23Jan2023 Market Close & Major Financial Headlines: Wall Street Marks Second Session In Closing Higher

Summary Of the Markets Today:

  • The Dow closed up 254 points or 0.76%,
  • Nasdaq closed up 2.01%,
  • S&P 500 up 1.19%,
  • Gold $1932 up $3.80,
  • WTI crude oil settled at $82 up $0.05,
  • 10-year U.S. Treasury 3.528% up 0.042 points,
  • USD $102.08 down $0.07,
  • Bitcoin $22,961 up $246

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.


Click here to read our Economic Forecast for January 2023


Today’s Economic Releases:

The Conference Board LEI for the U.S. decreased for the tenth consecutive month in December. The majority of the LEI’s components contributed negatively and drove the index down. In the six-month period ending in December 2022 the leading economic index decreased 4.2% (about an 8.2% annual rate), faster than the decline of 1.9% (about a 3.7% annual rate) during the previous six months. Is a recession coming? – historically, a decline this rapid has resulted in a recession.

Median weekly earnings of the nation’s 118.8 million full-time wage and salary workers were $1,085 in the fourth quarter of 2022 (not seasonally adjusted). This was 7.4% higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 7.1% in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same period. According to an analysis in today’s Wall Street Journal, black workers, young workers and people on the bottom of the income scale were among those who saw the largest pay increases last year, when employers were readily handing out raises in a tight labor market and high inflation environment.

A summary of headlines we are reading today:

  • U.S. Gasoline Prices Continue To Climb
  • Extremely Tight Market Could Push Copper Prices To Record Highs
  • Baker Hughes Q4 Profit Lags Estimates On Supply Chain Issues
  • GM, LG end plans for fourth U.S. battery cell plant as automaker seeks new partner
  • Existing home sales fell for the 11th consecutive month in December, hitting the slowest pace since November 2010
  • M&M’s pulls ‘spokescandies’ amid right-wing outrage, before Super Bowl ad starring Maya Rudolph
  • IRS Says Tax Filing Season Starts Today: Here’s What To Expect
  • US stocks edge up ahead of busy earnings week, Salesforce rises

These and other headlines and news summaries moving the markets today are included below.

The Market in Perspective

Here are the headlines moving the markets.

Gold Or Silver: A Guide To Buying Precious Metals

At first glance, gold and silver seem pretty fungible. They’re both hypnotically pretty. Their prices tend to rise and fall according to the same financial/political forces. They’re both seen as real money by a tiny (very wise) fraction of the population and as atavistic relics by the vast, ignorant majority. And most important they will both preserve their owner’s purchasing power when today’s fiat currencies evaporate like the fever dreams they always were. So you definitely want some (and maybe a lot)

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Metals/Gold/Gold-Or-Silver-A-Guide-To-Buying-Precious-Metals.html

Ofgem Vows To Name And Shame Firms Leaving Customers Without Heat

Ofgem is to review the checks and balances energy firms have around placing customers on pre-payment meters, warning it will take further legal action if it finds they are not taking due care. In a blog, the watchdog’s chief executive, Jonathan Brearley, said he is concerned about the sharp growth in households struggling to pay their bills being switched over to pre-payment meters, sometimes without their even knowing about it, leaving them without heating. It follows Business Secretary Grant Shapp’s demand over the weekend

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Ofgem-Vows-To-Name-And-Shame-Firms-Leaving-Customers-Without-Heat.html

U.S. Gasoline Prices Continue To Climb

Gasoline prices continue to climb for the fourth straight week, rising 32.7 cents over the last month as crude oil prices rise, data from AAA showed on Monday. Gasoline prices are up 11.8 cents over a week ago and are 9.4 cents higher than they were a year ago, before Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine. Gasoline prices are rising along with the rise in WTI crude oil prices, which are up $3 per barrel from a week ago, and up $2 per barrel from a month ago. In addition to rising crude oil prices, gasoline prices are

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Oil-Prices/US-Gasoline-Prices-Continue-To-Climb.html

Liberty Steel Restructuring Sparks Output Uncertainty

Via AG Metal Miner Liberty Steel UK (LSUK) plans to reduce steelmaking and mothball some of its UK assets as part of restructuring plans. The group instead wants to focus on high-value, alloy-steel production in order to remain competitive. Despite the injection of 200 million ($244 million) of shareholder capital over the last two years, the production of some commodity grade products at Rotherham and downstream mills has become unviable, Liberty announced in a statement from Jan. 12. The company went on to cite high

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Liberty-Steel-Restructuring-Sparks-Output-Uncertainty.html

Extremely Tight Market Could Push Copper Prices To Record Highs

Retail and professional investors expect copper to be the top-performing commodity this year, outperforming gold, corn, and crude oil, according to Bloomberg’s MLIV Pulse survey published on Monday. A total of 45% of retail investors and 36% of professional investors see copper as the best-performing commodity asset this year, compared to 26% of professional and 21% of retail investors who picked crude oil as most likely to be the top commodity performer in 2023. Copper prices have strongly rebounded in recent weeks, thanks to the reopening

