Bitget UEX Daily Report | Broad Gains in US Stocks, Record Highs for Gold and Silver, Alibaba Restructures Chip Unit for IPO, Intel's Guidance Below Expectations
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Bitget UEX Daily Report | Broad Gains in US Stocks, Record Highs for Gold and Silver, Alibaba Restructures Chip Unit for IPO, Intel's Guidance Below Expectations
U.S. PCE inflation data met expectations, and Trump’s tariff threat receded.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsAuthor: Bitget
I. Key News Highlights
Federal Reserve Updates
Fed Expected to Hold Rates Steady at Next Meeting
- Key Event: The Federal Reserve has cut rates three times consecutively in 2025; markets widely expect it to hold rates unchanged at next week’s meeting to assess the impact of prior easing measures.
- Key Points: Futures traders anticipate no more than two rate cuts in 2026; policymakers must balance inflationary pressures, geopolitical uncertainties, and economic resilience.
- Market Impact: This expectation supports investor confidence but implies limited room for further stimulus in the near term, potentially capping excessive optimism in risk assets.
International Commodities
Precious Metals Rally to Record Highs
- Key Event: Spot gold, silver, and platinum prices surged significantly amid robust economic data and easing geopolitical risks.
- Key Points: Spot gold rose 1.8%, breaching $4,900 per ounce for the first time; NYMEX silver futures gained 4%, while spot platinum jumped over 6.3%—both hitting all-time highs; Alcoa reported Q4 revenue of $3.45 billion and adjusted EPS of $1.26, both above consensus; MMG achieved 2025 copper production of 507,000 tonnes, up 27% year-on-year.
- Market Impact: Strengthens bullish sentiment across commodity markets, benefiting mining firms and related supply chains—but supply volatility poses potential correction risks.
Macroeconomic Policy
U.S. PCE Inflation Data Meets Expectations; Trump’s Tariff Threat Recedes
- Key Event: The U.S. November PCE price index edged higher but remained within expectations; concurrently, former President Trump withdrew his tariff threat against Europe, improving transatlantic trade relations.
- Key Points: Overall PCE rose 2.8% YoY and 0.2% MoM; core PCE also rose 2.8% YoY and 0.2% MoM; the European Parliament plans to resume deliberations on the EU-U.S. trade agreement, while Greenland’s Prime Minister emphasized sovereignty as a non-negotiable red line.
- Market Impact: The PCE data reinforces the Fed’s cautious stance; de-escalating geopolitical tensions bolsters global trade sentiment and may further lift risk assets—though lingering disagreements still pose underlying uncertainty.
II. Market Recap
- Spot Gold: Continued strong breakout to new all-time highs, surpassing $4,900 per ounce for the first time.
- Spot Silver: Price hit a new record high, driven by robust demand.
- WTI Crude Oil: Gains driven by easing geopolitical tensions and improved supply outlook.
- U.S. Dollar Index: No significant movement; influenced by inflation data and Fed policy expectations.
U.S. Equity Index Performance
- Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 0.63%, extending gains from the previous session amid broad-based strength.
- S&P 500: Up 0.55%, characterized by broad-based gains supported by positive economic data.
- Nasdaq Composite: Up 0.91%, primarily driven by a broad rebound in technology stocks.
Tech Giants’ Performance
- Apple: Up 0.28%, modest gain supported by internal leadership reshuffling.
- Microsoft: Up 1.58%, steady advance fueled by broader tech sector strength and continued cloud business momentum.
- Google: Up 0.66%, moderate gain underpinned by resilient search and advertising performance, plus AI-related initiatives.
- Amazon: Up 1.31%, solid rise supported by seasonal recovery in e-commerce and AWS cloud services.
- Meta: Up 5.66%, leading tech giants with a notable gain, driven by early signs of recovery in social media and metaverse businesses.
- NVIDIA: Up 0.83%, slight advance supported by structural demand for semiconductors and AI chips.
- Tesla: Up 4.15%, standout gain catalyzed by CEO Elon Musk’s optimistic remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Core Drivers of Gains/Losses: Strong macroeconomic data combined with easing geopolitical tensions lifted overall risk appetite, fueling broad gains in tech stocks; Musk’s commentary further catalyzed EV and AI-related themes.
Sector-Specific Moves
Rare Earth Stocks Surge 13.6%
- Representative Stocks: Critical Metals up 20.89%; USA Rare Earth up 17.49%.
- Drivers: Resurgence in global supply chain demand and anticipation of strategic metal stockpiling triggered explosive sector-wide rebound.
