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Morning Brief

Morning Brief

By: Yahoo Finance
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 Welcome to Yahoo Finance's flagship show, the Morning Brief. It's your ultimate guide to making smarter decisions for your portfolio. Our hosts track early session volume while bringing you today's top market themes and elevating Yahoo Finance’s most popular newsletter.Yahoo Finance LLC Economics Personal Finance Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Tariff threats shake markets, rates back in focus, earnings test sentiment

    Tariff threats shake markets, rates back in focus, earnings test sentiment
    Jan 20 2026
    U.S. equity futures point sharply lower, with Dow futures off more than 700 points, as renewed tariff threats tied to Europe rattle risk appetite. The immediate driver is escalating trade rhetoric, while investors look ahead to earnings and watch rates for confirmation this is more than a headline-driven pullback. Trade tensions returned to center stage after President Trump floated 10% tariffs on European nations, rising to 25% later this year, with France facing the risk of a 200% levy on wine. The S&P 500 is on track to erase year-to-date gains, while gold and silver pushed to fresh highs as investors rotated into perceived safety. The message from markets is clear: tariffs still move prices even if outcomes remain uncertain. Rates remain the bigger swing factor. Strategists argue equities can absorb trade noise if inflation expectations stay anchored and the 10-year Treasury holds below 4.5%. A sustained backup in yields would pressure valuations quickly, making upcoming macro data and Fed signaling critical. Earnings add a second layer of risk. 3M beat on results but offered a softer outlook, sending shares lower premarket. After the close, Netflix reports amid scrutiny of subscriber growth and margins following its revised all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Takeaways: Tariff escalation is driving the current risk-off move. Safe havens are rallying as equities slide. Rates, not rhetoric, remain the ultimate market arbiter. Earnings reactions show little tolerance for weak outlooks. Volatility stays elevated into key data and results. Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • Tech-led rebound, earnings optimism, AI power strain, fintech pressure on banks

    Tech-led rebound, earnings optimism, AI power strain, fintech pressure on banks
    Jan 16 2026
    U.S. equity futures point higher, led by Nasdaq strength, as investors lean back into technology ahead of a busy earnings stretch. Semiconductor stocks are driving early momentum after fresh trade developments, while markets weigh policy risk from Washington and the durability of a long-awaited market broadening. Tech leadership is reasserting itself as a new U.S.–Taiwan trade agreement underpins domestic semiconductor investment. Taiwanese chipmakers plan at least $250 billion in U.S. capacity, easing tariff pressure and reinforcing the strategic importance of AI infrastructure. At the same time, rising electricity demand from AI data centers is prompting White House discussions around emergency power auctions, underscoring how physical constraints are becoming a market variable. Earnings season is adding confidence. With just over 5% of companies reporting, results have skewed decisively positive, supporting rotation into cyclicals and smaller caps. Materials, industrials, and energy are outperforming year to date, while the Russell 2000’s move to new highs suggests broader participation beyond mega-cap tech. In individual names, PNC Financial Services jumped on stronger loan growth, BYD rallied on reported battery talks with Ford, and ImmunityBio extended a sharp 2026 surge. Meanwhile, Klarna is positioning for a potential shakeup in consumer credit as scrutiny on card rates intensifies. Takeaways: Tech is reclaiming leadership as earnings optimism builds. Semiconductor policy and AI infrastructure costs are key market drivers. Sector rotation and small-cap strength point to broader market participation. Earnings beats are outweighing valuation concerns so far. Fintech pressure on traditional banking remains a longer-term theme. Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • AI earnings reset risk appetite, banks fade on valuation, oil slides on geopolitics

    AI earnings reset risk appetite, banks fade on valuation, oil slides on geopolitics
    Jan 15 2026
    U.S. equity futures point higher after two straight losses, with tech leading the rebound. Sentiment is driven by strong AI-linked earnings and easing geopolitical pressure as crude oil falls more than 4%. Investors are watching earnings follow-through and whether tech leadership can reassert itself. AI confidence got a boost after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company posted another quarter of record results and guided to higher-than-expected capital spending. The outlook reinforces that hyperscaler demand remains intact, lifting chip equipment and semiconductor names and stabilizing a trade that has driven index gains. Financials delivered solid numbers but uneven stock reactions. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley beat expectations on trading and investment banking strength, yet shares slipped as both trade near record highs. The takeaway is valuation sensitivity rather than fundamental weakness. In asset management, BlackRock hit a new milestone with assets under management topping $14 trillion, underscoring steady inflows despite market volatility. Takeaways: Tech is regaining leadership on AI earnings momentum. TSMC capex guidance supports the durability of the AI cycle. Bank earnings are strong, but valuations cap near-term upside. Oil’s pullback is easing a key macro overhang. Dispersion favors selective positioning over broad bets. Yahoo Finance's flagship show, Morning Brief, is your go-to source for smarter investing and market moves. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    22 mins
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