Silver is seeing a powerful surge, with prices approaching the psychologically important $100 magnet. Gold is also climbing and is now close to its own major magnet near $5,000, reinforcing the broader move into precious metals. The sharp rally in silver is being driven by two forces: a wave of capital rotating out of stalled cryptocurrencies and an aggressive short squeeze. This shift highlights how momentum-driven investors often migrate to whatever asset is moving fastest, amplifying short-term price action.
U.S. equities have stalled in early trading following a hawkish tone from the Bank of Japan. While rates were left unchanged, higher inflation projections and a stronger yen are creating anxiety around the yen carry trade, which has historically had an outsized impact on U.S. markets. With Japan heading toward a snap election in early February, currency volatility remains a key risk factor.
Speculation is also building around a potential SpaceX IPO, which could become one of the largest listings ever and reshape sentiment across growth and innovation stocks. In semiconductors, memory-related names continue to rise on pricing rumors despite official denials, showing how sensitive the sector remains to supply narratives.
Meanwhile, Intel shares are under pressure after lowered guidance tied to capacity constraints, while broader market focus now turns to the upcoming Fed meeting and fresh consumer sentiment data.
Key tickers to watch include $SI_F, $GLD, $TSLA, $MU, and $INTC.
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