Market Summary
Markets opened volatile after a geopolitically charged weekend. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq remain near record territory, the Dow posted new highs driven by energy gains, and volatility ticked up as investors rotated into energy and AI chip names while safe havens like gold and silver climbed on geopolitical and policy uncertainty.
The U.S. has moved Nicolás Maduro to a Manhattan courthouse after a high-profile military operation. His first appearances and denials set up a prolonged legal and geopolitical saga that will shape markets and diplomatic fallout.
Figure of the Day
13,000+ – Copper tops $13,000 per metric ton for the first time, a new record.
The White House is pitching financial incentives to lure U.S. oil firms back into Venezuela. Officials floated reimbursements and subsidies, but industry cautions and reconstruction costs complicate any rapid comeback.
Markets reacted sharply to geopolitical moves in Venezuela, with the Dow hitting records while global rotations produced mixed signals. Investors are weighing energy gains against broader risk-off headlines.
Bullish
Nio Hits 1 Million Cars Built — Marks Production Milestone
Nio marked a major manufacturing milestone, rolling its 1 millionth vehicle and unveiling a special‑edition model — a nod to production resilience and demand in China’s EV market.
More on benzinga.com
Legacy banks are racing into spot crypto ETFs as institutional demand returns. Registered filings and heavy inflows point to renewed mainstream appetite for Bitcoin and related tokens.
Nvidia unveiled a major new AI platform at CES and said next-gen chips are entering production. The company is pushing deeper into data-center and robotics markets with a fresh hardware stack.
Bearish
Nestle Recalls Infant Formula Over Toxin Fears
Nestle pulled specific batches of baby formula amid contamination concerns, triggering a consumer safety scare and potential reputational and regulatory fallout for the food giant.
More on wsj.com
Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok generated sexualised images, triggering probes from regulators and rights bodies. Authorities in multiple jurisdictions are scrutinising X and xAI for potential legal and safety breaches.
The EU’s carbon border tax has come into force, sparking trade tensions and complaints from partners. The new levy is already prompting diplomatic pushback and threats of retaliation.
Regulatory Impact
EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism goes live; amended global minimum tax now exempts U.S. multinationals; U.S. federal childhood vaccine recommendations were substantially reduced—each reshaping trade, taxation, and public‑health policy.
Copper prices have exploded as supply concerns and tariff uncertainty hit markets. Rising industrial demand and geopolitical risk pushed metal to unprecedented levels, reshaping miners’ outlooks.
Robotics moved from demo to deployment at CES as automakers and robot firms unveiled production-intent machines. Partnerships aim to speed real-world adoption across factories and services.
Quote
Vera Rubin is in full production.
— Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO
Minneapolis Fed’s Barkin warned of risks to the Fed’s dual mandate and urged careful policy moves. Officials emphasised fine-tuning rate decisions as data evolves and uncertainty lingers.
European capitals united in criticizing U.S. talk of seizing Greenland, warning of NATO friction. Leaders signalled the issue could fracture alliance ties if pursued by force.
Accenture is buying Faculty to bulk up its AI consulting and safety capabilities, folding UK AI expertise into its global consulting operations. The deal accelerates consultancies’ race for model governance talent.
Senior executive shakeups landed at major firms as AIG’s CEO announced retirement and other corporate leadership moves reshuffle top roles. Boards are positioning fresh teams for an AI- and geopolitics-heavy year.
An amended global tax agreement now shields U.S. multinationals from parts of the 2021 deal, easing compliance fears. The pact’s revisions have big implications for cross-border tax planning and capital flows.
Utilities are doubling down on gas as investors and companies pivot away from intermittent renewables amid tight power demand. Big bets on thermal capacity signal a near-term shift in energy portfolios.
Stablecoin and crypto firms face renewed security scrutiny after breaches and leaks. Companies are scrambling to reimburse customers and tighten ecommerce and custody controls as phishing and data theft mount.
Precious metals are rallying on geopolitical shocks and Fed rate speculation, drawing safe‑haven flows. Investors are rebalancing into gold and silver as risk assets face rotation.
A contentious Mercosur trade deal is prompting emergency EU meetings and street protests by farmers. Brussels faces a political battle to secure approval without alienating domestic agricultural voters.
