Group 1 - The focus on technology stocks related to artificial intelligence (AI) often overlooks the essential supply chain components, such as copper, which is critical for AI technologies, highlighting the investment potential in Southern Copper (NYSE: SCCO) [1] - Southern Copper is a copper mining company that requires significant time and capital investment to develop mines, including obtaining approvals and restoring sites post-extraction [2] - The current demand for copper is driven by AI, with Southern Copper estimating that global copper inventories will only cover eight days of demand by the end of Q3 2025, indicating a potential supply deficit [3] Group 2 - Copper prices are influenced by supply and demand dynamics, with rising demand leading to higher prices; despite a decrease in production to 235 million tons in Q3 2025 compared to Q3 2024, Southern Copper still achieved higher sales due to rising copper prices [4] - Southern Copper's stock price has increased by 95% over the past year, reflecting investor awareness of copper market trends; however, resolving the supply-demand imbalance will take time, with new mines expected to open in 2027 and 2028 [5] - The company has plans for additional copper projects beyond the upcoming mines, indicating a long-term growth strategy in the copper market [5][7]

Market Overview - US stock futures showed mixed movements with S&P 500 futures rising 0.3% and Nasdaq 100 futures climbing 0.7%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped approximately 0.3% due to a decline in UnitedHealth shares [1][4] - The market is reacting to a significant trade deal between the EU and India, which is seen as a counter to US tariff policies [2][12] Company Earnings and Performance - General Motors reported a fourth-quarter earnings beat with revenue of $45.29 billion, slightly below the estimated $45.37 billion, and adjusted EPS of $2.51 compared to the expected $2.28 [7] - GM announced a $6 billion share buyback plan and raised its dividend, projecting a resilient US new vehicle market for 2026 [5][7] - UnitedHealth's shares fell over 15% after a quarterly profit beat, as the proposed Medicare payment rates did not meet Wall Street expectations [4][20] Trade Developments - The EU and India finalized a free trade agreement expected to double EU goods exports to India by 2032, eliminating or reducing tariffs on 96.6% of EU goods exports to India [15][16] - The agreement aims to strengthen economic ties and reduce reliance on US tariffs, with both sides benefiting from the deal [12][13] Health Insurance Sector - Health insurers experienced significant stock declines following a report indicating a minimal increase in Medicare payment rates for 2027, with Humana's stock falling 12.5% and CVS Health's stock dropping over 10% [20][21] - UnitedHealth Group's stock also dropped 8.6% in after-hours trading, contributing to the downward pressure on the Dow Jones [20] Technology Sector - Optimism in the tech sector was bolstered by positive news from memory chipmakers, with key earnings reports from major companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla expected soon [3] - Cloudflare's stock rose 9% following the launch of its new AI assistant, while Salesforce's stock increased by 2% due to a significant contract with the Army [9]

A stock that just doubled in a month is life-changing for existing investors, attractive for onlookers, and scary for those looking to get in at current prices. Sandisk (SNDK) is one such stock, up almost 100% in just a month and up roughly 1,000% in six months. The company is known for its various memory devices, and the reason for SNDK stock's surge is the ongoing demand for and shortage of memory products in the market. There are multiple ways to look at the question of buying SNDK stock now. But one ...

Economic Data - Markets experienced a rise, with the Dow gaining 306 points (+0.63%), S&P 500 up 37 points (+0.55%), Nasdaq increasing by 211 points (+0.91%), and Russell 2000 growing by 17 points (+0.64%) [1] - The delayed November Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report indicated Personal Spending increased by 0.3%, which was 10 basis points lower than expected, following a previous drop of 30 basis points to 0.1% [2] - Year-over-year PCE rose to 2.8%, recovering from a 10 basis point dip the prior month, with core PCE also reflecting the same year-over-year increase [3] Company Earnings - Intel (INTC) reported earnings of 15 cents per share, nearly doubling the anticipated 8 cents, with revenues of $13.67 billion surpassing the Zacks consensus of $13.37 billion; however, shares fell by 6.5% due to lowered revenue guidance amid ongoing supply constraints [4] - Intel's Data Center segment grew by 9% year-over-year to $4.7 billion, despite a 7% decline in Cloud computing [5] - Capital One (COF) missed Q4 earnings estimates at $3.86 per share compared to the expected $4.12, but revenues of $15.58 billion exceeded the $15.37 billion forecast; the company also announced the acquisition of AI-based FinTech Brex for $5.15 billion [6] - CSX (CSX) saw its share price increase despite missing Q4 earnings estimates, reporting earnings of 39 cents per share, which was 3 cents below consensus, and revenues of $3.51 billion, slightly below the expected $3.55 billion, attributed to subdued industrial demand [7]

