Company News - Nvidia (NVDA) shares surged by 2.6 percent following the announcement of a multi-year strategic partnership with Meta (META) to enhance on-premises, cloud, and AI infrastructure, enabling large-scale deployment of Nvidia CPUs and millions of GPUs [2] - Micron (MU) shares spiked by 5.9 percent after David Tepper's Appaloosa Management increased its holdings in the company by 200 percent [3] - Amazon (AMZN) shares jumped by 2.7 percent after Bill Ackman's Pershing Square raised its stake in the company by 65 percent during the fourth quarter [3] Economic Data - Positive sentiment in the market was bolstered by U.S. economic data, including a report from the Federal Reserve indicating that industrial production increased more than expected in January [4] - The Federal Reserve is set to release the minutes of its latest monetary policy meeting, which may provide insights into the future outlook for interest rates [4] Sector Performance - Gold stocks experienced a 3.5 percent surge, driven by rising prices of the precious metal, as reflected in the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index [4] - The NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index rose by 2.5 percent, indicating considerable strength among computer hardware stocks [5] - The Philadelphia Oil Service Index increased by 2.3 percent, supported by a spike in crude oil prices, contributing to strength in oil service stocks [5] - Other sectors such as brokerage, semiconductor, and software stocks also showed notable strength, while utilities and commercial real estate stocks faced declines [5] International Markets - In the Asia-Pacific region, stock markets mostly moved higher, with Japan's Nikkei 225 Index up by 1.0 percent and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index climbing by 0.5 percent [6] - Major European markets also saw gains, with the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index up by 1.4 percent, the German DAX Index up by 1.2 percent, and the French CAC 40 Index up by 0.8 percent [6]

Market Overview - Major stock indices have experienced significant declines, with the Nasdaq dropping to its lowest intraday level in over two months [1] - The Nasdaq is down 356.26 points (1.6%) at 22,548.32, the S&P 500 is down 86.37 points (1.3%) at 6,796.35, and the Dow is down 592.87 points (1.2%) at 48,908.43 [2] Company-Specific News - Alphabet's shares fell by 4.9% after reporting better-than-expected fourth-quarter results but forecasting a sharp increase in capital spending for 2026 [3] - Qualcomm's stock plunged by 7.5% following fiscal first-quarter earnings that exceeded estimates but provided disappointing guidance for the current quarter [3] Economic Indicators - First-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits rose to 231,000, an increase of 22,000 from the previous week's level of 209,000, exceeding economists' expectations of 212,000 [4][5] - Job openings in the U.S. unexpectedly decreased to their lowest level in over five years in December [5] Sector Performance - Gold stocks and computer hardware stocks have seen significant declines, with the NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index dropping by 5.7% [7] - Energy stocks are also under pressure due to a steep drop in crude oil prices, with the Philadelphia Oil Service Index and NYSE Arca Oil Index tumbling by 3.9% and 2.4%, respectively [8]

Group 1 - SLB N.V. is highlighted as a significant stock in the S&P 500, gaining 26% in January, making it a strong performer in the energy sector [1] - The company's performance is seen as a good proxy for the broader energy sector, despite skepticism regarding oil prices due to political policies [1] - SLB provides technology and services for the energy sector, including solutions in field development, hydrocarbon production, carbon management, and energy system integration [3] Group 2 - The company delivers technologies for well construction, reservoir evaluation, drilling, and production optimization [3] - There is a belief that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential compared to SLB, indicating a competitive landscape in investment opportunities [4]

