Copper held the bulk of the biggest one-day advance in more than three years, as the metal benefited from a renewed wave of interest in commodities and investors assessed the outlook for Chinese demand https://t.co/pX0FgeUyAN ...

Trade Agreement Overview - The trade pact between India and the U.S. will reduce tariffs on Indian exports from 25% to 18% [1] - India has agreed to cease purchasing Russian crude oil and will instead buy oil from the U.S. and potentially Venezuela, while committing to purchase $500 billion in various products [2] Sector Impacts - India's manufacturing sector is expected to be a major initial beneficiary of the new trade deal, with potential boosts for the I.T. and pharmaceutical sectors [3] - The labor-intensive export sector, including textiles, clothing, leather, jewelry, toys, and furniture, may regain competitiveness against regional rivals due to the lower tariff rate [4] - Smaller and medium-sized companies are likely to benefit from the new 18% tariff rate, which is more favorable compared to Pakistan (19%) and Vietnam and Bangladesh (20%) [5] Market Sentiment and Financial Sector - The removal of the tariff overhang is anticipated to support banks, non-banking financial companies, and export-oriented manufacturers, while enhancing retail sentiment in small and mid-cap stocks [5] - The trade deal is seen as a positive development for Indian equities, particularly in financials, I.T., and telecom sectors, with expectations of a short-term rebound [9] International Relations and Strategic Positioning - The recent India-EU treaty likely accelerated the U.S.-India deal, aligning India more closely with its ASEAN peers and improving its competitive position relative to China [6] - Improved U.S.-India relations are expected to reduce scrutiny on I.T. services and lower the risk of punitive actions, benefiting the I.T. sector [8] Pharmaceutical Sector Growth - The elimination of 11% tariffs on EU drug imports is projected to significantly benefit India's pharmaceutical sector, with a market growth forecast from $31.2 billion in 2025 to $45.7 billion by 2035 [10][12] - The trade agreement is expected to help Indian firms diversify export destinations and improve regulatory compliance processes, potentially reversing recent stagnation in pharmaceutical exports [12][13] Market Reactions - Following the trade deal, the Sensex index rose by 2.5%, indicating improved market sentiment and clarity for investors [14] - U.K.-listed investment trusts with exposure to India also saw gains, reflecting positive investor reactions to the trade agreement [14] - The trade deal is viewed as a potential catalyst for renewed momentum in the Indian market, which had previously been stalled by tariff regimes [15]

Market Overview - The S&P/TSX composite index increased by 204.72 points, reaching 32,388.60 [1] - The Dow Jones industrial average decreased by 166.67 points, settling at 49,240.99 [2] - The S&P 500 index fell by 58.63 points to 6,917.81, while the Nasdaq composite dropped by 336.92 points to 23,255.19 [2] Gold and Silver Market - Gold's price surged by 6.1% in the latest swing, while silver's price rallied by 8.2% [3] - Gold and silver prices had been rising for over a year due to investor concerns about tariffs, a weaker U.S. dollar, and high government debt [4] - Gold's price had previously doubled over 12 months but dropped from nearly US$5,600 to below US$4,500 recently, with silver plunging 31.4% in one day [4] Analyst Insights - Analyst Goulding indicated that the recent pullback in gold prices is natural and does not reflect a long-term trend, citing ongoing demand from central banks [5] - RBC analyst Drew McReynolds noted that content-driven technology providers like Thomson Reuters need to adapt their business models in response to AI disruptions [6] Technology Sector Impact - Major tech stocks, including Nvidia and Microsoft, experienced declines of 2.8% and 2.9% respectively, amid concerns over high stock valuations [7] - Thomson Reuters shares fell by 15.8% due to fears of potential disruption from AI technologies [5]

