General Market News

Natural gas prices surged nearly 24% on Tuesday as freezing temperatures across the Midwest and Northeast drove demand, triggering rallies in natural gas stocks. The cold snap, with temperatures 15-25 degrees below average reaching as far south as Georgia and Florida, also forced short sellers to exit positions, amplifying the commodity's rebound.

• Front-month natural gas prices jumped 74 cents to $3.843 per million BTU, marking the largest one-day gain since January 27, 2022, while the U.S. Natural Gas Fund ETF gapped up 19%
• Expand Energy, the largest North American natural gas producer, gapped up nearly 5% in heavy volume as bitter cold threatened production halts in some areas
• Coterra Energy rose over 3% on reports of merger talks with Devon Energy, which would create one of the largest U.S. oil and gas companies focused on the Permian Basin

Prediction markets face growing scrutiny over potential insider trading after profitable bets on events like Venezuela's political changes raised questions about market manipulation. The regulatory landscape remains uncertain, with the CFTC as primary regulator but jurisdictional disputes with state gambling authorities and debate over whether insider activity might actually improve market accuracy. Major crypto and trading platforms have formed a coalition to establish industry guardrails while navigating conflicting state and federal oversight.

• A dozen senators sent a letter to the CFTC requesting information about potentially suspicious wagers and asking what the agency is doing to ensure prediction markets follow rules, particularly after large wins on geopolitical events
• Prediction markets operate in regulatory gray area: CFTC regulates them as derivatives under the 'Eddie Murphy rule' against misappropriation of confidential information, but states claim sports-related contracts fall under their gambling authority, with the Supreme Court potentially deciding jurisdiction
• Industry leaders formed the Coalition for Prediction Markets (including Crypto.com, Coinbase, Kalshi, and Robinhood) to establish insider trading guardrails, while some argue insider participation could improve accuracy if markets serve as information oracles rather than just trading venues

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell for planning to attend Supreme Court arguments regarding President Trump's attempt to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook, calling it 'politicizing the Fed.' Bessent indicated Trump could announce his choice for the next Fed chairman as soon as next week, with the selection narrowed to four candidates from an initial list of 11.

• Bessent attacked Powell on multiple fronts: attending Supreme Court arguments as a defendant in the Lisa Cook case, not meeting with prosecutors before subpoenas related to a criminal probe of Fed headquarters, and pandemic-era asset purchases that resulted in huge losses
• Trump's Fed chairman selection has been narrowed to four candidates including former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Fed Governor Christopher Waller, and BlackRock executive Rick Rieder
• Powell faces a criminal investigation for allegedly lying during congressional testimony about the Fed's $2.5 billion headquarters renovation; his term as chairman expires in May but he could remain on the board through 2028

U.S. stock markets fell sharply on January 20, 2026, triggered by President Trump's threats to impose tariffs on countries opposing the sale of Greenland to the United States. The S&P 500 dropped 1.04%, the Dow Jones declined 0.99%, and the Nasdaq fell 1.34%, with Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors leading losses. The selloff represents a classic risk-off trade as investors responded to heightened geopolitical and trade uncertainty.

• Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors were hardest hit, each declining over 2%, while 10 of 11 S&P 500 sectors posted losses with only Energy gaining slightly at 0.15%
• The S&P 500 tested its critical 50-day moving average at 6831.02, with technical analysts warning that a break below this level could trigger accelerated selling toward 6754.13
• Markets exhibited textbook risk-off behavior with simultaneous selling of stocks, U.S. Treasuries, and the dollar, while hard assets like gold rallied amid Trump's escalating tariff threats against NATO allies including France and the U.K.

Global stocks have outperformed US equities in 2025 and early 2026, marking a potential shift from over a decade of US market dominance. International markets delivered 29% returns in 2025 versus 16% for the S&P 500, driven by broader earnings growth, lower valuations, and the global spread of AI investment. This rotation is supported by a weakening dollar, reduced US concentration risk, and stronger performance across emerging markets and Asia.

