Morning Brief

U.S. stock futures are higher for a second session as markets stabilize and attention shifts back to earnings and AI. Nasdaq futures lead, while investors await the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge later this morning and the market digests a calmer geopolitical backdrop. Risk appetite is improving, but today’s data and guidance will determine whether the rebound holds.

Volatility has retraced quickly, with hedging demand easing and bond yields backing off recent highs. Small- and mid-cap stocks continue to outperform, signaling broader participation beyond mega-cap tech. Strategists argue fundamentals remain supportive, with earnings momentum intact and financial conditions no longer tightening aggressively.

AI remains the central pillar for sentiment. Investors are leaning back into large-cap technology as capital spending and productivity expectations stay elevated. The rotation theme is also in play, with banks and select consumer names drawing interest as investors position for a widening earnings base tied to AI adoption rather than pure infrastructure spend.

Trending movers reflect this crosscurrent. GE Aerospace beat estimates but eased on slower 2026 growth expectations. Abbott Laboratories slid on weaker nutrition sales and soft guidance. Mobileye fell after cautious revenue outlook tied to automaker demand.

Takeaways:


Markets are calmer, with futures pointing higher.


Volatility has faded as yields stabilize.


AI leadership is reasserting itself.


Breadth is improving beyond mega-cap tech.


Guidance, not headlines, is driving moves.

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U.S. equity futures point sharply lower, with Dow futures off more than 700 points, as renewed tariff threats tied to Europe rattle risk appetite. The immediate driver is escalating trade rhetoric, while investors look ahead to earnings and watch rates for confirmation this is more than a headline-driven pullback.

Trade tensions returned to center stage after President Trump floated 10% tariffs on European nations, rising to 25% later this year, with France facing the risk of a 200% levy on wine. The S&P 500 is on track to erase year-to-date gains, while gold and silver pushed to fresh highs as investors rotated into perceived safety. The message from markets is clear: tariffs still move prices even if outcomes remain uncertain.

Rates remain the bigger swing factor. Strategists argue equities can absorb trade noise if inflation expectations stay anchored and the 10-year Treasury holds below 4.5%. A sustained backup in yields would pressure valuations quickly, making upcoming macro data and Fed signaling critical.

Earnings add a second layer of risk. 3M beat on results but offered a softer outlook, sending shares lower premarket. After the close, Netflix reports amid scrutiny of subscriber growth and margins following its revised all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.

Takeaways:


Tariff escalation is driving the current risk-off move.


Safe havens are rallying as equities slide.


Rates, not rhetoric, remain the ultimate market arbiter.


Earnings reactions show little tolerance for weak outlooks.


Volatility stays elevated into key data and results.

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U.S. equity futures point higher, led by Nasdaq strength, as investors lean back into technology ahead of a busy earnings stretch. Semiconductor stocks are driving early momentum after fresh trade developments, while markets weigh policy risk from Washington and the durability of a long-awaited market broadening.

Tech leadership is reasserting itself as a new U.S.–Taiwan trade agreement underpins domestic semiconductor investment. Taiwanese chipmakers plan at least $250 billion in U.S. capacity, easing tariff pressure and reinforcing the strategic importance of AI infrastructure. At the same time, rising electricity demand from AI data centers is prompting White House discussions around emergency power auctions, underscoring how physical constraints are becoming a market variable.

Earnings season is adding confidence. With just over 5% of companies reporting, results have skewed decisively positive, supporting rotation into cyclicals and smaller caps. Materials, industrials, and energy are outperforming year to date, while the Russell 2000’s move to new highs suggests broader participation beyond mega-cap tech.

In individual names, PNC Financial Services jumped on stronger loan growth, BYD rallied on reported battery talks with Ford, and ImmunityBio extended a sharp 2026 surge. Meanwhile, Klarna is positioning for a potential shakeup in consumer credit as scrutiny on card rates intensifies.

Takeaways:


Tech is reclaiming leadership as earnings optimism builds.


Semiconductor policy and AI infrastructure costs are key market drivers.


Sector rotation and small-cap strength point to broader market participation.


Earnings beats are outweighing valuation concerns so far.


Fintech pressure on traditional banking remains a longer-term theme.

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U.S. equity futures point higher after two straight losses, with tech leading the rebound. Sentiment is driven by strong AI-linked earnings and easing geopolitical pressure as crude oil falls more than 4%. Investors are watching earnings follow-through and whether tech leadership can reassert itself.

AI confidence got a boost after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company posted another quarter of record results and guided to higher-than-expected capital spending. The outlook reinforces that hyperscaler demand remains intact, lifting chip equipment and semiconductor names and stabilizing a trade that has driven index gains.

Financials delivered solid numbers but uneven stock reactions. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley beat expectations on trading and investment banking strength, yet shares slipped as both trade near record highs. The takeaway is valuation sensitivity rather than fundamental weakness.

In asset management, BlackRock hit a new milestone with assets under management topping $14 trillion, underscoring steady inflows despite market volatility.

Takeaways:


Tech is regaining leadership on AI earnings momentum.


TSMC capex guidance supports the durability of the AI cycle.


Bank earnings are strong, but valuations cap near-term upside.


Oil’s pullback is easing a key macro overhang.


Dispersion favors selective positioning over broad bets.

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Markets are modestly higher after December CPI showed cooling under the hood, reinforcing expectations for a patient Federal Reserve. Futures are mixed, Treasury yields edged lower, and investors are now balancing inflation data against the first wave of bank earnings and policy noise.

Core CPI rose 0.2% month over month and 2.6% year over year, both softer than expected, while headline inflation held at 2.7%. Shelter remained the largest contributor, rising 0.4%, underscoring why policymakers are not rushing to cut rates. Bond markets took the report as confirmation that disinflation remains intact, keeping the Fed on an easing bias without urgency. Concerns linger around tariffs, fiscal stimulus, and measurement distortions, but upside inflation risks appear contained near term.

Earnings season opened with banks sending mixed signals. JPMorgan Chase beat overall expectations, but investment banking revenue disappointed, while trading benefited from market strength. Executives across Wall Street publicly defended Federal Reserve independence, a rare and notable intervention amid political pressure. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines topped quarterly estimates but offered conservative guidance, pressuring the stock.

Takeaways:


Core inflation cooled, supporting a steady Fed stance.


Shelter costs remain the key inflation variable.


Bank earnings are uneven beneath headline beats.


Fed independence is back in focus for markets.


Travel demand holds, but growth is normalizing.

Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves.

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