Market Overview - US stock markets ended lower due to uncertainty surrounding President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve, impacting future interest rate policy [1][3][15] - Concerns over the Fed's independence and higher-than-expected inflation data contributed to reduced risk appetite among investors [3][5] Commodity Performance - Gold prices fell approximately 11%, while silver prices dropped more than 30%, reversing a previous rally [7][9] - The selloff in metals significantly affected mining stocks, leading to sharp losses in the sector [4][8] Index Performance - The S&P 500 declined by 0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average also fell by 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped nearly 0.9% [7][9] - Small-cap stocks underperformed larger peers due to heightened interest rate concerns [7] Biggest Losers - Newmont, a mining stock, fell by 10.4% as gold prices plunged [9] - Freeport-McMoRan dropped by 7.2% amid the metals sell-off [9] - Microsoft shares extended losses due to weak cloud revenue growth, while Apple slipped 0.3% despite better-than-expected quarterly profits [8][9] Biggest Gainers - Tesla rose by 4.3% following recent profit reports and a recovery from prior losses [10][11] - Consumer staples stocks, particularly Colgate-Palmolive, gained after forecasting higher annual sales [10] Bond Market and Inflation Impact - The 10-year Treasury yield remained near 4.24%, with concerns that the Fed may delay rate cuts due to higher-than-expected producer inflation [12] - Higher yields can pressure stock valuations and dampen investor demand [12] Global Market Outlook - European markets experienced gains, while Asian markets showed mixed performance [13] - Future market direction will depend on interest rate signals, inflation trends, and earnings growth [13]

Amazon’s job cuts announced this week delivered another blow to the tech labor force in the company’s headquarters city of Seattle, which was already losing jobs, Bloomberg reported Friday (Jan. 30).By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content ...

Core Viewpoint - SanDisk is experiencing a positive outlook due to its strong earnings forecasts and increased demand for data storage driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, leading to an upgrade by Raymond James to "Outperform" with a price target of $725, indicating a potential increase of 34.43% from its current price of $539.30 [1][2][5] Group 1: Company Performance - SanDisk's stock price has recently increased by 2.21% or $11.67, reflecting investor confidence in the company's future prospects [3] - The stock has fluctuated between a low of $507.24 and a high of $546.75 today, with the highest price over the last year being $546.75 and the lowest at $27.89, indicating significant growth [4] - The company has a market capitalization of approximately $79.04 billion and a trading volume of 21.21 million shares, solidifying its position as a key player in the tech industry [4] Group 2: Market Dynamics - The demand for data storage is escalating, primarily due to advancements in artificial intelligence, which supports a bullish forecast for SanDisk [2][5] - SanDisk has expanded a significant supply agreement, enhancing its ability to meet the growing demand for storage solutions in the AI sector, which is expected to improve its market standing and contribute to future growth [3][5]

Market Overview - Futures contracts for the S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq 100 Index slipped 0.2% early Friday, indicating a cautious market sentiment [1][8] - US stocks experienced volatility, with dip buyers entering after a decline driven by concerns over AI spending justifying capital investments [5][8] - Asian shares have risen 8.8% this month, reflecting strength in commodities, despite investor unease over US tech capital spending [2][8] AI Investment Concerns - There is growing skepticism regarding the substantial investments in AI by major tech companies, with Wall Street questioning the timing and returns on these investments [6][7] - Amazon.com Inc. is reportedly in talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, which is planning a fourth-quarter initial public offering, intensifying focus on AI-related capital spending [5][8] - The "Magnificent Seven" tech giants have led market gains for three years, but skepticism has emerged as the market questions the hundreds of billions spent on AI development [6][7] Regional Focus - Indonesian stocks are under scrutiny following a significant two-day rout, prompting regulatory measures to prevent a downgrade by MSCI Inc., which has affected market confidence [7][8] - The MSCI Asia Pacific Index has climbed 8.7% this month, marking its best January since inception in 1998, despite concerns over tech spending [7][8]

