Erik Schafhauser Zürich

Morning Brew January 14 2026

Morning Brew 1 minute to read
Erik
Erik Schafhauser

Senior Relationship Manager

Summary:  Precious Metals soar, Yen falls and financials worry about Trump`s policies


Good morning,

Precious Metals Surge

Silver has climbed above $90 for the first time ever—likely driven by FOMO. Gold sits at $4,640, and platinum at $2,395. Volatility remains extremely high, so caution is advised – plan your exit well

Financial Markets Under Pressure

  • S&P 500: –0.2%
  • Dow Jones: –0.8%
  • Nasdaq: –0.1%

JPMorgan slid 4.2% despite solid results due to weak investment‑banking revenue and concerns over President Trump’s proposed 10% cap on credit‑card interest rates. Visa and Mastercard both fell more than 4%, and Delta Air Lines declined over 2% following a soft earnings outlook.

Saks Global filed for bankruptcy—one of the largest retail collapses since the pandemic.

Asian markets hit new highs, led by Japan, as investors prepare for a potential snap election.

Global central bank leaders and Wall Street CEOs voiced support for Fed Chair Jerome Powell after the Trump administration threatened him with criminal charges. China reported a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus for 2025. The U.S. recorded a $144.7 billion December budget deficit, and economic optimism slipped below expectations.  The Greenland PM reaffirmed preference for closer ties with Denmark ahead of meetings with U.S. officials.

FX and Rates : USD Index: 99.18 U.S. 10‑yr yield: 4.16% EUR/USD: 1.1650 GBP/USD: 1.3445 USD/JPY: 159.15 — the strongest dollar level since July 2024, following signals of possible snap elections in Japan.

Markets await a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on tariffs—potentially a major volatility trigger, even if the press`focus seems to be more on the transgender sports issue

Other drivers to watch: U.S. retail sales, corporate earnings, and ongoing political developments. Iran tensions remain elevated, and any U.S. involvement could spark broader geopolitical reactions from China and Russia

Data: US Retail Sales, Canada Leading index, China Trade US Beige Book

Earnings: Wells Fargo, Citi, Infosys,

Central Bankers: Miran, Kashkari, Bostic, Williams,

Thursday January15th

Data: UK GDP EU Trade Balance, Initial Jobless Claims, Philly Fed

Earnings: TSMC, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, First Horizon, Blackrock,

Central Bankers:Bostic, Barr, Barkin.

Friday January16th

Data: Germany Inflation,  US Industrial Producion

Earnings: Statestreet

Central Bankers: Bowman, Jefferson

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