European stock indices fell Monday as U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed threat to acquire Greenland reignited transatlantic trade tensions. At 10:15 UTC, France’s CAC 40 dropped 1.28%, Germany’s DAX declined 1.02%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 slid 0.27%. The STOXX 600 lost 0.87%. The U.S. announced on January 17 that eight European nations—Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland—face a 10% tariff on exports to the U.S. starting February 1, rising to 25% by June if no agreement is reached.

In response, EU leaders are considering retaliatory tariffs on €93 billion of U.S. goods and activating an anti-coercion mechanism. European automakers were hit hard: BMW fell 4.10%, Volkswagen dropped 3.43%, and Volvo declined 2.21%. The STOXX Europe 600 Automobiles & Parts Index dropped over 2%, hitting a 52-week low. Luxury stocks also declined, with the STOXX Europe Luxury 10 down nearly 3%.

Safe-haven assets surged: gold rose to $4,700 per ounce, up 1.66%, while silver crossed $94. Defense stocks gained, led by Thales (up 2.41%) and Rheinmetall (up 2.89%). Asian markets mostly declined, though Korea’s Kospi and China’s SSE Composite closed higher. U.S. futures fell 1.18% ahead of the Martin Luther King holiday. Analysts at ING warned the new trade pressure could derail recent industrial recovery and push Europe toward deeper domestic reforms.

Legendary investor Jeremy Grantham, co-founder of GMO, has issued a stark warning that the current artificial intelligence (AI) boom is a "classic market bubble" destined to burst. In his new book, *The Making of a Permabear*, Grantham argues that while AI is transformative, excessive speculation and inflated valuations have created conditions for a major correction.

He labels today’s U.S. stock market as the third-largest "superbubble" in history, behind only Japan’s 1989 asset bubble and the 2000s housing bubble. Despite AI-driven capital spending and euphoric sentiment, he asserts that elevated prices imply historically low future returns. Grantham urges investors to avoid overvalued public equities and instead focus on venture capital and private startups—where real innovation may still be undervalued.

His views align with other top figures: Ray Dalio sees early-stage AI bubbles, while Deutsche Bank reports over half of asset managers rank AI as the top risk for 2026. However, some remain bullish; Bank of America highlights strong cash flows and profitability among leading tech firms as durable support for AI-driven growth.

The average American aged 50-59 has a net worth of $1.4 million, according to an October 2025 report by financial services firm Empower, citing anonymized user data. This figure rises to $1.6 million for those aged 60-69, reflecting decades of compound growth in stocks and real estate.

Empower’s data aligns with the 2022 Federal Survey of Consumer Finances, which reported $1.1 million for ages 50–54 and $1.4 million for 55–59. The median net worth for 50-somethings is $192,964, underscoring that extreme wealth among a few skews the mean upward. Stock market gains—up 256% over the past decade—and rising home equity are key drivers. By age 60, many have paid off mortgages, reduced childcare costs, and accumulated retirement savings. Despite declining net worth in retirement, many retirees benefit from sustained market performance, enabling them to live off investment returns.

Global oil prices declined on January 19, 2026, as geopolitical tensions between Iran and Western nations eased following diplomatic engagement in Vienna. Brent crude futures fell $1.45 to $79.30 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped 1.8% to $76.10, marking the first significant pullback in three weeks.

The decline followed reports that Iran had agreed to limit uranium enrichment activities under renewed IAEA monitoring. Market analysts noted that reduced risk of supply disruption outweighed ongoing OPEC+ production cuts. Energy traders now anticipate a more balanced global supply-demand dynamic in Q1 2026, with inventory levels expected to stabilize by mid-February.

The International Monetary Fund raised its 2026 global GDP growth forecast to 3.3%, up 0.2 percentage points from October, as artificial intelligence investment offsets lingering trade headwinds. The projection marks the third consecutive upward revision since July 2025, driven by reduced U.S. tariff rates—now estimated at 18.5% compared to 25% in April 2025—and supply chain realignments.

U.S. growth is forecast at 2.4% for 2026, a 0.3-point increase, fueled by massive investments in AI infrastructure. Spain’s 2026 growth outlook was upgraded to 2.3%, while China’s forecast rose to 4.5% despite a slowdown from 2025’s 5.0%. The IMF warned that sustained AI-driven inflation risks could trigger market corrections if productivity gains fall short.