III. In-Depth Stock Analysis
1. Alibaba – Plans to Spin Off T-Head for IPO
Event Summary: Alibaba intends to restructure its AI chip division, T-Head, into an independent entity and introduce an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) in preparation for a future IPO. Established in 2018, T-Head focuses on AI accelerators. This move aims to capitalize on the global AI chip race; a listing is expected by late 2026 or early 2027, likely in Hong Kong or on Shanghai’s STAR Market. Market Interpretation: Analysts view the spin-off as enhancing Alibaba’s focus on high-growth hardware ventures and strengthening its competitiveness in the semiconductor space, positioning it to better compete with industry leaders like NVIDIA. Investment Implications: Short-term positive catalyst for Alibaba’s share price; investors are advised to monitor AI and semiconductor-themed funds.
2. Intel – Weak Q1 Guidance Triggers After-Hours Plunge
Event Summary: Intel’s Q4 revenue of $1.37 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.15 beat expectations, yet its Q1 guidance—revenue of $1.17–$1.27 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.00—fell short of consensus estimates ($1.26 billion and $0.08). The company attributed softness to supply-chain constraints, most acute in Q1, though improvement is expected starting in Q2—prompting a >11% after-hours drop. Market Interpretation: Analysts note that near-term bottlenecks highlight demand-supply imbalances, yet full-year outlook remains constructive, prompting some institutions to maintain “Buy” ratings. Investment Implications: Elevated near-term volatility suggests caution for short-term traders; long-term investors may consider accumulating shares once supply normalizes.
3. Tesla – Musk Outlines AI and Robotics Vision at Davos
Event Summary: At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the humanoid robot Optimus could enter public sale as early as end-2025 after successful testing of complex tasks in factories; Robotaxi autonomous ride-hailing service will be rolled out broadly across the U.S. this year without safety drivers; AI is expected to surpass human-level intelligence by year-end; SpaceX’s Starship rocket will achieve full reusability. These remarks propelled Tesla’s intraday share price up over 4%. Market Interpretation: Institutions view Tesla’s leadership in robotics and autonomous driving as pivotal to expanding its AI ecosystem. Investment Implications: Reinforces investment case for automation themes; recommended exposure via relevant tech ETFs.
4. Apple – Expanded Hardware Chief Authority Signals Succession Planning
Event Summary: Apple consolidated design team responsibilities under John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering—a role previously held by senior leadership. This shift coincides with CEO Tim Cook’s 65th birthday and strengthens Ternus’s position as a leading succession candidate, underscoring Apple’s emphasis on product aesthetics and user experience. Market Interpretation: Analysts interpret this as proactive preparation for smooth leadership transition, supporting innovation continuity. Investment Implications: Enhances Apple’s long-term stability, making it attractive for value-oriented investors.
5. Alcoa – Q4 Results Beat Expectations
Event Summary: Alcoa reported Q4 revenue of $3.45 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $546 million, and EPS of $1.26—each exceeding consensus; it forecasts 2026 alumina shipments of 11.8–12.0 million tonnes and aluminum shipments of 2.6–2.8 million tonnes. Rising aluminum prices boosted profitability, triggering a >5% after-hours surge before retreating. Market Interpretation: Institutions see the firm benefiting from a recovering commodities cycle and remain optimistic on earnings prospects. Investment Implications: Monitor correlation with commodity prices; suitable for cyclical equity allocation.
IV. Today’s Market Calendar
Data Release Schedule
| 01:00 | U.S. | EIA Crude Oil Inventories (in 1,000 barrels) for Week Ending Jan 16 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 22:45 | U.S. | Jan S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (Preliminary) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 22:45 | U.S. | Jan S&P Global Services PMI (Preliminary) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 23:00 | U.S. | Jan University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (Final) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Upcoming Key Events
- Bank of Japan Monetary Policy Decision: Timing TBA – Watch for economic outlook report and potential policy adjustments.
- BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda’s Monetary Policy Press Conference: 14:30 – Interpretation of rate decision and forward guidance.
- Earnings Releases (U.S. Pre-Market): Ericsson, Schlumberger, and KeyCorp – Tech and energy sector earnings performance.
- World Economic Forum Global Economic Outlook Discussion: 18:00 – Focus on geopolitical and macroeconomic risks.
Bitget Research Viewpoint:
We maintain a positive outlook on precious metals, supported by robust central bank buying, industrial AI demand, and a weakening U.S. dollar; we project double-digit gains for U.S. equities, underpinned by the AI supercycle driving 13–15% earnings growth—but caution against rising inflation and geopolitical risks, recommending diversified allocations to hard assets.
Disclaimer: The above content was compiled using AI-powered search tools and verified manually prior to publication. It does not constitute any investment advice.
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