Market Performance - The MAG 7 index is experiencing a downturn, with a reported decline of about 8% [4] - Western Digital saw an increase of 8% earlier but is now only fractionally higher, indicating a potential reversal in tech stocks [2] - The E-Mini S&P 500 is trading below critical support levels, with volatility increasing to around 17.3 [5][6] Sector Analysis - The software sector is facing significant declines, with companies like ServiceNow, Workday, Zscaler, Adobe, Shopify, and Snowflake all reporting lower prices [8] - In contrast, the materials sector is up by 2%, driven by a rebound in metals, particularly silver, which has increased by 14% [17][18] Economic Indicators - The partial government shutdown is affecting the release of economic data, which may provide a tailwind for markets as it allows traders to focus on fundamentals rather than potentially negative economic reports [11][12] - Recent comments from economic officials suggest that while inflation remains a concern, the overall economic data has been encouraging [10] Company Focus - InPhase, a solar provider, is being closely watched due to its low expectations going into its earnings report, despite facing challenges from falling subsidies and demand in European markets [23][24] - The company has potential for significant movement in the market, especially if it can capitalize on the commercial solar business [25]

Group 1: Metals Trade - Silver has surged 1,213% recently, while gold is on track for its best day since 2008, indicating strong demand from central banks for gold as a reserve currency [2] - The market is expected to see a consolidation phase for a month or two after the recent rally in precious metals, but the bull market in industrial and precious metals remains intact [3][4] - A downside target for gold is around $4,200, while silver's downside target was $72, which was reached recently [5] Group 2: Technology Sector - The market is experiencing a broadening out, moving beyond just tech stocks, with a differentiation between winners and losers in the AI tech trade [8][11] - Earnings reports from major tech companies like Google are anticipated, which could influence market dynamics [10] - Valuations are becoming a key focus, with companies like Meta, Alphabet, and NVIDIA trading at reasonable valuations compared to others in the tech sector [12][13] Group 3: IPO Market - There is a significant pipeline of highly valued private companies expected to go public this year, with eight IPOs scheduled in the U.S. this week, the highest since 2021 [19][20] - Companies like SpaceX and OpenAI are among those generating excitement in the IPO market, with SpaceX trading at rich valuations due to its growth potential [20][21] Group 4: Interest Rates and Economic Impact - The Reserve Bank of Australia has raised interest rates, indicating a shift in global monetary policy as inflation pressures remain [23] - The rise in long-term interest rates and the weakness in the yen are expected to have global money flow effects and potential economic impacts [24]

Implats says its second-half profit likely jumped by about 400% from a year earlier because of the rally in metals https://t.co/XH6ZgaokHu ...

Corn: Like most of the Grains sector, the corn market was in the red to start the day, week, and month. The March issue (ZCH26) posted a 3.75-cent trading range, all of it unchanged or lower, on an uptick in trade volume of 26,000 contracts and was sitting 1.75 cents lower at this writing. A look back at last Friday and we see March closed 2.5 cents lower after dropping as much as 5.5 cents over the course of the session. Recall, though, the carry in both the March-May and May-July futures spreads weakened ...

Core Viewpoint - Fifth Third Bancorp has announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors, effective February 1, 2026, which will enhance the board's leadership and industry experience [1][5]. Group 1: New Board Members - Derek J. Kerr brings nearly four decades of experience in accounting, finance, and corporate governance, particularly in the aviation industry, having served as Vice Chair of American Airlines Group and President of American Eagle [2]. - Barbara R. Smith has significant executive leadership experience, having served as Chairman, President, and CEO of Commercial Metals Company from 2017 until her retirement in 2023, and she will contribute her financial expertise to the board [3]. - Michael G. Van de Ven has a strong background in operations and risk management, previously serving as President and COO of Southwest Airlines, and will bring his extensive experience in financial planning and accounting to the board [4]. Group 2: Board Structure - With the addition of the three new directors, the total number of directors on Fifth Third's Board will increase to 16 [5].

Core Insights - A significant downturn in global metals markets, a notable decline in U.S. stock prices, and a continued drop in Bitcoin values indicate potential challenges for President Donald Trump in securing a favorable Federal Reserve chair [1] Group 1: Market Conditions - The global metals markets are experiencing a meltdown, which could impact various industries reliant on these materials [1] - U.S. stock markets have seen a sharp pullback, suggesting investor uncertainty and potential volatility ahead [1] - Bitcoin prices are in ongoing collapse, reflecting broader concerns in the cryptocurrency market and its implications for financial stability [1]

Eramet tumbled on the Paris stock market on Monday as the firing of its CEO just months into his term caught investors by surprise and raised questions over governance at the nickel, manganese and lit... ...