The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted and granted Priority Review to a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for a subcutaneous formulation of Leqembi (lecanemab), co-developed by Eisai and Biogen. The regulatory decision date is set for July 26, 2026.

The auto-injector is designed for the treatment of early Alzheimer's disease. The FDA's Priority Review designation shortens the regulatory review timeline, indicating the agency views the subcutaneous version as potentially offering a significant therapeutic advantage over the currently approved intravenous infusion. Eisai leads the submission and commercialization of Leqembi.

Gold (GC=F) broke above $5,000 per ounce on January 26, a major milestone analysts attribute to a "debasement trade" as investors hedge against global debt concerns and a falling U.S. dollar. Silver (SI=F) also reached a record, surpassing $100 per ounce.

Goldman Sachs raised its year-end gold price target to $5,400, citing private investor diversification. The Brookings Institution's Robin Brooks described the rally as "breathtaking and profoundly scary," linking it to fears governments will inflate away debt. Gold is up 15% year-to-date, following a 65% surge in 2025. Platinum and copper have also hit record highs.

Baker Hughes Company (NASDAQ: BKR) reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings and revenue that exceeded analyst expectations, sending its shares higher in after-hours trading on January 25.

The oilfield services firm posted adjusted earnings of $0.52 per share on revenue of $6.84 billion. Analysts had forecast earnings of $0.48 per share on revenue of $6.72 billion. The company cited strong orders in its industrial and energy technology segments. Following the report, BKR shares gained approximately 3% in extended trading.

Malaysian equities are projected to open higher on Monday, January 26, 2026, extending recent positive momentum. The market is expected to follow the generally firm global lead.

The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBMKLCI) finished Friday's session in the green. Traders anticipate the positive trend to continue at the open, with no major domestic catalysts cited for the expected move.

HEN Technologies, a firefighting equipment startup, closed a $20 million Series A funding round in December 2025, bringing its total funding to over $30 million. The company, which embeds sensors and computing into hardware like nozzles to collect operational firefighting data, is projecting revenue to reach $20 million in 2026.

The round was led by O’Neil Strategic Capital with participation from NSFO, Tanas Capital, and z21 Ventures, and included $2 million in venture debt from Silicon Valley Bank. HEN launched products in Q2 2023 and revenue grew from $1.6 million in 2024 to $5.2 million in 2025. The company now has 1,500 fire department customers, including U.S. military branches and NASA, and ships to 22 countries. Founder Sunny Sethi indicated the proprietary physical data collected by its smart systems is valuable for AI and robotics companies training predictive physics models.

Investors are shifting hedges toward China-related geopolitical risks and upcoming tech earnings, as markets grow desensitized to volatility from former President Trump's rhetoric, according to Bloomberg analysis. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) spiked briefly last week before quickly retreating.

Traders bought approximately 400,000 put options on the iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) and 150,000 puts on the Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF (ASHR) expiring in March. Simultaneously, hedging increased for major tech earnings, with puts bought on Nvidia (NVDA), Oracle (ORCL), and Broadcom (AVGO) expiring January 30. Analysts note the prevalence of the "TACO" (Trump Always Chickens Out) trade, which limits the duration and scale of market shocks from his statements.

Market structure is also in focus. The rise of zero-days-to-expiration (0DTE) options and outflows from VIX-linked exchange-traded products may reduce market shock absorbers, potentially leading to sharper intraday swings if negative catalysts emerge.

The benchmark KOSPI index is approaching the 5,000-point mark, a key psychological level it has tested several times in recent years. The movement reflects ongoing investor sentiment toward South Korean equities.

Market analysts cite foreign investor buying and relative valuations as factors supporting the index. The KOSPI's performance is being watched as an indicator for regional market trends in Asia.

The Japanese stock market is poised to open higher on Monday, January 26, following the Nikkei 225's record-setting close on Friday. The benchmark index surged 1.4% to finish at an all-time high, driven by strong performances in the financial and technology sectors.

Investor sentiment remains positive ahead of a busy week of corporate earnings reports from major Japanese firms. The market's recent strength is also supported by a weakening yen, which boosts the overseas earnings of the country's major exporters. Trading is expected to be influenced by overnight movements on Wall Street.

Singapore's central bank manages monetary policy by adjusting the exchange rate of its currency rather than domestic interest rates. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) sets a policy band for the Singapore dollar's trade-weighted exchange rate (S$NEER) to control inflation in the highly trade-reliant economy.

The S$NEER is allowed to fluctuate within an undisclosed band; the MAS intervenes only if it moves outside this range. The central bank adjusts three parameters—the slope, midpoint, and width of the band—typically during scheduled reviews. Since 2024, the MAS has issued policy statements quarterly, moving from a semi-annual schedule, to provide more timely economic assessments.