Market Recovery and Performance - U.S. equities experienced a recovery on January 21, 2026, as investor anxieties eased following President Trump's remarks at the World Economic Forum, particularly regarding Greenland [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rose approximately 0.6% to 0.7%, recovering from a 1.8% decline on Tuesday, while the S&P 500 (SPX) advanced by 0.5% to 0.6% after a 2.1% drop [2] - The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) also gained between 0.2% and 0.5%, following a 2.4% slide on Tuesday, indicating a cautious return of risk appetite [2] Sector Performance - The Energy sector was the standout performer, with the S&P 500 Energy Sector climbing 2.3%, driven by individual stocks like Halliburton (HAL), which rose 4.9% after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profits [4] - Nine out of the eleven S&P 500 sectors were in positive territory, while defensive sectors such as Consumer Staples and Utilities lagged behind, down 0.5% and 0.1% respectively [4] Notable Stock Movements - Chipmakers Intel (INTC) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) saw significant gains, with shares up approximately 9% and 5.5%, respectively, as Intel's stock surged over 10% on Wednesday, reaching a four-year high [5] - United Airlines (UAL) gained 2.9% after reporting better-than-expected profits for the end of 2025 [5] - Conversely, Kraft Heinz (KHC) fell roughly 6% due to a regulatory filing suggesting Berkshire Hathaway might sell a significant portion of its shares [6] - Netflix (NFLX) continued its downward trend, falling 4.8% on Wednesday, extending losses from a 5.1% drop on Tuesday, attributed to slowing subscriber growth and a lower-than-expected profit forecast [6] Upcoming Economic Events - Investors are awaiting key economic data releases, including the final estimate for Q3 US GDP and November US core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data, crucial for gauging inflationary pressures [7] - The earnings season is gaining momentum, with major companies, including Intel, set to release quarterly results [8] - The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is scheduled to meet to set interest rates, expected to remain at 0.75% [9] Broader Market Trends - Gold prices reached new record highs, with futures trading up 1.4% to around $4,830 an ounce, driven by safe-haven demand amidst global uncertainties [10] - Treasury yields eased slightly, with the 10-year Treasury yield slipping to 4.27% after closing at 4.30% the previous day [10] - Natural gas prices surged 26% on Tuesday due to forecasts of cold weather across parts of the U.S. [10] Geopolitical Context - The European Union has reportedly halted its trade deal with the U.S. in response to the Greenland situation, indicating ongoing transatlantic trade tensions [11] - The complex interplay of economic data, corporate performance, and geopolitical events continues to shape the stock market's trajectory [11]

This live blog is refreshed periodically throughout the day with the latest updates from the market.To find the latest Stock Market Today threads, click here. Happy Friday. This is TheStreet’s Stock Market Today for Jan. 16, 2026. You can follow the latest updates on the market here in our daily live blog. Update: 4:03 p.m. ET Closing Bell The U.S. markets are now closed for the day. It was a pretty negative one on the whole, with about 55.8% (3,086) U.S. issues declining against 40.3% (2,230) advancin ...

Company Overview - FormFactor, a semiconductor testing equipment company, is laying off over 200 workers and closing manufacturing facilities to cut costs due to higher import taxes [1][6] - The company plans to close its Baldwin Park facility, resulting in 113 job losses, and its Carlsbad facility, leading to 107 job losses [2] Industry Context - The semiconductor testing equipment industry has been benefiting from increased AI chip adoption and infrastructure spending [3] - The tech industry in California has faced significant job losses post-pandemic, influenced by economic uncertainty and the rise of AI tools that are reshaping the workforce [4] Restructuring Plans - FormFactor's workforce reductions are part of restructuring plans aimed at aligning cost structure and improving gross margins [6] - The company is consolidating its facilities in Baldwin Park and Carlsbad as part of these efforts [7] Competitive Landscape - Companies like Nvidia and OpenAI have thrived during the AI boom, while legacy tech firms such as Intel are struggling to keep pace [6] - The competitive landscape in the tech industry has led to cuts in middle management and other roles as companies accelerate the release of AI-powered products [5]

