viewpoint - The individual investor adopts a contrarian investment style, focusing on deep value opportunities, particularly in stocks that have recently experienced sell-offs due to non-recurrent events, while also considering insider buying as a positive signal [1] Investment Strategy - The investment portfolio is split approximately 50%-50% between shares and call options, indicating a balanced approach to risk and potential returns [1] - The investor's timeframe for holding positions typically ranges from 3 to 24 months, suggesting a medium-term investment horizon [1] - Fundamental analysis is employed to assess the health of companies, including their leverage and financial ratios compared to sector and industry averages [1] Stock Selection Criteria - The investor screens thousands of stocks, primarily in the US, looking for those that have undergone recent sell-offs, particularly when insiders are purchasing shares at lower prices [1] - Professional background checks are conducted on insiders who buy shares post-sell-off, adding a layer of due diligence to the investment process [1] Technical Analysis - Technical analysis is utilized to optimize entry and exit points, with a focus on support and resistance levels on weekly charts, employing multicolor lines for clarity [1] - Trend lines are drawn in multicolor patterns, indicating a systematic approach to technical analysis [1]

Core Viewpoint - Alibaba's stock price has been in a bear market, experiencing a decline of approximately 20% from its peak in 2025 [1] Price Movement - The stock price fell to a low of $146 in December [1] - A rebound occurred, with the stock price rising to $152 in pre-market trading [1]

XRP pushed up to $1.87 as exchange-held supply fell to its lowest level since 2018, reinforcing a tightening-float narrative even as price remains stuck below the heavy $1.88–$2.00 resistance band that has repeatedly capped rebounds. News background Exchange balances are being treated as a key signal again. Supply held on trading venues has fallen to roughly 1.6 billion XRP, down about 57% since October, suggesting more tokens are moving into longer-term storage or custody rather than sitting ready to be ...

Core Viewpoint - Amazon has been identified as a top large-cap internet pick for 2026 by Mark Mahaney at Evercore ISI, despite being a laggard among the MAG7 group, underperforming with a 5.5% increase compared to the broader group's 19.5% rise [1][2]. Performance Analysis - Amazon's stock has shown a small breakout beyond a downward sloping trend line but is currently facing resistance at previous highs around $232, with notable levels at $239 and $242, while downside support is identified at $211 and $198 [3]. - The stock is moving sideways with no strong upward momentum, indicating a need for a push to new relative highs alongside the RSI [5]. Technical Indicators - A cluster of weekly, monthly, and quarterly moving averages is observed around $230 to $231, marking an important downside area to monitor for potential breaks [4]. - The volume profile indicates a point of control around $222, with another significant node near $230, suggesting these levels are critical for price stability [6]. Options Activity - Options trading has been relatively light, with a sizzle of 0.7 compared to the 5-day moving average of options volume, and expected moves of approximately 4.7% by January 16 and 10.7% by February 20 [9][10]. - A notable trade involved a $2.2 million debit for March 20th, 220 strike puts, indicating a potential bearish outlook if it was an opening position, requiring a 23% decline to break even [12].

Group 1: Gold Market Analysis - The gold market is currently bullish, but a pullback to the $4,400 level is anticipated as it was previously a resistance area that should now provide support [1] - The size of the candlestick in gold trading is significant, indicating potential market movements, while the silver market's chaos is starting to influence gold trading [1] - Traders in gold may face challenges due to the ongoing situation in the silver market, suggesting a complex trading environment [1] Group 2: Silver Market Insights - Caution is advised due to low trading volume in the silver market, particularly with the New Year holiday affecting market activity [2] - The expectation is that gold prices could eventually reach $5,000 per ounce, although this may not happen immediately [2] - The strategy for gold trading remains focused on buying during dips, with an emphasis on purchasing after signs of upward momentum are observed [2]

Core Viewpoint - The crude oil market is showing signs of stabilization, with a potential breakout above $59 per barrel, supported by technical indicators and market momentum [1][2][3]. Crude Oil Market Analysis - A counter trend signal on the Demark indicators suggests up to 9 weeks of stabilization for crude oil prices, with expectations of lifting above the 50-day moving average [1]. - Current support for crude oil is around $55 per barrel, and if this level holds, a breakout to approximately $68 per barrel is anticipated in the intermediate term [3]. Energy Sector Performance - The energy sector is experiencing a rotation, with some individual stocks gaining momentum while technology and other sectors are losing it [4]. - Companies like SLB are highlighted as having a long-term turnaround underway, with a base breakout following a downtrend, indicating a potential entry point for investors [5][6]. Specific Company Insights - SLB is identified as a key stock to watch, with a favorable chart pattern suggesting a positive outlook [5][6]. - Target Resources (TRGP) is also noted for its secular uptrend, having recently experienced a breakout that positions former resistance as new support [7]. - Other companies such as Halliburton and Exxon Mobil are mentioned as poised to benefit from the anticipated breakout in crude oil prices [7].