Gold Market - Gold prices have reached a record high of $5,300 an ounce, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets amid geopolitical risks and a weakening dollar [1][2] - The yellow metal has increased approximately 20% in 2026, following significant gains in the previous year, with projections suggesting prices could rise to $10,000 an ounce if monetary policy becomes more supportive [2] Semiconductor Industry - Global chip stocks have generally risen as investors return to the AI sector, with strong demand across the supply chain [3] - ASML and SKH Highix have led gains, with ASML reporting fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded estimates and provided optimistic sales guidance [3][4] - SKH Highix reported record full-year profits for 2025, benefiting from increased demand for memory chips [3][6] - Reports indicate that China has approved requests from major companies like ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent to purchase Nvidia's H200 system, potentially marking a significant shift for Nvidia in the Chinese market [4] Earnings Reports - Upcoming earnings reports from major companies such as Apple, Mastercard, and Caterpillar are anticipated, with a focus on iPhone sales and AI outlook for Apple [10][12] - Apple expects first-quarter revenue to be the highest ever, with double-digit growth anticipated in iPhone revenue, services revenue, and revenue from China [11] - The ongoing memory shortage may impact Apple's margins, which investors will be closely monitoring [11] Economic Indicators - Initial jobless claims and trade balance data are expected, with attention on the implications of recent fluctuations in foreign exchange markets and the dollar's performance [13][14]