Global inflation is expected to decline to 3.8% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, supporting potential monetary easing. However, geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and possible new tariffs under emergency laws remain downside risks.

The European Union is preparing to impose tariffs on €93 billion ($108 billion) of U.S. goods if President Donald Trump implements a 10% tariff on imports from eight European nations starting February 1, 2026, rising to 25% by June. The move follows Trump’s demand for the purchase of Greenland, triggered by joint NATO planning exercises involving Denmark and other allies.

EU leaders, including French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron, are pushing to activate the bloc’s anti-coercion instrument—a rarely used tool designed to counter trade coercion. The EU has already approved retaliatory tariffs but suspended implementation pending diplomatic resolution. If enforced, measures would target Boeing aircraft, U.S.-made cars, and bourbon.

The European Parliament’s approval of a July trade deal with the U.S. is now blocked, with the European People’s Party joining others in opposition. Bloomberg Economics estimates the tariffs could reduce targeted countries’ exports to the U.S. by up to 50%, with Germany, Sweden, and Denmark most exposed. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed EU concerns, asserting American strategic leverage remains intact.

Elliott Investment Management opposed the Toyota Group’s ¥18,800-per-share privatization bid for Toyota Industries Corp., calling it undervalued and urging minority shareholders to reject the offer. The U.S. activist fund cited a ¥26,000 intrinsic net asset value per share, well above the proposed price, which values the company at ¥6.1 trillion ($39 billion).

Toyota Industries shares traded at ¥19,510 in Tokyo on January 19, reflecting investor skepticism. Elliott, which holds a 5% stake, outlined a “standalone plan” aiming for a valuation exceeding ¥40,000 per share by 2028 through unwinding cross-shareholdings, capital allocation improvements, and governance reforms. The tender period runs from January 15 to February 12, with success leading to control by Toyota Fudosan Co., chaired by Akio Toyoda. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Tatsuo Yoshida questioned the practicality of such reforms given Toyota’s historical resistance to structural change.

KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR) announced plans to increase its ownership stake in Altavair and AV AirFinance, two aircraft leasing firms, in a move signaling confidence in the aviation sector’s recovery. The transaction, expected to close by February 15, 2026, will see KKR acquire additional shares from existing shareholders, boosting its holding to approximately 48% in each entity.

The deal follows strong performance in air cargo demand and rising aircraft utilization rates, according to recent industry data from IATA. Altavair and AV AirFinance collectively manage a fleet of 72 narrowbody and widebody aircraft, with a combined book value of $2.1 billion as of December 31, 2025. Both companies reported a 14% year-over-year increase in lease revenue during Q4 2025, driven by long-term contracts with major carriers in Europe and Asia.

European stock markets declined on January 19, 2026, after escalating geopolitical tensions involving Greenland’s mineral resource rights triggered investor concerns over supply chain disruptions and regulatory uncertainty. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 1.2%, with mining and energy sectors leading losses.

The downturn followed statements from a Nordic government asserting sovereignty over Greenland’s rare earth deposits, prompting international backlash. Danish officials warned of potential diplomatic fallout, while commodity traders reacted to heightened risks in critical supply chains. Shares in major European mining firms— including Lundin Mining (LUNDF) and Boliden (BOLIF)—slumped 3.5% and 4.1%, respectively. Analysts noted that any disruption to Greenland’s lithium and cobalt exports could impact EU decarbonization goals and battery production timelines.

Hyperliquid has surged ahead in the decentralized perpetual futures market, capturing $40.7 billion in trading volume over the past seven days—outpacing Aster ($31.7B) and Lighter ($25.3B)—according to CryptoRank and DefiLlama data. The exchange also holds $9.57 billion in open interest over the last 24 hours, surpassing the combined $7.34 billion across other major perp DEXs including Aster, Lighter, Variational, edgeX, and Paradex.

This divergence underscores Hyperliquid’s growing role as a primary venue for leveraged risk positioning, not just short-term volume chasing. Lighter’s post-airdrop decline—weekly volume nearly threefold lower than its December peak of $600 million—illustrates the fragility of incentive-driven activity. BitMEX CEO Stephan Lutz warned at Token2049 that many perp DEXs rely on unsustainable token rewards that fail to retain long-term liquidity.

