Market Performance - The S&P 500 fell 0.53% to 6,926.60, failing to hold the 7,000 mark [1] - The Nasdaq Composite slid 1.00% to 23,471.75, driven by weakness in tech stocks [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 0.09% to 49,149.63 in a risk-off session [1] Company-Specific Movements - Nvidia dropped 1.44% to $183.14, while Microsoft decreased by 2.40% to $459.38, contributing to the tech sector's decline [2] - Wells Fargo experienced a decline due to mixed earnings and regulatory concerns [2] - Exxon Mobil outperformed the market after its CEO labeled Venezuela as "uninvestable" [2] Investor Sentiment - Investors withdrew from tech and AI stocks, leading to the Nasdaq's largest decline in a month, amid fears of overvaluation and geopolitical shifts [3] - Despite strong earnings from Bank of America, bank stocks fell due to concerns over potential caps on credit card rates affecting revenue [3] - Wells Fargo missed revenue estimates, further impacting investor confidence [3] Economic and Regulatory Factors - Uncertainty regarding Federal Reserve independence has increased, influenced by a Department of Justice investigation into budget overruns [4] - Recent inflation data was lower than expected, raising questions about the pace of future rate cuts and reducing appetite for riskier investments [4] - Gold and silver prices are rising due to increased demand for safe-haven assets [4]

Group 1 - Bitcoin price surged above $95,000 following lower-than-expected US inflation data, with BTC climbing over 4% in 24 hours and altcoins like Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano gaining nearly 8% [1][2] - The decline in inflation leads to cheaper borrowing costs, encouraging investors to return to risk assets such as cryptocurrencies [2][3] - Bond yields fell and the dollar weakened, prompting cash to seek new investment opportunities, with Bitcoin being viewed as a hedge against central bank uncertainty [3] Group 2 - Over $688 million in crypto futures positions were liquidated in one day due to the price surge, primarily affecting traders who were betting against the market [4] - New investors are cautioned against emotional buying during sharp rallies, with a recommendation to focus on spot buying rather than leveraged trading [5] - Bitcoin is nearing price levels that previously triggered significant selling, and the rapid rebuilding of leverage in derivatives markets could lead to increased volatility [6][7]

Group 1 - No relevant content available in the provided documents [1][2][3][4][5][6]

Core Insights - Involvement of politicians in central-bank decisions leads to increased unpredictability in inflation, the dollar, and the stock market [1] Group 1 - Political interference in central banking can disrupt traditional economic indicators and market behaviors [1] - The relationship between monetary policy and economic stability may be compromised due to political agendas [1] - Investors may face heightened uncertainty as a result of this political involvement, impacting their decision-making processes [1]

Gold-linked ETFs jumped to fresh 52-week highs on Wednesday as bullion's relentless rally powered inflows into both physical and mining-focused products, with investors seeking shelter from mounting political and monetary uncertainty.The GS Physical Gold ETF (NYSE:AAAU), GraniteShares Gold Trust (NYSE:BAR) and Themes Gold Miners ETF (NASDAQ:AUMI) all touched new one-year peaks, tracking a surge in spot gold that has rewritten the record books multiple times this week. On Wednesday, gold touched fresh all-ti ...

Market Overview - U.S. equity markets experienced a downturn on January 14th, 2026, with major indexes declining as investors reacted to mixed bank earnings, new economic data, and ongoing geopolitical tensions [1][2] - The Nasdaq Composite led the declines, falling approximately 1.6%, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average also finished lower [2] Major Market Indexes Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 285 points, or 0.6%, after a previous 400-point drop [2] - The S&P 500 declined by about 1% as of midday, marking its second consecutive session of losses after reaching an all-time high [2] - The Nasdaq Composite saw the steepest drop, falling approximately 1.6% by midday, primarily due to declines in prominent tech stocks [2] Economic Indicators - The 10-year Treasury yield eased to around 4.14%, down from above 4.18%, indicating a flight to safety among investors [3] - Gold reached an all-time high of $4,650 per ounce, while silver crossed the $90-an-ounce mark, reflecting increased demand for safe-haven assets amid market uncertainty [3] - The Producer Price Index (PPI) for November rose by 0.2%, slightly below the expected 0.3% increase, while core PPI remained flat, suggesting easing price pressures [6] - U.S. retail sales for November increased by 0.6%, exceeding the predicted 0.4% rise, indicating resilient consumer demand [6] Upcoming Market Events - The Federal Reserve is set to release its "Beige Book" report, which will provide insights into economic activity and could influence future monetary policy decisions [4] - The fourth-quarter earnings season is ongoing, with major companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and BlackRock expected to report soon [5] Major Stock News and Developments - In the financial sector, Wells Fargo shares fell by 4.5% to 5.6% after reporting weaker-than-expected results, while Bank of America saw a decline of 3.5% to 5% despite stronger profits [7] - Citigroup shares dropped by 3.5% to 4.6% following its profit report, contributing to downward pressure on the broader market [7] - In the technology sector, Nvidia shares fell by 2% to 2.1%, while Broadcom dropped 5%, and other tech giants like Tesla and Amazon also experienced declines [9] - Energy stocks showed strength, with Exxon Mobil rising 2.6% and Chevron climbing 2.1%, attributed to rising oil prices amid geopolitical tensions [10] Other Notable Movers - Netflix stock slipped over 2% amid reports of a potential all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO Max [11] - Biogen shares tumbled 4.3% to 6% due to anticipated profit impacts from R&D expenses [11] - Bitcoin continued its strong performance, trading around $97,400, positively affecting crypto-linked stocks [11]

