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Tuesday, January 20

Noteworthy macro moves today: US Dollar Index -0.6%. Ethereum -3.2%. Bitcoin -1.7%. Noteworthy US mega-cap moves today: Amazon.com Inc (AMZN) -2.7%. Alphabet Inc (GOOG) -2.6%. Alphabet Inc (GOOGL) -2.6%. 

Global equity markets are trading lower following escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly related to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of significant tariffs on European nations if they do not support his Greenland acquisition plans. This has reignited fears of a trade conflict, leading to declines across major indices in Europe and Asia, with the DAX and FTSE experiencing notable losses.

In economic news, Canada's inflation rate rose unexpectedly to 2.4% in December, exceeding forecasts and contributing to cautious optimism in Canadian stocks despite ongoing geopolitical concerns. The S&P/TSX Composite Index reached record highs during intraday trading as investors reacted positively to the inflation data amidst external pressures from U.S.-EU relations.

Additionally, Japan's bond market faced significant sell-offs as yields surged due to concerns over fiscal health amid proposed tax cuts by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. This turmoil has led to increased volatility in Japanese government bonds, reflecting broader anxieties about economic stability in the region as investor sentiment shifts amidst these developments.

SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) [+3.0%]
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has seen a notable price increase, reflecting heightened demand for gold amid escalating geopolitical tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed tariff threats against several European nations, particularly regarding Greenland, have contributed to a surge in gold prices, which reached an all-time high of $4,701.23 per ounce. Concurrently, silver prices have also hit record levels. The tariffs, set to take effect on February 1, are driving investors toward safe-haven assets due to concerns over potential trade wars and economic instability. This environment has led to a daily return of 1.14% for gold against the dollar. Recent social media discussions further highlight the impact of these geopolitical developments on GLD's market performance, with various posts linking price movements to broader economic events and political narratives.

Nikkei 225 Index (Japan) (JP225/USD) [-1.75%]
The Nikkei 225 Index (JP225/USD) experienced a significant decline following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's announcement of a snap general election set for February 8. This political development has coincided with rising bond yields, reaching levels not seen since 2007. Additionally, escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats against European nations, have negatively affected market sentiment across Asia and Europe. As a result, the Japan 225 Spot Index reported a daily return decline of approximately -1.75%.

AZN | -4.2% | -5.9B
AstraZeneca PLC | Pharmaceuticals
AstraZeneca PLC is experiencing a challenging market environment, with its stock price dropping significantly since Friday. The European Medicines Agency has validated the Type II Variation marketing authorization application for Enhertu in combination with pertuzumab, intended for HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer. This approval follows recent U.S. authorization and represents a crucial advancement for AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo. Additionally, AstraZeneca plans to complete a direct listing of its ordinary shares and all U.S. debt securities on the NYSE, effective February 2, 2026, while withdrawing its Nasdaq listings. Social media discussions highlight a bidding war involving AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly for Abivax, along with the acquisition of CAR-T rights from AbelZeta for $630 million. These developments reflect active engagement around AstraZeneca's corporate strategies and their implications in the competitive pharmaceutical landscape.

GOOG | -2.6% | -104.2B
Alphabet Inc | Interactive Media & Services
Alphabet Inc is experiencing a price decline, moving in tandem with the broader market and the Interactive Media & Services sector. The company is currently navigating a challenging regulatory environment, having requested a U.S. judge to delay an order for data sharing with rivals amid ongoing appeals related to its search practices. This request follows allegations of unlawful tactics to sustain its market dominance. Additionally, high-profile figures associated with Alphabet have reduced ties to California due to concerns over taxation policies, raising apprehensions about potential long-term impacts on the local tech ecosystem. In the competitive landscape, social media discussions highlight the growth of ChatGPT's user base, contrasting it with Alphabet's Gemini platform, which has also seen significant user growth but faces challenges as OpenAI enters the advertising market.

MMM | -4.8% | -4.2B
3M Co | Industrial Conglomerates
3M Co. reported its fourth-quarter results today, revealing adjusted earnings per share of 1.83, surpassing the consensus estimate of 1.80. Revenue for the quarter was 6.1 billion, falling short of the anticipated 6.01 billion. The company provided fiscal year 2026 guidance, projecting adjusted EPS between 8.50 and 8.70, slightly below the analyst consensus of 8.61. The adjusted operating margin for the quarter improved to 21.1%, while the GAAP operating margin decreased to 13.0%, down 510 basis points year-over-year. Following the earnings announcement, the stock experienced a notable decline in price, moving down significantly shortly thereafter. Social media discussions highlighted expectations for 3M to exceed macroeconomic performance in 2026 and noted the company's progress toward targets set for the upcoming Investor Day.

APP | -5.0% | -9.0B
Applovin Corp | Application Software
Applovin Corp's stock has experienced significant declines, dropping 5.0% since Friday, with a notable 7.5% decrease in premarket trading today. This follows a series of losses over the previous days, including a 6.3% drop on Friday, 1.7% on Thursday, and 7.6% the prior Wednesday. A short report from Capital Watch has raised allegations of money laundering linked to a Southeast Asian syndicate, which appears to have negatively influenced market sentiment. Concurrently, a forensic investigation revealed systemic compliance risks and potential financial crimes within the company's capital structure. Social media conversations reflect mixed sentiments, with some users expressing caution regarding trading options related to Applovin. The Nasdaq 100 Index has also declined, potentially correlating with Applovin's recent performance.

FAST | -7.0% | -1.6B
Fastenal Co | Trading Companies & Distributors
Fastenal Co reported its fourth-quarter earnings today, revealing earnings per share of $0.26, in line with analyst expectations. However, revenue fell short at $2.03 billion, slightly below the consensus estimate of $2.04 billion. This revenue miss has contributed to a premarket decline of approximately 3.7%. Year-over-year, net sales increased from $1.825 billion to $2.027 billion, while net income rose by 12.2% to $294.1 million. Social media discussions highlighted the company's dividend increase of 9.10% to $0.24 per share, marking its 27th consecutive annual dividend increase.

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