Market Overview - Major U.S. stock indexes experienced choppy trading, ending the day mixed with the S&P 500 down 0.57 points to 6,978.03, the Dow up 12.19 points to 49,015.60, and the Nasdaq rising 40.35 points to 23,857.45 [1] - The Federal Reserve announced its decision to keep interest rates unchanged at a target range of 3.50 to 3.75 percent after three consecutive quarter-point cuts [2] - The decision to maintain rates was not unanimous, with two Fed Governors advocating for a further quarter-point cut [2][4] Economic Outlook - The Fed's decision was influenced by elevated uncertainty regarding the economic outlook, emphasizing the dual mandate of maximum employment and maintaining inflation at 2 percent over the long term [3] - A majority of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) appears to favor a pause in rate cuts unless the job market weakens further, with inflation remaining a concern [4] Sector Performance - Gold stocks surged, with the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index increasing by 2.7 percent to a new record closing high, driven by rising gold prices [5] - The NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index rose by 2.6 percent, also reaching a new record closing high, largely due to a 19.1 percent increase in Seagate Technology's shares following better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results [6] - Semiconductor and networking stocks showed considerable strength, while oil service, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology stocks experienced significant declines [7] International Markets - In the Asia-Pacific region, stock markets mostly moved higher, with Japan's Nikkei 225 Index up 0.1 percent, South Korea's Kospi up 1.7 percent, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index up 2.6 percent [7] - Conversely, major European markets declined, with the French CAC 40 Index down 1.1 percent, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index down 0.5 percent, and the German DAX Index down 0.3 percent [8] Bond Market - Treasuries saw a decline in prices following the Fed announcement, leading to a rise in the yield on the benchmark ten-year note by 2.8 basis points to 4.251 percent [9] Upcoming Events - Trading on Thursday may be influenced by earnings reports from major tech companies including Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Tesla [9]

Market Overview - Major U.S. index futures indicate a higher open, with stocks expected to continue the upward trend from the previous sessions [1] - Semiconductor stocks are leading the gains, with ASML shares surging 5% after strong Q4 results and positive 2026 guidance [1] Semiconductor Industry - SK Hynix shares spiked after reporting better-than-expected Q4 results and a record full-year profit for 2025 [2] - China has approved Alibaba, ByteDance, and Tencent to purchase over 400,000 Nvidia H200 AI chips, contributing to a 1.6% increase in Nvidia shares [3][2] Technology Sector - Major tech companies like Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Tesla are set to report quarterly results, with Microsoft shares rising 2.2% and Apple shares increasing by 1.1% [4][6] - The Nasdaq index reached a nearly three-month closing high, driven by strong performances in the tech sector [5][10] Economic Indicators - The Conference Board reported a significant drop in consumer confidence, with the index falling to 84.5 in January from 94.2 in December, marking the lowest level since May 2014 [9][8] Oil and Commodity Markets - Crude oil futures increased by $0.62 to $63.01 per barrel, following a previous surge [12] - Gold prices rose to $5,277.70 per ounce, up $195.10 from the previous session [12] European Market Reaction - European stocks mostly declined ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy decision, with the French CAC 40 Index down by 1.5% and the German DAX Index down by 0.6% [22][23] - ASML Holding saw a significant rise in shares due to exceeding analysts' expectations for Q4 orders [23]

Market Performance - Major U.S. stock indexes showed mixed results, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 rising while the Dow experienced a pullback [1][2] - The Nasdaq increased by 215.74 points (0.9%) to close at 23,817.10, and the S&P 500 rose by 28.37 points (0.4%) to a record high of 6,978.60 [1] - The Dow closed down by 408.99 points (0.8%) at 49,003.41, despite recovering from its worst levels during the session [2] Company Earnings - Positive sentiment was bolstered by strong earnings reports from companies like General Motors and UPS [3] - Microsoft shares surged by 2.2%, Apple shares increased by 1.1%, and Meta shares saw slight gains ahead of their earnings announcements [2] - UnitedHealth shares fell sharply by 19.6% after reporting better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings but disappointing revenue guidance [3] Economic Indicators - The Conference Board reported a significant drop in consumer confidence, with the index falling to 84.5 in January from a revised 94.2 in December, marking the lowest level since May 2014 [4][5] - Economists had anticipated a slight increase in the consumer confidence index to 90.0 [5] Sector Performance - Semiconductor stocks saw a notable increase, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rising by 2.4% to a record closing high [6] - Computer hardware and networking stocks also contributed to the gains in the tech-heavy Nasdaq [6] - Oil service stocks advanced alongside rising crude oil prices, with the Philadelphia Oil Service Index up by 2.0% [6] - Conversely, healthcare, airline, and housing stocks faced significant selling pressure [7] International Markets - Stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region mostly rose, with Japan's Nikkei 225 Index up by 0.9%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index up by 1.4%, and South Korea's Kospi surging by 2.7% [8] - Most European stocks also experienced gains, with the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index climbing by 0.6% and France's CAC 40 Index rising by 0.3%, while Germany's DAX Index dipped by 0.2% [9] Bond Market - U.S. treasuries moved modestly lower, leading to a slight increase in the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which rose by 1.0 basis points to 4.223% [9]

