Market Overview - U.S. stock futures declined on Monday after a significant rebound on Friday, with major benchmark indices showing lower futures [1] - The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.22%, while the two-year bond was at 3.50%, indicating market expectations for interest rates [2] - The Dow Jones, S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Russell 2000 experienced slight declines of -0.12%, -0.37%, -0.63%, and -0.33% respectively [2] Company Insights - FedEx Corp. rose by 0.47% following a consortium's announcement to acquire InPost for €7.8 billion ($9.254 billion), maintaining a strong price trend and value ranking [6] - ON Semiconductor Corp. fell by 1.38% as analysts anticipate quarterly earnings of 62 cents per share on revenue of $1.54 billion, while maintaining a moderate value ranking [7] - STMicroelectronics is noted for a stronger price trend but has a poor quality ranking according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings [3] - Kroger maintains a strong price trend and solid quality ranking across all time frames [4] Sector Performance - The S&P 500's gains on Friday were led by industrials, energy, and information technology sectors, while consumer discretionary and communication services sectors closed lower [8] Economic Insights - Financial experts attribute the recent rally in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which closed above 50,000 for the first time, to cooling inflation and technical rebounds [9] - Analysts suggest that the S&P 500 may struggle to surpass the 7,000-point milestone without stronger contributions from the tech sector, particularly software [11] - Upcoming CPI data and labor market conditions are critical factors to watch for the year ahead, as noted by Allianz's Chief Economic Adviser [11]

Economic Outlook - The upcoming employment report from the Labor Department is crucial, with expectations of weakness that could allow the Federal Reserve to cut rates later this year, positively impacting sectors like housing, autos, and construction [2][4] - Interest rates have been rising, indicating a need for a weak labor report to sustain stock market growth [2] Stock Market Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average has crossed 50,000, marking significant wealth creation for persistent investors over the past 44 years [3] - Moderna, Inc. has been highlighted as a strong performer, with a nearly 50% increase in January, recovering from a 95% decline from its peak in 2021 [9] Company Focus: Moderna, Inc. - Moderna is recognized for its mRNA medicines and vaccines, with ongoing developments in personalized cancer vaccines, although it remains unprofitable [9][10] - The company is expected to return to revenue growth in 2026, which is a significant development for investors [9] Company Focus: Agnico Eagle Mines Limited - Agnico Eagle is noted as the second-largest gold miner globally, with a strong recommendation to invest in gold stocks due to limited supply growth [11][12] - The company operates primarily in Canada, which is favorable for business, and gold prices have recently surpassed $5,400 an ounce, indicating a bullish outlook for the gold market [12]

FEDERAL RESERVE RATE CUTS NOW LESS THAN 20% LIKELY IN MARCH https://t.co/IxYfM4EVTw ...

If the Reform UK leader wants to raise taxes on bank profits, there are easier ways to do it than scrapping interest rates on central-bank reserves https://t.co/vnxOXvIzds ...

Australia’s household spending growth unexpectedly declined in December following strong gains in the preceding two months, with the outlook for the new year clouded after the Reserve Bank raised interest rates to help restrain demand https://t.co/U4OghsFrph ...

Colombian inflation accelerated in January after a record increase in the minimum wage, cementing expectations that the central bank will keep lifting interest rates https://t.co/I3AQiAbCTc ...

This is Wall Street Week. I'm David Westin, bringing you stories of capitalism. Gold is all over the place, from setting new records to plummeting, to a partial recovery. What does it mean for investors and for those getting the gold out of the ground? Plus, the US had its China shock 20 years ago. Is Europe in store for its own version this time as China looks to find new markets for its exports? And investing in art can be fun. It can be satisfying. But like any investment, it can go down as well as up. W ...

Core Insights - Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Worsh has a voting record that shows he never dissented during his tenure as a Fed Governor, which raises questions about his independence and decision-making style [1][3]. Group 1: Voting Record and Policy Stance - Worsh's voting history from February 2006 to March 2011 indicates he consistently aligned with the FOMC consensus, including three rate hikes upon joining in 2006, followed by steady rates and cuts during the financial crisis [3]. - In April 2008, Worsh expressed concerns about inflation while voting for a 25 basis point rate cut, warning that further cuts could signal a dangerous tolerance for inflation [4]. - Worsh emphasized the importance of central bank independence and maintaining inflation expectations, arguing against succumbing to political pressures [5]. Group 2: Current Perspectives and Future Implications - Recently, Worsh has argued that interest rates could be lower due to a productivity boom from AI, which he believes could help reduce inflation [6]. - The confirmation process for Worsh as Fed Chair is ongoing, with implications for current Fed Chair Jay Powell's future role as his term expires [8].

Core Viewpoint - The interim management statement for Hargreave Hale AIM VCT PLC highlights contrasting economic conditions in the US and UK, with the US showing strong growth while the UK faces challenges including weak economic growth and rising unemployment [3][5]. Economic Overview - The US economy reported a robust growth rate of 4.3% in Q3 2025, despite political pressures [3]. - The UK is projected to have a growth rate of 1.5% for 2025 and 1.4% for 2026, with an unemployment rate rising to 5.1% [5]. - Consumer sentiment in the UK has improved post-Autumn Budget, although business confidence remains fragile [4]. Inflation and Monetary Policy - UK inflation, as measured by CPI, increased by 3.4% year-on-year as of December 2025, down from 3.8% in September 2025 [6]. - The Bank of England reduced interest rates to 3.75% during the quarter, with expectations for further cuts in 2026 [6]. Investment Performance - The unaudited NAV per share decreased by 1.25 pence to 35.21 pence, resulting in a total return of -3.43% for shareholders [9]. - The AIM index returned -0.97% in the three months to December 31, 2025, reflecting a challenging market environment [8]. Qualifying Investments - Hardide saw a significant increase of 157.1% in value, returning to profitability and reporting a 40% year-on-year revenue increase [10]. - Skillcast and Tortilla Mexican Grill also reported positive performance, with increases of 11.7% and 34.3% respectively [11]. - Negative contributors included Cohort, which declined by 36.7% despite solid revenue growth, and Diaceutics, which fell by 23.3% without specific news [12][13]. Portfolio Structure - The company maintained a strong investment position, ending the period with 84.11% invested according to HMRC VCT investment tests [16]. - The weighting to qualifying investments increased from 54.0% to 54.9% by market value [16]. Share Buybacks and Market Activity - The company repurchased 2.6 million shares at an average price of 34.14 pence, with the share price trading at a discount of 4.30% to the last published NAV [21]. - Post-period, the NAV per share increased to 36.33 pence, reflecting a 3.18% rise, while AIM increased by 6.54% [22].

Core Viewpoint - Bitcoin has experienced a significant decline, reaching a 15-month low, with a recent modest recovery in trading prices [1]. Price Movement - Bitcoin's price fell to just above $60,000 before recovering to around $64,948, marking a 3.3% increase [1]. - This represents a 47% decrease from its peak of $122,200 in October of the previous year [2]. Market Influences - The decline in Bitcoin's value occurred despite support from US President Donald Trump, who has implemented pro-crypto policies [3]. - Analysts attribute market concerns to Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the US Federal Reserve, who is anticipated to favor higher interest rates, negatively impacting speculative assets like cryptocurrencies [4]. Broader Market Impact - Other cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum and Solana, have also faced significant losses, contributing to a total market decline of over $2 trillion since the peak in October [4]. - Analysts have indicated that Bitcoin could potentially drop below $40,000, highlighting a correlation between cryptocurrency valuations and the strength of the US dollar [5].