Core Insights - Tesla's fourth-quarter earnings showed a decline in deliveries for the second consecutive year and a drop in revenue for the first time ever [1][3] - The company reported earnings of 50 cents per share, exceeding analyst estimates, with revenue of $24.9 billion, slightly above expectations [2] - Full-year revenue decreased to $94.8 billion from $97.7 billion, with a significant drop in vehicle deliveries [3] Financial Performance - Q4 vehicle deliveries fell 16% quarter-over-quarter and 8.6% year-over-year, with auto sales down 11% compared to the previous year [2][3] - Tesla shares have declined over 5% this week and nearly 8% over the past four weeks, reflecting investor concerns about the company's performance [3] Capital Expenditure Plans - Tesla announced a $20 billion capital expenditure plan aimed at increasing future profits, which has raised skepticism among analysts at BNP Paribas [4][5] - The company plans to discontinue 40% of its driving products, including the Model S and Model X, to focus on future technologies like robotics and AI [9] - Analysts question the sustainability of Tesla's increased spending, which is more than double its previous capex of $8.5 billion in 2025 [10] Production and Deliveries - In Q4, Tesla delivered 406,585 Model 3 and Y vehicles, with total production of 422,652 for these models [8] - The company is reallocating production space from discontinued models to build Optimus robots as part of its strategic shift [9][10]

Bitcoin mining stock prices were in free fall with the wider market on Thursday, with many marquee names down double digits as the market reckons with the Federal Reserve’s decisions to keep rates unchanged on Wednesday. In the hours after market open, bitcoin mining stocks that have been expanding into AI and pure-play bitcoin miners alike fell precipitously. Among the hardest hit were Cipher Mining (-9%), CleanSpark (-7.6%), TeraWulf (-7.3%), HIVE (-7.1%), Cango (-6.4%), IREN (-6.3%), Riot (-6.6%), and ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures are down, with S&P 500 Futures down 0.26% at 6,989.00, Nasdaq Futures down 0.22% at 26,098.50, and Dow Futures down 0.29% at 49,025.00 [2] - Asian markets opened higher, with Japan's Nikkei 225 up 0.17% at 53,449.08, driven by engineering, mining, and automotive stocks [3] Commodity Prices - Crude oil prices are rising, with WTI March futures at $63.57 per barrel, up 0.52%, and a weekly increase of 7.26% [2] - Precious metals are experiencing significant gains, with gold spot prices surpassing $5,500 per ounce, marking a record high [3] - Spot silver prices reached an all-time high above $117 per ounce, with year-to-date gains exceeding 60% [4] Currency and Economic Indicators - The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) is down 0.04% at 96.287, reflecting a decline to four-year lows [4] - The market is anticipating upcoming Producer Price Index reports and speeches from key Federal Reserve officials [4]

Gold surged for a ninth straight day, breaking above $5,550 as rising geopolitical tensions and expectations of Federal Reserve easing boosted demand. Oil also advanced as concerns over Iran intensified.The precious metal rose 1.5% on Thursday, extending its rally this year to 27%. Silver climbed almost 1% to an all-time high as precious metals continued their breakneck advance. West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose to the highest level since September after President Donald Trump warned Iran to make a nuc ...

The dollar strengthens, while tech earnings loom over the markets. ...

Group 1: Federal Reserve Actions and Economic Outlook - The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate steady at 3.50% to 3.75%, marking a pause after three consecutive cuts [1] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that the Fed is "well positioned" to wait and see how the economy evolves, describing the current policy stance as "loosely neutral" or "somewhat restrictive" [3][4] - The economy is reportedly "coming into 2026 on a firm footing," with growth stronger than expected, although inflation remains "somewhat elevated" [4] Group 2: Consumer Confidence and Economic Disparities - Consumer confidence has plummeted to its lowest level in 12 years, with a recent reading of 84.5, reflecting concerns about high prices and sluggish job growth [10][9] - Despite the decline in consumer confidence, the AI boom has significantly increased the wealth of tech billionaires, adding over $500 billion in 2025 alone [12] - The average 401(k) balance reached a record $144,400, up 9.1% from the previous year, while the number of 401(k) millionaires surged to 654,000, indicating a divide between those benefiting from the stock market and those who are not [13] Group 3: AI Infrastructure and Economic Growth - Real GDP expanded at 4.4% in Q3 2025, with the Atlanta Fed's GDPNow model estimating Q4 growth at 5.4%, driven largely by AI infrastructure spending [14] - AI-related capital spending contributed 1.1% to GDP growth in the first half of 2025, surpassing household spending as a growth driver [15] - Tech companies invested $437 billion in AI capital expenditures in 2025, a 61% increase from 2024, highlighting the significant role of AI in economic expansion [15] Group 4: Investment Opportunities in Raw Materials - There is a projected 10-million-ton copper deficit over the next decade, driven by increased demand for AI infrastructure and constrained supply [18] - The U.S. government has taken equity stakes in several strategic companies, which has positively impacted their stock prices [19] - The demand for copper is expected to remain strong due to AI infrastructure, grid upgrades, and electrification, while supply is limited due to years of underinvestment [24]