Bitget UEX Daily | EU Suspends Tariffs on US; Gold Hits Record High Breaking $5000, Silver Breaks $100; Rieder Top Fed Contender (January 26, 2026)

I. Hot News

Fed Dynamics

Rieder Emerges as Top Contender for Fed Chair, Support Rate Soars to 34%

• BlackRock's Global Fixed Income CIO Rieder tops Polymarket odds; Trump indicates decision imminent.
• Key Points: Oversees $2.4 trillion in assets, views current borrowing costs as excessively high, stressing pressures on small businesses and young families; seen by investors as an independent, market-friendly choice.
• Key Points: BofA report suggests January FOMC may focus on politics over policy; Powell could discuss unemployment decline and neutral rate ties.
• Market Impact: This shift could stabilize expectations for monetary policy, benefiting short-term bond market recovery, but watch actual appointment's effect on rate-cut path.

International Commodities

Safe-Haven Sentiment Surges, Silver Breaks $100/Ounce for First Time, Gold Holds Above $5000 Mark

• Geopolitical uncertainties and Fed rate-cut expectations propel precious metals to record highs.
• Key Points: Silver gains from investment demand, tariff concerns, and physical tightness in London market; gold solidifies as core portfolio hedge amid volatility.
• Key Points: Chilean Mining Association warns new government policies may boost copper investments, but real output growth needs years, sustaining short-term supply pressures.
• Market Impact: Strong precious metals draw capital inflows, reinforcing safe-haven allocations, but easing geopolitical risks could trigger profit-taking.

Macroeconomic Policies

EU Extends Suspension of Retaliatory Tariffs on $93 Billion US Goods to Six Months

• Following Trump's withdrawal of tariff threats on some EU nations, the European Commission plans to propose delaying measures originally set for February 7.
• Key Points: Spokesperson stresses diplomacy first, avoiding escalation; suspension allows reactivation based on US actions.
• Key Points: Trump's retroactive tax cuts to deliver $350 billion in refunds, averaging $3,500 per person, up 20% YoY, but mainly benefits mid-to-high income groups with limited structural boost.
• Market Impact: Eases US-EU trade tensions, supporting global supply chain stability, but potential rifts like Greenland disputes may heighten long-term uncertainties, affecting transatlantic investment flows.

II. Market Recap

• Spot Gold: Price holds above $5000/ounce, hitting consecutive historical highs, driven by safe-haven demand and rate-cut expectations.
• Spot Silver: Breaks $100/ounce for the first time, strong upward momentum from multiple overlapping factors.
• WTI Crude Oil: Slight pullback, with geopolitical risks clashing against oversupply concerns, increasing short-term volatility.
• U.S. Dollar Index:  steady with slight gains, benefiting from geopolitical uncertainties, but pressured by Fed policy outlook.

US Stock Index Performance

• Dow: Down 0.58%, at 49098.71; weekly drop of 0.53%, second straight weekly decline.
• S&P 500: Up 0.03%, at 6915.61; weekly drop of 0.35%, tech sector divergence supports minor rise.
• Nasdaq: Up 0.28%, at 23501.24; weekly drop under 0.1%, AI-related stocks drive rebound.

Tech Giants Dynamics

• Microsoft: Up over 3%, boosted by strong cloud demand.
• AMD: Up over 2%, improved chip supply lifts sentiment.
• Nvidia: Up over 1.5%, sustained growth in AI hardware orders.
• Intel: Plunges 17%, weak Q1 guidance weighs.
• Apple: Extends eight-week losing streak, rising storage costs add pressure.
• Meta: Minor fluctuations, smart glasses patent litigation heightens uncertainty.
• Tesla: Mixed moves, shifts from Autopilot to subscription model. Overall, tech giants show clear divergence, with Intel's guidance disappointment and storage shortages as key downside drivers, while AI and cloud demand support Microsoft, Nvidia, etc.

Sector Movements Observation

Semiconductor Sector Down about 2.5%

• Representative Stocks: Intel, down 17%; TSMC, up over 2%.
• Driving Factors: Intel's supply constraints and margin pressures exposed, compounded by 40%-50% storage chip price hikes, but TSMC benefits from demand recovery.

