Financial News

In-depth reporting and analysis on markets, the economy, and everything affecting your money.

January 18, 20263 min read

Monthly Wrap: Bond Vigilantes Return—10Y Hits 4.23% as Trump Trade Stalls

The "Trump Trade" hit a wall in January as bond vigilantes drove the 10-year Treasury yield to a 4-month high of 4.23%, overshadowing a strong start to earnings season. Despite JPMorgan ([[JPM]]) and Morgan Stanley ([[MS]]) beating estimates and inflation data softening, the S&P 500 stalled at 6,940 as markets priced in rising fiscal and personnel risk. The divergence is extreme: The Semiconductor Index (SOX) gained 1.15% on a historic $250B US-Taiwan trade deal, while Constellation Energy ([[CEG]]) plunged 10% on grid overhaul fears—confirming that policy proximity, not just macro, is driving alpha. The variant view: rising yields despite cool inflation signals a supply problem, not a price problem. Watch the Fed Chair nomination closely; continued ambiguity regarding Kevin Hassett could push the 10-year through 4.30%, a level that likely breaks the equity valuation floor regardless of Q4's +8% earnings growth.

Weekly Wrap: Small Caps Surge to Records as Yields Stall the S&P

Markets

January 18, 20263 min read

Weekly Wrap: Small Caps Surge to Records as Yields Stall the S&P

The 'everything rally' fractured into a violent rotation this week as the 10-Year Treasury yield climbed to 4.23%, stalling the S&P 500 (-0.38%) but igniting a 2.0% surge in the Russell 2000 to fresh records. The catalyst was twofold: a 'Warsh Premium' pricing into bonds on rumors of a hawkish Fed Chair pick, and a domestic growth trade that favored small caps and semiconductors (Micron +7.8%) over broad tech. While JPMorgan anchored financials with a 7.6% earnings beat, the macro data flashed a hidden warning: Core Retail Sales rose 3.58% YoY, yet unit demand fell 1%—a classic stagflationary signal where revenue growth is purely inflationary. The variant view: the market is mispricing the risk of a trade war, with new tariff threats on Europe (Greenland dispute) largely ignored by consensus. Watch the 4.30% yield level next week; an official Warsh nomination could trigger a repricing that challenges the 6,900 support on the S&P 500, testing the durability of the soft landing narrative.

Monthly Outlook: Bond Vigilantes Return at 4.23% to Cap AI Rally

Markets

January 18, 20264 min read

Monthly Outlook: Bond Vigilantes Return at 4.23% to Cap AI Rally

The "January Effect" has collided with a reality check as the 10-Year Treasury yield spikes to a four-month high of 4.23%, threatening to cap equity valuations despite robust AI fundamentals. While Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) surged 4.4% on blowout earnings and Micron (MU) rallied 7.8%, the S&P 500 stalled at 6,940 as rate-sensitive sectors capitulated—Constellation Energy (CEG) plunged 10% on fears of a Trump administration grid overhaul. The variant view: Consensus dismisses the Fed Chair selection as noise, but the bond market is violently pricing in a "Warsh Premium"—a hawkish pivot that could reprice the curve higher. The next two weeks are critical: with Q4 GDP tracking at a scorching 4.3% (due Jan 22) and Netflix (NFLX) earnings on Tuesday, a "good news is bad news" print could push yields through 4.30%, triggering systematic de-leveraging.