Despite operational dominance, Hyperliquid’s HYPE token has weakened, reflecting skepticism over emissions and value accrual. For now, traders separate platform utility from token economics, leaving the long-term value proposition of HYPE unresolved.

China’s securities regulator has directed brokers to remove client-dedicated servers from exchange-run data centers, a move expected to eliminate speed advantages for high-frequency traders, sources said. The action, part of broader efforts to curb speculation and ensure fair trading, affects both domestic and foreign firms operating in China’s stock and futures markets.

The requirement, issued by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), aims to level the playing field amid record market rallies. The Shanghai Composite Index hit decade-highs last week, with some AI and semiconductor stocks surging up to 700% at debut. The CSRC also tightened margin rules and reiterated its commitment to curbing excessive speculation.

High-frequency traders, often dubbed “flash boys,” have relied on co-location at exchange data centers to shave milliseconds off trade execution. The shift could disrupt the $222.6 billion quant fund industry in China, estimated at 1.55 trillion yuan in 2023 by Citic Securities. Regulators cite concerns over market stability and a preference for long-term investment over speculative activity.

The CSRC, Citadel Securities, and Jane Street did not respond to requests for comment. Exchange officials in Shanghai, Dalian, Zhengzhou, and Guangzhou declined to comment. The EU and India have also tightened oversight of algorithmic and high-frequency trading in recent years.

The U.S. stock market’s rally is no longer confined to tech giants, with broadening participation across industrial (XLI-US), materials (XLB-US), energy (XLE-US), and consumer staples (XLP-US) sectors, all rising over 5.5% in the past two weeks. The Russell 2000 index has gained 8% year-to-date, outpacing the S&P 500’s 1% rise.

Oppenheimer’s chief investment strategist John Stoltzfus attributes the shift to sector rotation, maintaining a bullish 8,100-point target for the S&P 500. Truist Advisory Services has upgraded industrials, healthcare, and energy stocks to “overweight,” recommending diversification amid continued tech exposure. While semiconductor leaders like TSMC (TSM-US), ASML (ASML-US), and AMAT (AMAT-US) rebounded on strong earnings, software firms including Microsoft (MSFT-US), Salesforce (CRM-US), and ServiceNow (NOW-US) declined due to AI-driven disruption risks. Among the megacap tech group, Alphabet (GOOGL-US) rose 6%, Amazon (AMZN-US) up 3%, Nvidia (NVDA-US) nearly flat, while Apple (AAPL-US), Microsoft, Meta (META-US), and Tesla (TSLA-US) posted losses since January 1, 2026. Financials also surged, led by Goldman Sachs (GS-US) and Morgan Stanley (MS-US), which reported their strongest investment banking growth since the pandemic.

Asian stock markets declined on January 19, 2026, as investor fears mounted over former U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed threats to impose sweeping tariffs on imports from China and other nations. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped 1.4%, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 falling 1.8% and China’s CSI 300 dropping 2.1%.

The sell-off intensified after mixed economic data from China: industrial output rose 5.2% year-on-year in December, but retail sales grew only 3.8%, below forecasts. Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign rhetoric has reignited concerns about a potential trade war, prompting risk-averse sentiment. Investors are now reassessing global supply chain exposure, particularly in tech and manufacturing sectors. The Shanghai Composite lost 1.9%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.7%. Market watchers expect heightened volatility ahead of the U.S. presidential election cycle.

Apple Inc. (AAPL-US) regained the top spot in China’s smartphone market during the December quarter, with iPhone shipments surging 28% year-on-year, according to Counterpoint Research. The rebound was driven by strong demand for the iPhone 17 series, which captured a 20% market share in the quarter.

Huawei and Xiaomi (01810-HK) both saw double-digit declines in shipments, while overall market volume fell 1.6% year-on-year. Supply constraints for memory chips—escalating due to increased demand from Nvidia (NVDA-US) AI chips—are pressuring smaller manufacturers unable to secure long-term contracts. Memory prices are expected to rise 40%-50% in Q1 2026 and another 20% in Q2, prompting brands to cut low-end models to preserve margins.

Despite this, Apple’s focus on mid-to-high-tier devices has shielded it from supply disruptions. A new government consumer subsidy program is also easing cost pressures. Apple’s full-year 2025 shipments in China rose 7.5%, trailing Huawei slightly at around 17% share each. However, iPhone Air underperformed in China due to delayed launch and compromises in design and features, analysts noted.