Energy Sector Down 1.2%

• Representative Stocks: Schlumberger, slight pullback; Chevron, steady.
• Driving Factors: Winter storm blackout risks coexist with Venezuela expansion potential, but overall weak oil prices dominate sentiment.

Consumer Sector Up 0.8%

• Representative Stocks: Nestle, down due to milk powder recall; Toyota, limited recall impact.
• Driving Factors: Trump's tax refund outlook boosts consumer prospects, but product safety issues pressure individual stocks.

III. In-Depth Stock Analysis

1. Intel - Q1 Guidance Below Expectations

Event Overview: Intel's earnings reveal Q1 guidance weaker than market forecasts, with ongoing supply constraints dragging margins, leading to a 17% stock plunge. Company highlights 14A process launch by year-end, but short-term tolerance is limited. Analysts note high valuations lack fundamental support. Market Interpretation: Citi maintains neutral, cuts target to $48; Wedbush reaffirms neutral at $30, stressing tech execution as long-term key; UBS raises target to $52, expecting big-tech collaborations. Investment Insight: Avoid short-term volatility; monitor 14A rollout as potential turning point.

2. Apple - Eight-Week Losing Streak Hits Record, Pressured by Storage Costs

Event Overview: Apple's stock endures eight-week decline, longest since May 2022, with evident capital outflows. AI hardware demand drives 40%-50% storage chip price surge, threatening profitability. But Goldman forecasts 11% Q1 revenue growth, optimistic on AI features and upgrade cycles. Market Interpretation: Goldman keeps buy, target $320, viewing Jan 29 earnings as dip-buy chance; analysts worry storage overhang but see AI rollout as positive. Investment Insight: Watch earnings short-term; long-term gains from ecosystem expansion.

3. Meta - Smart Glasses Patent Infringement Lawsuit Escalates

Event Overview: Solos Technology sues Meta for infringing multiple smart glasses patents, seeking billions in damages and sales ban on Ray-Ban Meta products. Separate suit targets muscle-signal control tech. Meta pivots to open Bitcoin/Ethereum investment services. Market Interpretation: Analysts view lawsuit as adding uncertainty, but crypto expansion signals stance shift; UBS vets partners, seeing it as new growth engine. Investment Insight: Track lawsuit progress; crypto exposure may diversify risks.

4. Tesla - Discontinues Basic Autopilot, Shifts to Subscription Model

Event Overview: Tesla halts Autopilot in US/Canada, replacing one-time Full Self-Driving purchase with $99/month subscription. Effective Feb 14, aims to promote advanced tech adoption. Market Interpretation: Analysts note revenue structure optimization, but user acceptance key; overall bullish on autonomous driving long-term. Investment Insight: Subscription boosts cash flow; monitor market feedback.

5. Schlumberger - Venezuela Business Expansion Potential Emerges

Event Overview: Schlumberger states rapid Venezuela expansion possible under permits and compliance, currently servicing Chevron; discussing White House investment opportunities. Market Interpretation: Analysts optimistic on geopolitical thaw, but highlight security risks; overall oil services demand recovery supports. Investment Insight: Geopolitical easing may unlock opportunities; cautious on short-term swings.

IV. Today's Market Calendar

Data Release Schedul

Key Event Previews

• China Space Computing Seminar: All Day - Focus on space computing tech developments, watch related supply chain opportunities.
• Russia-US-Ukraine Trilateral Talks Round 2: Abu Dhabi - Discuss conflict end conditions, ongoing geopolitical risks impact markets.

Bitget Research Institute Views:

Driven by central bank gold purchases and safe-haven demand; silver prices may benefit from industrial recovery, we continue to be bullish on the continuation of precious metals strength in 2026; US stock outlook optimistic, but need to be vigilant about valuation bubbles; crude oil pressured by oversupply, declines exceed expectations; dollar steady, benefiting from geopolitical uncertainty, but Fed rate-cut expectations apply pressure. Overall market needs to balance inflation data and policy signals.

Disclaimer: The above content is compiled by AI search and manually verified for release only, not intended as any investment advice.