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Metals/Commodities/Extremely-Tight-Market-Could-Push-Copper-Prices-To-Record-Highs.html

Baker Hughes Q4 Profit Lags Estimates On Supply Chain Issues

Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) reported on Monday record orders for the fourth quarter, but its earnings came below analyst expectations amid supply-chain and labor shortages. Baker Hughes booked record orders of $8.0 billion for the quarter, up by 32% sequentially and up by 20% compared to the same quarter of 2021, the oilfield services provider said. Revenue also increased, to $5.9 billion for the fourth quarter of 2022, a 10% increase from Q3 and an 8% rise year-over-year. Adjusted earnings per share stood at $0.38, up by 45% from Q3 and 53% from

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Baker-Hughes-Q4-Profit-Lags-Estimates-On-Supply-Chain-Issues.html

‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ is the third James Cameron movie to gross $2 billion

Disney’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” has topped $2 billion at the global box office, marking the third James Cameron film to reach this benchmark.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/22/avatar-the-way-of-water-tops-2-billion-at-the-global-box-office.html

In the fight against slowing growth, Netflix and its rivals are all in this together

Netflix shares jumped after hours after beating subscriber estimates, and that’s good news for its legacy media competitors such as Disney.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/19/netflix-rivals-fight-slow-growth.html

‘M3gan’ box office success sets the stage for a scary good year in horror

Universal Studios’ and Blumhouse’s “M3gan” will earn more than $100 million at the global box office.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/21/m3gan-topping-100-million-horror-movies-box-office.html

Bed Bath & Beyond beefs up legal team ahead of possible bankruptcy filing in New Jersey

Bed Bath & Beyond has hired another legal advisor as it preps a potential bankruptcy filing in New Jersey, according to people familiar with the matter.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/20/bed-bath-weighs-bankruptcy-filing-in-new-jersey-beefs-up-legal-team.html

Fanatics is in talks to acquire BetParx sportsbook

Fanatics, the sports merchandising company with a $31 billion valuation, is in talks to buy sportsbook BetParx, sources said.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/20/fanatics-in-talks-to-acquire-betparx-sportsbook.html

GM, LG end plans for fourth U.S. battery cell plant as automaker seeks new partner

GM is expected to continue with its plans to build the plant but is searching for another partner, according to a person familiar with the decision.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/20/gm-lg-indefinitely-shelve-plans-for-fourth-us-battery-cell-plant.html

Existing home sales fell for the 11th consecutive month in December, hitting the slowest pace since November 2010

Home sales have fallen for 11 consecutive months as mortgage rates weigh on the market.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/20/existing-home-sales-drop-in-december-to-slowest-pace-since-2010.html

Hate fast fashion? You can compost this new streetwear clothing line

Unless Collective is a startup aiming to disrupt the fast fashion sector, creating a line of completely compostable clothing and footwear.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/23/hate-fast-fashion-you-can-compost-this-new-streetwear-clothing-line.html

Tax season starts with boosted IRS workforce, new technology as agency begins to deploy $80 billion in funding

Tax season kicked off for individual filers on Monday with a bigger IRS customer service team and enhanced technology, according to Treasury officials.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/23/tax-season-kicks-off-as-irs-begins-to-deploy-80-billion-in-funding.html

Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Wayfair, Meta, Apple, Spotify, Qualcomm and more

These are the stocks posting the largest moves in midday trading.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/23/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-wayfair-meta-apple-and-more.html

FDA says Covid vaccines will probably get an annual update but most people will likely need only one shot

The agency said the shots will probably get an annual update, but most people will need only one shot moving forward.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/23/covid-fda-says-most-people-probably-only-need-shot-moving-forward.html

M&M’s pulls ‘spokescandies’ amid right-wing outrage, before Super Bowl ad starring Maya Rudolph

Candy maker Mars said it is replacing its M&M’s “spokescandies” with actress Maya Rudolph after facing right-wing criticism.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/23/mms-pulls-spokescandies-in-the-wake-of-right-wing-outrage.html

IRS Says Tax Filing Season Starts Today: Here’s What To Expect

IRS Says Tax Filing Season Starts Today: Here’s What To ExpectAuthored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

The official tax-filing season will start Monday, Jan. 23, and the Internal Revenue Service says the amounts might be different than last year.

“This filing season is the first to benefit the IRS and our nation’s tax system from multi-year funding in the Inflation Reduction Act,” said acting IRS Commissioner Doug O’Donnell in a Jan. 12 news release. “With these new additional resources, taxpayers and tax professionals will see improvements in many areas of the agency this year.”