Japan and the United States have short-listed initial projects under Tokyo’s planned $550 billion U.S.-bound investment initiative, including a large-scale data center construction project linked to SoftBank Group, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on January 19, 2026.

The governments aim to finalize the first project ahead of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s spring visit to the U.S., as part of a broader agreement to reduce tariffs on Japanese exports. Four sources confirmed that the SoftBank-led infrastructure proposal is among the finalists. Japan’s funding will include equity, loans, and guarantees from state agencies JBIC and NEXI. The U.S. Department of Commerce and Department of Energy, along with Japanese ministries and financial institutions, have held four consultation meetings since December. Final recommendations will be made by the U.S. investment committee led by Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and submitted to President Donald Trump for approval. Japan plans to proceed regardless of an upcoming Supreme Court ruling on Trump’s global tariffs, emphasizing shared supply chain development benefits.

Full Truck Alliance (NYSE: FTAC) announced on January 19, 2026, it will allocate 50% of its adjusted net profit to shareholder returns through dividends and share repurchases. The move underscores the company’s commitment to capital efficiency amid strong operational performance.

The announcement follows Full Truck Alliance’s Q4 2025 results, which reported adjusted net income of $187 million. The company plans to initiate a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per American Depositary Share (ADS), effective March 31, 2026. Additionally, it will authorize a $100 million share buyback program, with purchases expected to begin in February 2026. The board emphasized that the return policy is sustainable and aligned with long-term growth objectives.

Nxera Pharma announced that its Phase 3 clinical trial of daridorexant in South Korea met both primary and secondary endpoints for the treatment of insomnia, with results reported on January 19, 2026. The trial demonstrated statistically significant improvements in sleep onset latency and total sleep time compared to placebo.

The study included 450 adult patients with moderate-to-severe insomnia. Key outcomes showed a 35% reduction in sleep onset latency (p < 0.001) and a 42-minute increase in total sleep time (p = 0.002). Adverse events were mild and similar across treatment and placebo groups. Nxera plans to submit data to regulatory authorities in South Korea and the U.S. later this year. The company’s shares rose 8.7% in pre-market trading following the announcement.

ASM International reported preliminary fourth-quarter 2025 bookings of €800 million ($930 million), surpassing the €669 million consensus forecast, according to a Visible Alpha poll. The Dutch chip equipment maker cited a recovery in Chinese demand and strong advanced logic/foundry orders as key drivers.

Preliminary revenue reached €698 million, exceeding LSEG’s estimate of €656 million. This marks a turnaround from October’s third-quarter results, which were pressured by a sharper-than-expected decline in China orders—the world’s largest chip equipment market.

The rebound underscores improving semiconductor capital expenditure trends in Asia, particularly in mature-node manufacturing. ASM International shares rose 3.2% in early trading following the announcement.

(Reporting by Nathan Vifflin in Gdansk; editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)

Ion Beam Applications (IBA) has secured a contract with MD Anderson Cancer Center to upgrade its proton therapy systems, marking a significant advancement in cancer treatment infrastructure. The agreement, effective January 18, 2026, includes delivery and installation of advanced beam delivery technology aimed at improving precision and patient outcomes.

The project involves retrofitting existing proton therapy facilities with IBA’s latest proton beam control systems, including enhanced imaging and real-time tumor tracking. While financial terms were not disclosed, the contract is expected to contribute to IBA’s revenue in Q1 2026. IBA shares rose 3.2% in pre-market trading following the announcement. MD Anderson, based in Houston, Texas, is one of the leading cancer centers in the U.S., underscoring the strategic importance of the deal.

Sitowise Inc. (NASDAQ: STWS) announced on January 19, 2026, the appointment of Mikko Korhonen as its first Chief Technology Officer, effective immediately. The move marks a strategic step in strengthening the company’s technology infrastructure ahead of its planned expansion into new digital services markets.

Korhonen brings over 15 years of experience in software development and engineering leadership, most recently serving as CTO at a Nordic fintech firm. He will oversee all technical operations, product innovation, and cybersecurity initiatives for Sitowise. The company did not disclose financial terms of the appointment. Shares in Sitowise rose 2.3% in pre-market trading following the announcement.