• Emerging market earnings are forecast to grow around 17% annually through 2026, compared with roughly 12% for US markets, while international stocks trade at 15x forward earnings versus 22x for US equities.
• The ten largest US companies represent 36% of total US market capitalization, creating concentration risk, while AI-driven growth has spread globally with South Korea's Kospi surging 76% and Taiwan Semiconductor gaining 47% in 2025.
• The US dollar fell approximately 9% in 2025, its worst year since 2017, while China's yuan strengthened over 4% and Chinese equities rose 22%, marking the first coordinated stock-currency rally since 2017.

US stocks opened sharply lower on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq falling 2% and the S&P 500 down 1.4%, after President Trump threatened sweeping tariffs on countries opposing Greenland's sale to the US. The risk-off move pushed Treasury yields higher and weakened the dollar, while European leaders called the threats 'unacceptable' and considered retaliatory measures. The selloff intensified as markets reopened after the MLK Day holiday, amplifying accumulated weekend headlines.

• Trump announced escalating tariffs starting at 10% on Feb. 1 and rising to 25% by June 1 on eight NATO countries, plus threatened 200% tariffs on French wines and champagne
• The Dow dropped 618 points (1.2%), with tech stocks like Nvidia, AMD, and Alphabet falling over 2%, while the VIX 'fear gauge' jumped above 19 to its highest level since November
• European leaders are considering deploying the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument as retaliation, with France pushing for the strongest economic countermeasures as Trump prepares to meet European leaders at Davos on Wednesday

The World Bank reports that 56 frontier market economies have underperformed expectations, with investment growth per person slowing to 2% in the 2020s—less than half the pace of previous decades. These markets, home to one-fifth of the world's population, face challenges including underdeveloped capital markets, rising debt burdens, and rapidly expanding populations expected to grow by 800 million over 25 years.

• Frontier markets account for just 3.1% of global capital flows and under 5% of global GDP despite hosting 20% of the world's population
• These economies now spend about 2.5% of GDP on debt interest payments—more than other emerging markets—with multiple African nations (Zambia, Ethiopia, Ghana) defaulting since 2020
• Investment growth per capita has dropped to 2% in the 2020s from over 4% in previous decades, hampered by 'reform fatigue' and weaker institutional improvements

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments over President Trump's unprecedented attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook via a social media post in August 2025. Lower courts have blocked the firing, ruling that Trump likely violated Cook's constitutional due process rights by terminating her through a Truth Social post without proper notice or an opportunity to respond. The case threatens Fed independence and tests presidential power limits, though the Court may decide on procedural grounds rather than broader substantive questions.

• Trump posted a termination letter on Truth Social on August 25, 2025, based on mortgage fraud allegations that Cook denies and her lawyers say are a pretext related to her dovish monetary policy stance
• A district court judge blocked the firing in September, ruling Trump's scattered social media posts did not provide adequate due process, which typically requires a 'judicial-type hearing' with evidence and testimony
• The Trump administration argues Cook had sufficient notice from an August 20 post demanding her resignation and five days to respond before the termination letter, and that government officers have no 'property right' to their positions under due process protections

Stock futures plunged on Tuesday as President Trump threatened to impose tariffs starting at 10% and rising to 25% on eight European nations by June unless they cede Greenland to the US. The Dow futures fell over 600 points (1.26%), while Nasdaq futures dropped more than 440 points (1.72%), with Wall Street's volatility index surging to a two-month high as investors fled to safe havens amid fears of a broader US-Europe trade war.

• Trump set Feb. 1 as the start date for tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, UK, Netherlands, and Finland, with rates escalating from 10% to 25% by June if Greenland is not transferred to US control
• Market stress spiked sharply with the VIX 'fear gauge' jumping above 19 from mid-15 range, while traders moved into gold and Swiss francs anticipating potential retaliatory measures from Brussels
• Trump framed Greenland as 'non-negotiable' for national security, citing Arctic strategic importance against Russian and Chinese influence, while European leaders flatly rejected the proposal, noting Greenland is an autonomous Danish territory

President Donald Trump is expected to announce his nominee for Federal Reserve Chair as soon as next week, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The selection has been narrowed from 11 candidates to four finalists, all of whom have personally met with Trump. Current Chair Jerome Powell's term expires in May, though he could remain as a governor until 2028.

