Analysts expect earnings per share (EPS) of $0.63 and revenue of approximately $1.34 billion for Robinhood's upcoming quarterly earnings.The company's valuation is highlighted by a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 33.57 and a price-to-sales ratio of 17.71, indicating investors' high expectations for growth.Robinhood's financial health is underscored by ratios such as an enterprise value to sales ratio of 20.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83, reflecting its market valuation and debt level.Robinhood Marke ...

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday refused to rule out the possibility of a criminal investigation of Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump's nominee for Federal Reserve chair, if Warsh ends up refusing to cut interest rates.Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, questioned Bessent about a joke Trump made over the weekend about suing Warsh if he does not reduce rates to the president's liking, according to the Wall Street Journal. "I think ...

Mortgage Rates Overview - The average 30-year mortgage rate is currently at 6.1%, slightly up from 6.09% the previous week, while the average 15-year mortgage rate is at 5.49%, up from 5.44% [1][2] - Mortgage rates have stabilized after a dip earlier in January, remaining near levels seen during much of the fall [1] Federal Reserve Influence - The Federal Reserve has held benchmark interest rates steady, following three consecutive quarter-point cuts, indicating a cautious approach to future rate changes [4] - Fed Chairman Jerome Powell emphasized a meeting-by-meeting strategy for setting rates, acknowledging that inflation remains "somewhat elevated" while the job market shows signs of stabilization [4] Market Expectations - The Mortgage Bankers Association forecasts that mortgage rates will remain in the 6% to 6.5% range for the foreseeable future, which is expected to support a somewhat stronger spring housing market compared to last year, but not a breakout year [5] - High borrowing costs continue to strain affordability, keeping many potential homeowners on the sidelines and limiting new listings [2]

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions significantly impact borrowing costs, the job market, and overall economic conditions, with recent cuts expected to continue influencing these areas. Group 1: Interest Rate Changes and Economic Impact - The Fed raised interest rates to a 23-year high in 2022 and 2023 to combat inflation, but a downturn in hiring in 2024 led to a full percentage point cut in rates [1] - The Fed is expected to lower borrowing costs for a third time in December 2025, following cuts in September and October [1] - Cheaper borrowing costs can incentivize businesses to hire and invest, while expensive rates can lead to reduced consumer spending and hiring, worsening the job market [2] Group 2: Borrowing Costs and Consumer Finance - The Fed's interest rate decisions have a domino effect on various forms of borrowing, including auto loans, credit cards, and home equity lines of credit [3] - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets eight times a year to adjust the federal funds rate, which influences the entire economy [4] - Borrowing costs for significant items have increased since rates were near zero during the pandemic, with notable changes in home equity lines of credit, credit cards, and car loans [10][11] Group 3: Job Market and Employment - The job market has cooled significantly, with the unemployment rate above 4% since May 2024, and only 584,000 jobs added in 2025, a stark contrast to the previous year's growth [32] - Job cuts in 2025 surpassed one million, indicating a trend typically seen during recessions [33] - Concerns about job security have risen, with 69% of workers worried about their job stability, impacting their bargaining power for pay raises [34] Group 4: Influence on Savings and Investments - The Fed's rate hikes have led to the highest yields on savings accounts and CDs in over a decade, but yields decrease with rate cuts [15][18] - Higher interest rates make it harder for households to obtain credit, with 48% of applicants denied loans or financial products between December 2023 and December 2024 [19] - The stock market reacts negatively to higher rates, as investors often shift towards safer investments, impacting portfolio values [23][25]

Currency Market - The EUR/USD pair fell to a 6-week low, finishing down by -0.08% due to dollar strength, despite initial gains following comments from ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane regarding comfortable monetary policy settings [1] - The dollar is under pressure as the Fed increases liquidity by purchasing $40 billion a month in T-bills, and concerns arise over President Trump's potential appointment of a dovish Fed Chair [2] - The dollar index (DXY) rose by +0.04% after recovering from early losses, supported by stronger-than-expected US manufacturing production and Trump's reluctance to nominate a dovish candidate for Fed Chair [6] Economic Indicators - The US December manufacturing production unexpectedly rose by +0.2% month-over-month, contrary to expectations of a -0.1% decline, with November's production revised upward to +0.3% [4] - The January NAHB housing market index unexpectedly fell by -2 to 37, weaker than the anticipated increase to 40 [3] Japanese Yen Dynamics - The USD/JPY pair fell by -0.35% as the yen strengthened following hawkish comments from Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, who indicated readiness for bold action to support the yen [8] - Concerns over the yen's weakness are exacerbated by potential political instability, with reports suggesting a snap election could be called, raising fears of continued expansionary fiscal policy [10] - The yen is also affected by escalating tensions between China and Japan, particularly following China's export controls that could impact Japan's economy [11] Precious Metals Market - February COMEX gold closed down -28.30 (-0.61%), and March COMEX silver closed down -3.810 (-4.12%) due to higher global bond yields and easing geopolitical risks in Iran [12][13] - Demand for precious metals is supported by concerns over the Fed's independence and potential easier monetary policy, as well as ongoing geopolitical risks [16][18] - Strong central bank demand for gold is evident, with China's PBOC increasing its reserves by +30,000 ounces to 74.15 million troy ounces in December, marking the fourteenth consecutive month of increases [19]