Economic Indicators - The U.S. consumer price index increased by 0.3 percent in December, aligning with economist expectations [2][31] - Core consumer prices, excluding food and energy, rose by 0.2 percent in December, slightly below the expected 0.3 percent increase [2][31] - The annual growth rate of consumer prices remained unchanged at 2.7 percent in December, consistent with November's rate [2][32] - The annual growth rate of core consumer prices also held steady at 2.6 percent, while an increase to 2.7 percent was anticipated by economists [3][32] Stock Market Performance - Major U.S. stock indices are projected to open slightly higher, following a recovery from an initial pullback [1] - The Dow Jones rose by 86.13 points (0.2 percent) to close at 49,590.29, while the Nasdaq increased by 62.56 points (0.3 percent) to 23,733.90, and the S&P 500 climbed by 10.99 points (0.2 percent) to 6,977.27 [5] - The NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index surged by 5.0 percent, indicating strong performance in the computer hardware sector [10] Federal Reserve and Interest Rates - The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain interest rates at its upcoming meeting, with potential cuts of at least a quarter point anticipated in the following months [10] - Concerns regarding the Federal Reserve's independence have arisen due to subpoenas served by the Department of Justice related to Fed Chair Jerome Powell's testimony [6][7] - Powell described the subpoenas as "unprecedented," attributing them to pressure from President Trump regarding interest rate policies [8] Commodity Markets - Crude oil futures increased by $1.15 to $60.65 per barrel, while gold futures rose by $8.10 to $4,622.80 per ounce [12]

Economic Indicators - The U.S. non-farm payroll employment rose by 50,000 jobs in December, following a downwardly revised increase of 56,000 jobs in November, which was below economists' expectations of a 60,000 job increase [2][22] - The unemployment rate decreased to 4.4 percent in December from a revised 4.5 percent in November, contrary to expectations of a drop to 4.5 percent from the originally reported 4.6 percent [2][3][23] Stock Market Performance - Major U.S. stock indexes showed mixed performance, with the Dow increasing by 270.03 points (0.6 percent) to 49,266.11, while the Nasdaq fell by 104.26 points (0.4 percent) to 23,480.02 [4][5] - Energy stocks experienced significant gains, with the Philadelphia Oil Service Index rising by 4.3 percent and the NYSE Arca Oil Index increasing by 3.6 percent due to a spike in crude oil prices [6] Commodity and Currency Markets - Crude oil futures rose by $0.26 to $58.02 per barrel, following a previous spike of $1.77 [8] - The U.S. dollar strengthened against the yen, trading at 157.46 yen, and was valued at $1.1647 against the euro [9] Asian Market Trends - Asian stocks rose broadly, with China's Shanghai Composite Index advancing by 0.9 percent to 4,120.43, driven by consumer inflation data [13] - Japan's Nikkei 225 Index jumped by 1.6 percent to 51,939.89, supported by strong earnings from Fast Retailing [14] European Market Developments - European stocks moved mostly higher, with the French CAC 40 Index up by 1.1 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index up by 0.8 percent, following positive industrial output data from Germany [18] - Mining giant Glencore surged amid preliminary discussions for a possible merger with Rio Tinto, which saw a decline in its stock [19]