• The selection process began in September with 11 candidates, now narrowed to four finalists including National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, current Governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman, and BlackRock's Rick Rieder
• Bessent criticized Powell's leadership, noting that 4 to 6 Fed governors and presidents out of 19 total have resigned for ethical issues during his tenure, stating 'If that happened at a Wall Street firm, the CEO would be out'
• Trump and administration officials have repeatedly criticized Powell on both monetary policy decisions and institutional management, including recent controversies over Fed headquarters renovation

US stock futures tumbled sharply on Tuesday morning as markets reopened after the Martin Luther King Day holiday, reacting to President Trump's threat to impose 10-25% tariffs on eight European nations if negotiations over Greenland fail. The Nasdaq futures fell 1.6%, while S&P 500 and Dow Jones futures dropped 1.4% and 1.3% respectively, catching up to a global equity selloff that occurred while US markets were closed.

• Trump announced Saturday he would impose 10% tariffs on eight European nations, rising to 25% later in the year, if Greenland negotiations fail; he is scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday
• European leaders are reportedly discussing countermeasures, including potential first use of the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument to push back against Washington's stance
• Market volatility may increase as attention builds around a potential Supreme Court ruling on the legality of the White House's tariffs; the US dollar index fell 0.9% while Treasury yields rose amid global bond selling

Ten S&P 500 stocks have surged over 120% since Trump's second inauguration nearly a year ago, led by AI infrastructure component makers Micron Technology, Western Digital, and Seagate Technology. The top performers are companies supplying critical AI hardware components, defense/data security firms like Palantir, and precious metals producers benefiting from geopolitical tensions.

• Micron Technology leads S&P 500 gains with 243% increase since inauguration, followed by Western Digital (241%) and Seagate (234%), all benefiting from soaring demand for AI server components
• Defense and security plays are thriving: Palantir Technologies gained 138% on government data protection contracts, while Intel received a nearly 10% government stake in August 2025
• Gold producer Newmont jumped 174% as investors sought safe-haven assets amid intensifying geopolitical tensions under the Trump administration

European and U.S. stock markets fell sharply on Tuesday after President Trump threatened new tariffs, including a potential 200% levy on European goods. Banking CEOs at the World Economic Forum in Davos urged calm, with some characterizing market volatility as the 'new normal.' European banks were among the hardest hit, with the Stoxx 600 Banks Index down 1.4%.

• Major indices declined significantly: Stoxx Europe 600 fell 1.2%, S&P 500 dropped 1.5%, Nasdaq slid 1.6%, and European financial sectors lost 1.3%
• Goldman Sachs International co-CEO Anthony Gutman warned that current volatility represents a 'new normal' that creates complexity for business leaders making decisions
• Trump's tariff threats include a 200% levy on European products and plans for 10% tariffs from Feb. 1, rising to 25% by June 1 if Europe resists his policies

Geopolitical tensions are transforming global trade policy into a strategic weapon, with Greenland emerging as a US-Europe flashpoint and Canada pivoting toward China amid tariff threats. This shift is creating a market environment where financial stability coexists with volatile commodity prices, driven by security concerns, critical mineral access, and evolving trade relationships.

• US threats of tariffs against Denmark and European nations over Greenland could raise effective EU tariffs up to 30%, prompting increased European military presence in the Arctic due to the island's critical minerals and strategic location
• Canada signed a trade deal with China reducing tariffs on canola and opening energy export channels, signaling a strategic diversification away from US market dependence under Prime Minister Mark Carney
• Commodity markets show heightened volatility with oil prices fluctuating on Middle East tensions and gold/metals reaching new highs, while financial markets remain resilient with US inflation stabilizing at 2.7% and equity indices hitting record levels

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's plan to attend Supreme Court oral arguments concerning President Trump's attempt to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Bessent argued that Powell's attendance would politicize the Fed by appearing to influence the case. The controversy unfolds amid Trump's efforts to fire Cook over mortgage fraud allegations and threats to remove Powell himself.

• Powell plans to attend Supreme Court arguments challenging Trump's authority to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook, who Trump claimed to fire in August but remains in her position
• Bessent stated Powell's attendance would be 'putting his thumb on the scale' and contradicts efforts to keep the Fed non-political
• The dispute occurs as Powell disclosed he is under criminal investigation, which he characterized as based on 'pretexts' unrelated to legitimate oversight

Morgan Stanley downgraded the U.S. IT hardware sector to 'cautious' from 'in-line' on January 20, 2026, citing slowing enterprise demand, rising component costs, and rich valuations. The downgrade triggered significant stock declines, with Logitech and NetApp falling 6.2% and 3.8% respectively in premarket trading, while Dell, HP Inc, and HPE dropped 2-3%.