Core Viewpoint - U.S. stock futures are showing significant upward momentum, indicating a strong start to 2026 driven by optimism around AI advancements and easing trade tensions [1][2]. Premarket Trading Activity and Futures Movements - Nasdaq 100 futures have increased over 1%, while S&P 500 futures are up approximately 0.6% to 0.75%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures have advanced around 0.4% to 0.5% [2]. - The positive sentiment is attributed to a rebound from the cautious sentiment at the end of 2025 and expectations of a strong earnings season [2]. Notable Stock Movements - Baidu's U.S.-listed shares surged over 10% after its AI chip unit filed to go public in Hong Kong [3]. - Tesla's shares rose by more than 2% ahead of its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 sales data release, despite analysts projecting an approximate 8% annual sales drop for 2025 [3]. - Wayfair and RH shares increased by around 1% to 3% following President Trump's delay of tariff increases on certain furniture items [4]. - Micron Technology climbed over 3% and Nvidia gained nearly 2%, continuing their strong performance from 2025 driven by AI chip demand [4]. Current Market Indexes and Trends - Major U.S. indexes finished 2025 with significant gains: Nasdaq Composite up roughly 20%, S&P 500 up approximately 16%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average up around 13% [5]. - The current premarket rally suggests investors are looking to build on these gains as they enter 2026 [6]. Upcoming Market Events - The economic calendar for January 2nd includes the release of PMI Manufacturing Final data and the Federal Reserve's balance sheet [7]. - Attention is shifting to next week's labor market data, which will influence the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decisions [7]. - President Trump's expected announcement of a successor to Fed Chair Jerome Powell could impact market confidence and dollar stability [8]. Major Stock News and Corporate Announcements - Nio and Li Auto reported strong sales figures, leading to a rally in their American depositary receipts [13]. - Nike shares rose after CEO Elliott Hill disclosed a purchase of approximately $1 million in company shares [13]. - Corcept Therapeutics shares plunged over 50% after the FDA declined to approve its drug [13]. - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company saw its shares rise, benefiting from positive sentiment in the semiconductor sector [13]. - Microsoft shares experienced a slight decline despite overall strong performance in AI-related stocks [13]. - Ironwood Pharmaceuticals saw a significant premarket jump after maintaining its FY 2025 financial guidance [13].

Group 1 - Asian technology stocks are experiencing gains, particularly driven by chipmakers and AI-related companies, but investors are becoming cautious about potential volatility in the sector [1][2] - South Korea's Kospi Index reached a record high, largely due to Samsung Electronics achieving an all-time high, while Chinese tech shares listed in Hong Kong saw a surge of up to 4.3% [2] - The MSCI Asia Pacific Information Technology index had a significant increase of 47% last year, leading traders to closely monitor earnings for signs of a maturing boom [3] Group 2 - There is a growing potential for shifts in investment style and sector focus as physical bottlenecks in AI capital expenditure become more evident, indicating a "late cycle" boom with higher returns and volatility [4] - Nine of the top ten contributors to the MSCI Asia benchmark were technology stocks, pushing the regional tech gauge into overbought territory as it approaches record highs [5] - Valuations for Asia's tech shares are still lower compared to US counterparts, and the pipeline for Chinese AI firm listings remains strong, with Baidu Inc.'s chip unit filing for a Hong Kong offering [6]

Market Overview - U.S. equities started 2026 with modest declines as major indexes adjusted to the latest Federal Reserve minutes and anticipated economic data releases [1][11] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed down by 94.87 points (0.20%) at 48,367.06, while the S&P 500 (SPX) fell by 9.50 points (0.14%) to 6,896.24, and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) decreased by 55.27 points (0.24%) to 23,419.08 [2] Sector Performance - The technology and industrial sectors led the declines, with consumer discretionary and materials also experiencing notable losses, indicating a cautious sentiment across various market segments [3] Upcoming Economic Data - Key economic releases are expected, including International Trade in Goods and Retail Inventories on January 2nd, and Jobless Claims data and FOMC Minutes next week, which could significantly influence market direction [4][5] Major Stock News - Nike (NKE) shares surged over 4% due to strong holiday sales and positive analyst outlooks, while IBM, American Express, and Walt Disney saw declines, impacting the Dow's performance [7] - Nvidia (NVDA) experienced a modest dip of 0.36% despite strong demand for its AI chips, indicating potential profit-taking after significant gains [8] - Tesla (TSLA) shares fell by 1.17% following a downgrade due to competition concerns, while Oracle (ORCL) also saw stock declines amid skepticism about its growth trajectory [9] - Park Aerospace (PKE) and Lifecore Biomedical (LFCR) reported mixed earnings, which may influence their stock performance in early trading [10]