Blank Social Security checks are run through a printer at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 11, 2005. (William Thomas Cain/Getty Images) …

Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/irs-says-tax-filing-season-starts-monday-heres-what-expect

“Domestic Terrorism” – Atlanta Mayor Disputes Claims That Anti-Police Riots Weren’t Violent

Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times,

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is disputing claims that anti-police protests and rioting on Jan. 21 weren’t violent, saying that charges against six individuals who were arrested will include “domestic terrorism.”

In a Jan. 22 interview with CBS News, the Democratic mayor said that Atlanta’s police department “took swift action within two blocks and brought that situation under control” during the unrest.

“The violence stop …

Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/domestic-terrorism-atlanta-mayor-disputes-claims-anti-police-riots-werent-violent

Poland Seeking Permission To Send Ukraine Leopard Tanks While Warning Germany Faces “Isolation”

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Monday confirmed that his country is about to seek formal permission from the German government to send Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine. Berlin requires formal permission for any of its German-manufactured military items to be sent to third-party countries, especially in active war zones.

Germany has continued to refrain from giving its permission, citing fears of an uncontrollable escalation between Russia and NATO countries, while further stressing Germany is not a party to the conflict. This as some Polish officials have stressed Germany faces possible “international isolation” if it doesn’t agree to send tanks. “Germany will be completely isolated if it does not give in and hand over the tanks,” Poland’s deputy foreign minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk told a Polish radio broadcaster.

Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/poland-seeking-permission-send-ukraine-leopard-tanks-while-warning-germany-faces

“They Saved Lives”: Sheriff Praises Heroes Who Disarmed Monterey Park Shooter At Second Location

Authored by Katabella Roberts via The Epoch Times,

The L.A. county sheriff praised two brave members of the local community on Sunday who he said helped prevent further loss of life after the gunman who had already murdered 10 people at a Los Angeles-area ballroom dancing studio attempted an attack on a second location.

In a press conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna explained how around 20 to 30 minutes after the suspected gunman, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, opened fire at Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, California, he then entered another dance studio, Lai Lai Ballroom & Dance Studio in the nearby town of Alhambra.

Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/they-saved-lives-sheriff-praises-heroes-who-disarmed-monterey-park-shooter-second-location

People to be paid again for using less electricity on Tuesday

Discounts for households who cut peak-time use will be offered again on Tuesday.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64378224?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

Demand Flexibility Service: What is the energy-saving scheme for electricity?

A scheme to reward people for cutting back on electricity use is being introduced.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64372264?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

Cold snap triggers freezing weather payment

Some people on benefits will receive £25 within the next two weeks after temperatures drop.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64378492?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

Avalon Tech gets Sebi nod for IPO; PayMate India asked to refile draft papers

The company plans to use the proceeds from the fresh issue to repay outstanding loans availed by it and its subsidiary Avalon Technology and Services Pvt Ltd, and also to meet working capital requirements

Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/ipos/fpos/avalon-tech-gets-sebi-nod-for-ipo-paymate-india-asked-to-refile-draft-papers/articleshow/97256616.cms

LTIMindtree unlikely to make entry into Nifty50 in March: Nuvama Wealth

“We are confident in our understanding of the current methodology and rule out its inclusion in this review,” said Abhilash Pagaria, head – of alternative and quantitative research at Nuvama Wealth, in a report on Monday. According to Nuvama Wealth, until the merger got completed and fresh shares were credited to the shareholders, NSE considered L&T Infotech as an independent entity.

Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/ltimindtree-unlikely-to-make-entry-into-nifty50-in-march-nuvama-wealth/articleshow/97246465.cms

US stocks edge up ahead of busy earnings week, Salesforce rises

Investors are eyeing results from Microsoft Corp, Tesla Inc, IBM, and Intel this week to see how their businesses are coping with the threat of an economic slowdown triggered by the Federal Reserve’s aggressive policy tightening

Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/us-stocks-edge-up-ahead-of-busy-earnings-week-salesforce-rises/articleshow/97257397.cms

TaxWatch: ‘Taxpayers bring their racial identity onto their 1040’: White families are reaping over 90% of the benefit from this powerful tax rule

A new Treasury Department analysis comes during the start of the 2023 tax filing season.

Read more at: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B20C06575-04D4-B545-7183-81764F25094C%7D&siteid=rss&rss=1

Here’s what Apple’s mixed-reality headset could feature

Apple Inc. is expected to take on Meta Platforms Inc. with the launch of a mixed-reality headset later this year.

Read more at: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B20C06575-04D4-B545-7183-EAEAE6906876%7D&siteid=rss&rss=1

Personal Finance Daily: This little-known metric tells you how a mortgage-rate move impacts your ability to buy a home and more data hacks and credit agency blunders? 3 steps that can help to protect your privacy.

Monday’s top personal finance stories.

Read more at: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B20C06575-04D4-B545-7184-0C06C0FD11C5%7D&siteid=rss&rss=1

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