• Morgan Stanley expects only 1% year-on-year growth in hardware budgets for 2026, the weakest non-COVID reading in approximately 15 years based on its latest survey
• A Morgan Stanley survey found that Value-Add Resellers expect 30-60% of customers to reduce spending on PCs, servers, and storage in response to component cost-driven price hikes
• The brokerage downgraded Logitech and NetApp to 'underweight' from 'equal-weight' and CDW Corporation to 'equal-weight' from 'overweight', warning of a 'perfect storm' of demand slowdown, input cost inflation, and elevated valuations

Russia's Kremlin stated the central bank is successfully managing inflation despite a 2 percentage point VAT increase to 22% that took effect in January 2026. The tax hike, designed to offset military spending and declining oil revenues, has sparked faster-than-expected price growth, though officials express no immediate concern about inflation exceeding the 4-5% forecast range.

• VAT rose from 20% to 22% in January 2026 to boost state budget revenues and compensate for increased military spending and falling oil and gas revenues
• Consumer prices rose 5.59% in 2025 (down from 9.52% in 2024), but the VAT increase has caused faster-than-expected inflation in early January 2026
• The central bank's key interest rate stands at 21%, and analysts predict it may refrain from cutting rates at its February 13 meeting due to accelerated price growth

U.S. stock markets face steep declines as President Trump announced 10% tariffs on eight European countries effective February 1, 2026, linked to pressure on Denmark to sell Greenland. Futures trading showed the E-mini S&P 500 down 1.55% and Nasdaq-100 down 1.82%, threatening to erase all 2026 gains when markets reopen after the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. The situation recalls April 2025's 'Sell America' trade and raises concerns about prolonged tariff uncertainty and potential EU retaliation.

• Trump's tariffs target Denmark, U.K., France, and Germany among eight European nations, with implementation set for February 1, 2026, escalating trade tensions and NATO concerns
• The EU is prepared to deploy $93 billion in retaliatory tariffs and activate a 'trade bazooka' for collective defense against economic coercion
• Trump's Wednesday speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos at 13:30 GMT will be closely watched, as his message could determine whether stock losses deepen or markets stabilize

The European Union is considering deploying its 'Anti-Coercion Instrument' trade bazooka in response to President Trump's threat of 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne, linked to disputes over Greenland. Greenland's Prime Minister rejected U.S. pressure, while the EU debates retaliatory measures worth potentially 93 billion euros ($108 billion) that could extend beyond tariffs to financial restrictions and intellectual property measures. Markets reacted negatively with Dow futures dropping over 600 points and European stocks falling.

• Trump threatened 200% tariffs on French wines and champagne after French President Macron reportedly refused to join his 'Board of Peace' on Gaza
• EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument could impose up to 93 billion euros ($108 billion) in tariffs and other restrictions on the U.S., though Germany remains hesitant due to export dependence
• European industries at risk include autos (BMW, Ferrari), luxury goods (LVMH, Hermès), and pharmaceuticals (Novo Nordisk, Novartis), with markets showing flight to safe-haven assets like gold and the dollar

US stock futures declined in Asian trading on January 20, 2026, as President Trump's threat to impose tariffs on eight European nations over Greenland acquisition demands reignited fears of a US-EU trade war. Trump announced 10% tariffs starting February 1, escalating to 25% by June 1, prompting concerns about EU retaliation through its anti-coercion instrument. Despite the geopolitical tensions, futures remain above key technical levels, maintaining a cautiously bullish medium-term outlook supported by strong economic data and expectations of Fed rate cuts.

• Trump threatened 10% tariffs on Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK starting February 1, rising to 25% by June 1, linked to demands for Greenland acquisition.
• The EU could deploy its 'anti-coercion instrument' in retaliation, enabling trade sanctions, export restrictions, and exclusion of US companies from its internal market.
• Dow Jones E-mini fell 427 points and Nasdaq 100 E-mini dropped 267 points in Asian trading, though Dow and S&P 500 futures remain above their 50-day and 200-day EMAs, indicating continued bullish bias.