Inflation Trends - Inflation has continued to cool, with World Economy Weighted Inflation decreasing from 4.4% to 3.3% in 2025, aided by low supply chain pressures and moderated wage growth [1][4] - The setup for an inflationary spike similar to 2021/22 is not present, as global money growth is rising but velocity is falling [2] Economic Conditions - Inflation in the 2-4% range is favorable for equities, providing companies with pricing power and top-line growth, but concerns arise when inflation approaches 4% [3] - The U.S. faces higher inflation risks due to aggressive fiscal spending, erosion of central bank independence, and a positive output gap, while other countries like Germany, Japan, France, and Canada have negative gaps [4][5] Long-term Inflation Outlook - Inflation has eroded purchasing power by over 20% in the past four years, and while portfolio returns have kept pace, long-term inflation is expected to be higher and more volatile than in the 2010s [6] - Secular factors are becoming more inflationary, with globalization trends shifting from disinflationary to inflationary due to tariffs and supply chain diversification [7] Policy and Debt Implications - Erosion of central bank independence poses risks for monetary policy effectiveness, particularly in the U.S. and some developing countries, while fiscal spending is rising globally, which may increase inflation [8] - Total debt is disinflationary as it crowds out investment, and significant levels of debt exist in the economy [9] Technological Impact - Technology that enhances productivity is generally disinflationary, but current capital expenditures on AI infrastructure are inflationary, contributing to inflationary cyclicality [10] Investment Strategies - To mitigate the risks of higher and more volatile inflation, equities, especially those with dividend growth, are recommended as a defense, along with real asset exposure [11]

Economic Outlook - The US economy is demonstrating "resilience," with Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari indicating no current impetus for the Fed to cut interest rates this month [1] - The November PPI final demand increased by 3.0% year-over-year, surpassing expectations of 2.7% [1] - The dollar found support from stronger-than-expected US economic data, including retail sales and producer prices [1] Federal Reserve Insights - The Fed Beige Book reported a slight to modest pace of economic activity growth across most regions since mid-November, marking an improvement from previous reports [2] - Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson anticipates inflation moderating and growth around 2% this year, suggesting modest rate adjustments may be appropriate later in the year [3] - Markets are currently pricing in a 5% chance of a 25 basis point rate cut at the upcoming FOMC meeting on January 27-28 [3] Currency Market Dynamics - The dollar index fell by 0.03% on Wednesday, pressured by a rally in the yen and concerns regarding Fed independence [2] - The dollar is expected to face ongoing weakness as the FOMC is projected to cut interest rates by approximately 50 basis points in 2026 [4] - The dollar is under pressure due to increased liquidity measures by the Fed, including a $40 billion monthly purchase of T-bills [5] Precious Metals Market - Precious metals, including gold and silver, surged due to rising tensions in Iran and safe-haven demand, with gold reaching an all-time high of $4,635.00 per ounce [11][12] - Strong central bank demand for gold is evident, with China's PBOC reserves increasing by 30,000 ounces to 74.15 million troy ounces in December [17] - Fund demand for precious metals remains robust, with gold and silver ETF holdings reaching multi-year highs [18]

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Her dad's fridge was nearly empty. His toilet paper was gone. Rent had jumped to $750, and his only income was a $1,000 monthly disability check. In a post on Reddit, a woman shared how she tried to help without humiliating him. He never asked for anything. But he hadn't been eating. "He said he was humiliated and how this should be reversed — he should be helping me," she wrote. "How he has taken food fro ...

Core Viewpoint - Inflation remains the primary reason many households are experiencing financial pressure [1] Group 1 - The ongoing inflationary environment is significantly impacting household financial stability [1]