Economic Indicators - The minutes from the December Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting will provide insights into the Fed's economic outlook ahead of its next meeting in late January [4] - Weekly jobless claims report is expected to highlight the labor market, with the U.S. economy likely losing an average of 20,000 jobs per month between April and September [4] - Pending home sales data for November will indicate future sales levels in a housing market facing affordability challenges [5] Market Trends - The first trading session of 2026 is anticipated to follow a year where major stock indexes closed higher by double digits after a recovery from an April downturn [2] - Analysts predict another volatile year for stocks, with strong trading in December and January potentially setting the tone for investors [2] Upcoming Events - Key economic reports scheduled for the week include pending home sales on Monday, the S&P Case-Shiller home price index on Tuesday, and initial jobless claims on Wednesday [5][9] - Bond markets will close early at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, while stock markets will operate normally on New Year's Eve [1]

Core Insights - Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experienced a slight rise following the Federal Reserve's final interest rate cut of the year, which was a reduction of 0.25% [1][2] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that future interest rate decisions may be complicated due to conflicting economic data, emphasizing that inflation remains high and the labor market has softened [2][4] - Analysts noted that markets had already anticipated the interest rate cut, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum saw minor fluctuations in response to Powell's comments [3][6] Cryptocurrency Market Reactions - Bitcoin rose slightly by over 1% after Powell's comments but later retraced those gains, trading at approximately $93,703 [3] - Ethereum also saw a minor increase, trading around $3,357, up nearly 2% [3] - XRP fluctuated, priced slightly over $2 during the same period [3] Federal Reserve's Position - The Federal Reserve has been divided on interest rate policies, with some members advocating for looser monetary policy [1][4] - Powell's term is set to expire in May, and there is speculation about potential changes in leadership and policy direction depending on political developments [4][5] Market Conditions and Future Outlook - The cryptocurrency market is expected to remain stable until May 2026 unless a bearish catalyst emerges [5] - Bitcoin's price has been affected by various factors, including political instability and liquidity issues in the digital asset markets [5][6] - Historically, cryptocurrencies have performed well in low-interest rate environments, and traders are banking on continued rate cuts to support digital asset prices [6][7]

Key Points Shiba Inu's standing as a top speculative asset for investors and traders to play shifts in market sentiment is well known. Today's compelling intraday move Shiba Inu may suggest that speculators are banking on a less-hawkish cut than many expected. That's what the underlying data suggest, at least in terms of liquidations and large transactions over the past day. 10 stocks we like better than Shiba Inu › Meme coin Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB) has posted another green day ahead of a highly ...

Market Overview - The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 2.2%, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 1.6% and 0.8%, respectively, due to weak global markets and concerns over AI stock valuations [1][6] - India's equity indices declined by 0.5%, with the NSE Nifty closing at 26,068 and the BSE Sensex at 85,231, despite gains of 0.6% and 0.8% for the week [6][7] Economic Indicators - The US jobs report indicated a lower probability of an interest rate cut, contributing to negative market sentiment [1][6] - India's Volatility Index increased by 12.3% to 13.62, reflecting heightened risk perception among traders [3][6] Sector Performance - The Nifty Metal index dropped by 2.3%, while the Nifty Realty and Nifty PSU Bank indices fell by 1.9% and 1.4%, respectively [4][6] - The Bank Nifty decreased by 0.8%, and the Nifty Financial Services index fell by 1.1% [4][6] Profit Booking and Market Sentiment - Profit booking occurred after a positive trend in the previous weeks, exacerbated by the rupee hitting all-time lows [4][6] - Analysts are awaiting clarity on the US-India trade deal, which is seen as a significant hurdle for market movement [4][5][6] Future Outlook - If there is a delay in the US-India trade deal, a profit booking of 2-3% is anticipated, potentially bringing Nifty down to 25,500 levels [5][6] - Despite current declines, the Nifty is expected to reach new highs if it sustains above 26,000 [6][7] - The pessimism regarding the US-India trade deal is already factored into prices, suggesting a potential for positive surprises [5][7] Trading Activity - Foreign portfolio investors sold shares worth ₹1,766 crore, while domestic investors purchased shares worth ₹3,161 crore [7]

Group 1: Market Overview - European stocks are near record levels, driven by optimism regarding easing U.S.-China trade tensions [1] - The pan European Stoxx 600 index was marginally higher at 575.92 after reaching a record high of 577.26 [2] - The German DAX increased by 0.2 percent ahead of the German IFO Business Survey data release [2] Group 2: Earnings Reports - Major companies like Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. are set to unveil their earnings results this week [2] - Porsche shares rose by 3.1 percent despite a nearly 96 percent drop in profits in the first nine months of 2025 due to high costs from scaling back its electric-vehicle strategy and declining sales in China [3] - Swiss drugmaker Novartis shares fell by 1.4 percent after agreeing to acquire Avidity Biosciences for $12 billion in cash [3] Group 3: Company-Specific News - HSBC Holdings shares dropped by 1.3 percent following the announcement of a $1.1 billion provision for a Madoff lawsuit appeal loss in its third-quarter results [4]