Market Overview - Stocks have generally moved higher, with the Dow up 192.44 points (0.4%) at 48,327.33, the Nasdaq up 92.70 points (0.4%) at 23,400.32, and the S&P 500 up 30.46 points (0.5%) at 6,864.96, despite being off session highs [1] - The upward movement follows a mixed performance in the previous week, indicating a positive shift in market sentiment [1] Sector Performance - Technology stocks are driving market gains, with Oracle (ORCL) shares rising by 2.4% after Wells Fargo reiterated its Overweight rating [2] - Nvidia (NVDA) is experiencing further upside as it plans to ship its second-most powerful AI chips to China before the Lunar New Year, indicating strong demand in the AI sector [3] - Gold stocks are seeing significant strength, with the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index up 2.9% to a record intraday high due to a sharp increase in gold prices [4] - Oil service stocks are benefiting from a surge in crude oil prices, reflected by a 1.7% gain in the Philadelphia Oil Service Index [5] - Other sectors such as steel, telecom, and networking are also showing notable strength, contributing to the overall positive market trend [5] International Markets - In overseas trading, stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region mostly moved higher, with Japan's Nikkei 225 Index up 1.8% and China's Shanghai Composite Index up 0.7% [5] - Conversely, major European markets are experiencing declines, with the French CAC 40 Index down 0.5%, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index down 0.4%, and the German DAX Index down 0.2% [6] Bond Market - The bond market is seeing a downward trend, with the yield on the benchmark ten-year note increasing by 1.8 basis points to 4.169%, indicating a shift in investor sentiment [6]

Market Overview - Major U.S. index futures indicate a higher open on Monday, suggesting a potential recovery from last Friday's significant weakness, particularly in tech stocks [1] - Trading activity may remain subdued as traders anticipate key U.S. economic data releases in the coming days [1] Economic Data Releases - The monthly jobs report for November and October retail sales data are set to be released on Tuesday, while consumer price inflation data for November is scheduled for Thursday [2] - These reports could influence the outlook for interest rates following the Federal Reserve's recent monetary policy announcement, which included a quarter-point rate cut [2] Stock Market Performance - On Friday, stocks experienced a notable decline, with the Nasdaq dropping 398.69 points (1.7%) to 23,195.17 and the S&P 500 falling 73.59 points (1.1%) to 6,827.41 [3] - The Dow posted a more modest loss of 245.96 points (0.5%) to 48,458.05 after reaching a new record intraday high earlier in the session [4] - For the week, the Dow increased by 1.1%, while the S&P 500 decreased by 0.6% and the Nasdaq fell by 1.6% [4] Sector Performance - Broadcom (AVGO) led the tech sector lower, plunging over 11% despite reporting better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results and providing positive guidance [5] - Other tech stocks, including Micron Technology (MU), Oracle, AMD, and Nvidia, also saw significant declines, indicating a continued rotation out of tech stocks [5] - The NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index experienced a 5.2% drop, reflecting poor performance in computer hardware stocks [7] International Market Reactions - Asian stocks fell as investors expressed concerns over tech valuations and reacted to disappointing economic data from China [10] - Chinese industrial production grew 4.8% year-on-year in November, missing forecasts, while retail sales rose only 1.3%, significantly below expectations [12] - The Japanese market also declined, with the Nikkei 225 Index dropping 1.3% amid concerns over tech share valuations [13] European Market Trends - European stocks mostly moved higher ahead of a busy week for U.S. economic data and central bank decisions, with the German DAX Index up by 0.3% and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index rising by 1.0% [18][19] - However, technology company Royal Philips and pharmaceutical firm Sanofi faced declines due to corporate news impacting their stock prices [19][20]