Core Viewpoint - Enbridge reported an increase in earnings for the latest quarter, driven by strong demand despite challenges from tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty [1] Group 1: Earnings Performance - The company experienced a lift in earnings for the latest quarter [1] - Strong demand contributed significantly to the earnings growth [1] Group 2: Market Environment - The earnings increase occurred against a backdrop of tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty [1]

Oil held steady on Wednesday as U.S.–Iran talks continued, with lingering geopolitical uncertainty helping to underpin prices.Oil prices gained about 2% on Wednesday, buoyed by potential supply risks should tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalate, while draws of crude from key stockpiles suggested stronger demand.Brent crude oil futures were up $1.39, or 2.02%, at $70.19 a barrel by 10:09 a.m. ET. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.34, or nearly 2.1%, to $65.30."Ongoing tensions in the Middle Ea ...

Core Viewpoint - Oil prices remained stable as the market awaited further direction amid ongoing U.S.–Iran talks, with geopolitical uncertainty providing support for prices [1] Group 1 - The oil market is currently influenced by geopolitical factors, particularly the discussions between the U.S. and Iran [1] - Prices are being underpinned by the lingering uncertainty in the geopolitical landscape [1]

Shopify (SHOP) will release its fourth-quarter financials on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Ahead of earnings, SHOP stock has come under pressure, declining by about 31% in the past month. Concerns around the stock’s valuation and broader geopolitical uncertainty have weighed heavily on sentiment, pushing many investors to the sidelines. Despite the recent selloff, Shopify’s underlying business performance remains solid. The company has shown that it can grow rapidly while maintaining and improving profitability. I ...

Core Viewpoint - The recommendation for iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) is to maintain a "Hold" position due to geopolitical uncertainty and significant government influence in the market [1] Summary by Relevant Categories Investment Recommendation - A "Hold" recommendation is suggested for HDV to ensure quality stocks are retained in the portfolio during uncertain times [1] Market Conditions - The current market is characterized by geopolitical uncertainty and notable government influence, which impacts investment strategies [1]

Core Insights - Gold and silver prices experienced significant declines as investors took profits following President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh to chair the Federal Reserve, easing concerns about potential presidential influence over the central bank [2][5][6] Price Movements - Spot gold fell approximately 10% to around $4,850 per troy ounce after reaching a record high of about $5,600 [3] - Silver prices dropped 28% to trade below $84 an ounce after hitting an all-time high above $120 [3] - Other precious metals also saw declines, with palladium prices down about 15% and platinum slumping 20% after substantial increases over the past year [9] Market Context - Over the past year, gold prices surged nearly 90% and silver prices increased about 250%, driven by geopolitical and economic uncertainties, as well as a weaker U.S. dollar [4][5] - The U.S. dollar index, which had reached a four-year low, rose about 0.7% as the dollar's weakness over the past year has increased foreign demand for metals priced in dollars [8] Investor Sentiment - The nomination of Kevin Warsh, viewed as an establishment-friendly candidate, reassured investors about the Federal Reserve's independence, which had been a concern under Trump's previous pressure for aggressive interest rate cuts [6] - Wall Street's relief was reflected in the rise of the 10-year Treasury yield to 4.25%, indicating expectations for a more balanced interest rate policy under Warsh [7]

Lockheed Martin forecast 2026 profit and revenue above Wall Street estimates on Thursday, anticipating continued demand for its fighter jets and weapons amid rising geopolitical uncertainty. ...

Aerospace and defense supplier Northrop Grumman posted higher fourth-quarter profit and revenue on Tuesday, helped by strong sales in its aeronautics business amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty. ...

Industry Overview - The Zacks Transportation sector is facing challenges due to increased expenses, inflation-driven high interest rates, a decline in freight demand, and supply-chain issues [2][3] - Geopolitical uncertainties and tariff-related economic tensions are negatively impacting consumer sentiment and growth expectations [2] Oil Prices Impact - A decrease in oil prices, which fell by 7% in the October-December 2025 period, is expected to positively affect the bottom-line growth of transportation companies, as fuel costs are a significant input [4] Company Earnings Expectations Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UNP's Q4 2025 earnings is $2.89 per share, reflecting a 0.7% decline year-over-year, with revenues estimated at $6.14 billion, indicating 0.3% growth [7] - Cost-cutting measures are anticipated to support bottom-line performance, although geopolitical uncertainties and inflation may negatively impact results [8] - Current predictions do not indicate an earnings beat for UNP, with an Earnings ESP of -1.25% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [9] United Parcel Service (UPS) - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UPS's Q4 earnings is $2.23 per share, showing a year-over-year decline of 19.27%, with revenues expected at $24.01 billion, down 5.1% [10] - Cost controls and network efficiency are expected to help UPS mitigate lower volumes, with total operating revenues forecasted to decline by 5.4% year-over-year [12] - The model predicts an earnings beat for UPS, with an Earnings ESP of +0.74% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [13] American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AAL's Q4 revenues is $14.07 billion, indicating a 3.02% year-over-year growth, while earnings are expected to be 38 cents per share, down 55.81% from the previous year [14][15] - AAL's performance is expected to benefit from increased domestic air-travel demand, although rising labor and airport costs, along with geopolitical uncertainties, may weigh on operations [15] - Current predictions do not indicate an earnings beat for AAL, with an Earnings ESP of -1.21% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [16] JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU) - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBLU's Q4 loss per share has widened to 45 cents, indicating a significant increase in losses compared to the previous year, with revenues expected at $2.22 billion, reflecting 2.6% growth [17] - JBLU's efforts to expand connectivity in response to demand are likely to support performance, while lower oil prices may also benefit the airline [18] - Current predictions do not indicate an earnings beat for JBLU, with an Earnings ESP of -5.89% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [19]

Group 1: Gold Price Milestone - The spot price of gold has surpassed $5,000 per troy ounce for the first time, reaching a high of $5,115 [1][7] - The price of gold has nearly doubled over the past year, driven by strong investor demand amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty [1][3] Group 2: Investor Sentiment and Market Dynamics - Investor appetite for gold remains strong as it is viewed as a safe haven during volatile times [1][3] - Concerns about inflation and expectations for two Federal Reserve rate cuts this year have supported gold prices into 2026 [4] - The recent rise in gold prices has also positively impacted emerging markets ETFs, with significant gains observed in metal-focused funds [5][6] Group 3: Future Projections - Analysts are targeting higher gold prices, with some projecting a potential rise to $6,000 and even $10,000 by the end of 2029 [3][8] - The demand for gold is further fueled by emerging market central bank purchases aimed at hedging against the U.S. dollar [3]