US January CPI Rises 2.4% YoY, Markets Up
The major averages were higher near noon as traders digest a slate of earnings releases as well as the January consumer price index release. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said that CPI for last month rose 0.2%, reflecting a gain of 2.4% on an annualized basis. Both inflation figures were lower than consensus estimates of 0.3% and 2.5%, respectively.Looking to commodities, gold was trading higher once again, surpassing the $5,000 threshold as precious metals continue to show signs of strength as a defensive hedge. Oil, meanwhile, was fractionally lower to cap off an otherwise strong week for the commodity.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Pinterestreportedand provided a lower-than-expected outlook for Q1Airbnbreportedbut better-than-expected revenueDraftKingsreportedand provided downbeat FY26 revenue guidanceCoinbasereportedAlibabawill be added to a U.S. list of firms aiding China's military,2. WALL STREET CALLS:Pinterestwasto Neutral or equivalent ratings by at least 8 firms after earningsRokuto Buy at RosenblattAirbnbto Outperform at Evercore ISI and to Buy at Deutsche BankNorwegian Cruise Lineto Neutral at JPMorganMerckto Buy at Deutsche Bank3. AROUND THE WEB:GE Aerospaceis making a switch to robots to ease one of aviation's biggest bottlenecks: overloaded repair shops and scarce parts, Reuters reportsRussia has blocked WhatsApp, citing Meta's"unwillingness to comply with Russian law," and is proposing that Russians switch to the state-owned Max app, Reuters reportsAmazonis directing internal teams to use its in-house AI coding assistant, Kiro, for production work, a move that has drawn criticism from roughly 1,500 employees advocating for the use of Anthropic's Claude Code instead, Business Insider saysU.S. prosecutors confirmed that Peter Williams, former head of L3Harris'Trenchant, pleaded guilty to stealing and selling eight sophisticated hacking tools, earning over $1.3M in cryptocurrency between 2022 and 2025, TechCrunch reportsMicrosoftis planning to pursue "true self-sufficiency" in the AI space by building its own models and reducing reliance on OpenAI, FT says4. MOVERS:TRI Pointeincreases after announcing it will befor $47.00 per share in cashCorsair Gaminggains after, providing guidance for Q1 and FY26, and announcing its Board authorizes the repurchase of up to $50M sharesRivianand Magnahigher in New York afterBright Horizonsfalls afterand providing guidance for FY26Fortune Brandslower afterand appointing Banati as CEO5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCEModerna, with EPS and revenue beating consensusInstacart, with the company commenting, "In Q4, we delivered our strongest quarterly GTV growth in three years"Wendy'sand provided guidance for Fy256Wynn Resorts, with EPS missing consensusDauch Corporationand provided guidance for FY26INDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was up 0.43%, or 210.88, to 49,662.86, the Nasdaq was up 0.31%, or 69.77, to 22,666.91, and the S&P 500 was up 0.54%, or 37.18, to 6,869.94.
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- Investment Injection: Affiliates of Elliott Investment Management announced a $1 billion investment in Pinterest, driving the company's shares up 7% in early trading, reflecting market confidence in the platform's future growth.
- Share Repurchase Plan: Pinterest plans to utilize this investment through a $1 billion accelerated share repurchase (ASR) agreement, which is expected to significantly enhance earnings per share and improve shareholder returns.
- New Repurchase Authorization: This repurchase initiative is part of a new $3.5 billion program authorized by the Board of Directors, indicating strong confidence in future cash flows and a commitment to shareholder value.
- Future Repurchase Outlook: Including the completed $473 million in repurchases, Pinterest anticipates approximately $2 billion in total share repurchases in the first half of 2026, further solidifying its position in the market.
- Global Tariff Implementation: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Trump's 15% global tariff will be implemented this week, a move that could have far-reaching implications for international trade, particularly in the oil and gas sectors.
- Oil Market Support Measures: Trump stated that the U.S. would insure Gulf shipping and escort tankers if necessary, a policy aimed at stabilizing oil prices and alleviating market concerns over geopolitical risks, which may positively impact investor confidence.
- Private Credit Market Concerns: Blackstone President Jon Gray defended the quality of loans from its main private credit fund, despite allowing nearly 8% of investor withdrawals, indicating growing concerns about the health of the private credit sector that could affect Blackstone's stock performance.
- Social Media Investment Returns: Pinterest shares surged over 9% yesterday after activist firm Elliott Investment Management made a $1 billion investment intended for stock buybacks, a move that could enhance market confidence in the company and increase shareholder value.
- Market Rebound: Trump's announcement that the U.S. will insure Gulf shipping and escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz led to a market rebound after significant losses, with the S&P 500 closing down about 1%, well off its session lows of roughly 2.5%, indicating market sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Oil Price Impact: The assurances regarding oil trade not only boosted stock prices but also eased crude oil price pressures, highlighting that fluctuations in the oil market could have broader macroeconomic implications that investors need to monitor closely.
- Private Credit Concerns: Blackstone's Jon Gray defended the quality of loans from its main private credit fund, despite allowing investors to withdraw nearly 8% of their investments, which caused Blackstone shares to fall nearly 4%, reflecting growing market concerns about the health of the private credit sector.
- Congressional Hearing Pressure: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick voluntarily agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which has drawn bipartisan scrutiny, although he has not been accused of wrongdoing, potentially impacting his political future.
- Market Decline: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.94%, reaching a 3.25-month low, reflecting investor concerns over escalating tensions in Iran, which may impact future investment decisions and market stability.
- Surge in Oil Prices: WTI crude oil prices rose over 4% to an 8.5-month high due to threats from Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying fears of energy supply disruptions and potential inflationary pressures in the economy.
- Natural Gas Price Spike: European natural gas prices surged more than 22% to a three-year high after Qatar's Ras Laffan plant was targeted by an Iranian drone attack, posing significant risks to global liquefied natural gas supply and market stability.
- Economic Data Expectations: This week, the ADP employment change is expected to increase by 50,000, while the ISM services index is projected to slip slightly, with markets closely monitoring these indicators to assess economic health and potential implications for Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions.
- Stock Market Decline: U.S. stock indexes experienced a decline on Tuesday, with the overall market dropping by 1.02%.
- Index Performance: The S&P 500 fell by 0.94%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 0.83%.
- Oil Price Surge: The escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has driven West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices up by 6.4% to $75.8 per barrel, marking the largest two-day rally since March 2022, indicating heightened market concerns over energy supply disruptions.
- Market Panic Intensifies: The CBOE Volatility Index surged by 6% to 22.74, reflecting increased investor fear regarding short-term market volatility, with all 11 S&P 500 sectors trading in the red, showcasing widespread market pressure.
- Fed Policy Expectations Shift: Amid rising inflation fears, the 10-year Treasury yield climbed from 3.97% last Friday to approximately 4.06%, leading traders to reprice expectations for Fed rate cuts, now anticipating fewer chances of cuts in 2026.
- Strong Dollar Impact: The U.S. dollar index is on track for its largest two-day gain since February 2023, resulting in significant declines in gold and silver prices, with spot gold falling 4.6% to around $5,080 per ounce and silver plummeting 7.8% to $82 per ounce, highlighting the dollar's pressure on commodity markets.