Warren Buffett, in a recent interview, warned that accumulating credit card debt leads to financial hardship and emphasized the importance of financial discipline. The Berkshire Hathaway chairman stated that living debt-free, with mortgages as a rare exception, is key to avoiding a difficult-to-escape financial trap.

Buffett said the principle is simple, requiring only "a little thinking and a little discipline." He advised young people specifically to avoid debt. The investing legend also reiterated his career advice, suggesting people pursue work they would do without pay, as compensation then becomes a byproduct of their passion.

A market rebound this week, dubbed the "TACO" (Trump Always Chickens Out) effect following President Trump's softened stance on acquiring Greenland, may be short-lived as underlying geopolitical tensions remain unresolved, Barron's warns. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5% last week, the S&P 500 dropped 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.1%, masking earlier volatility.

While strong U.S. economic data, including Q3 GDP growth of 4.4%, provided support, analysts caution the market remains fragile and headline-driven. The focus now shifts to upcoming Q4 earnings from major tech firms like Apple (AAPL-US), Microsoft (MSFT-US), and Meta (META-US). Meanwhile, persistent risks—from Greenland to U.S.-Iran tensions—have fueled a safe-haven rush, sending silver up 43% year-to-date and gold 15% higher in January.

A research firm warns that a surge in U.S. equity issuance, driven by AI investment fervor, is a classic signal that the market may be approaching a bubble peak. Capital Economics stated in a client note dated January 25, 2026, that total equity issuance by non-financial corporations is at levels comparable to prior market peaks, including the dot-com bubble.

Market economist Joe Maher noted that high and rising gross equity issuance is a warning sign for an impending bust, as it can eventually outstrip investor demand and pressure prices. However, he added that net issuance remains negative due to significant stock buybacks, making the current situation less extreme historically. Maher warned that if major private tech firms like SpaceX or OpenAI go public, net issuance could turn positive—a key precursor to a market top—and that rising private market fundraising could also signal bubble risks.

Markets face a pivotal week starting January 26, 2026, with a Federal Reserve policy decision, a cluster of mega-cap tech earnings, and escalated trade rhetoric from President Trump converging. The Fed meeting on January 28 and Chair Powell's press conference will guide rate expectations, while earnings from Tesla (TSLA), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta (META) on January 28 and Apple (AAPL) on January 29 test the AI investment thesis.

President Trump has threatened 100% tariffs on Canadian goods if Canada pursues a trade deal with China, injecting uncertainty into North American supply chains ahead of key industrial earnings. The week also features results from UnitedHealth (UNH), Boeing (BA), Caterpillar (CAT), and energy majors Exxon (XOM) and Chevron (CVX), providing broad economic health indicators.

Open interest for Nikkei 225 Yen futures on the CME fell sharply by 51,098 contracts to 82,788 as of Sunday, January 25, 2026. Estimated trading volume was 26,419 contracts.

The significant drop in open interest, which represents the total number of outstanding derivative contracts, suggests a large-scale unwinding of positions or expiration of contracts ahead of the new trading week. The volume data indicates a level of market activity consistent with the previous session.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B) is preparing to potentially sell "up to" nearly all of its 27.5% stake in Kraft Heinz (KHC), valued at $7.5 billion, according to a recent SEC filing. This marks a significant potential portfolio adjustment by new CEO Greg Abel and signals possible selling pressure for the long-underperforming investment.

The filing indicates the sale is not certain and may not be a single transaction. Kraft Heinz shares closed at $23.20 on January 23, down 1.4% for the week. Berkshire's cost basis for the stake was $9.8 billion, representing an unrealized loss of approximately $2.3 billion. Analysts view the potential move as an effort by Abel to streamline the portfolio early in his tenure, which would further swell Berkshire's cash pile—already over $350 billion as of late September—and increase pressure to deploy capital or address shareholder calls for dividends.

The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate steady at 3.5%-3.75% on January 28, 2026, as widely expected. Market focus is now on Chair Jerome Powell's press conference for signals on future policy, with his tone likely to trigger moves in the U.S. dollar and bitcoin.

Futures had priced a 96% chance of no change. The primary intrigue is whether the pause signals a hawkish or dovish stance. A dovish tilt, potentially reinforced by dissenting votes favoring cuts, could lift risk assets like bitcoin. Analysts at ING suggest Powell's justification for holding rates may instead strengthen the dollar, pressuring dollar-denominated assets. Powell is also expected to address the market impact of recent Trump administration housing affordability measures.

Bitcoin dropped below $88,000 on Sunday, January 25, extending a week-long pullback as traders weighed risks of a potential U.S. government shutdown and awaited the Federal Reserve's first policy decision of the year. The broader crypto market weakened, with over $224 million in long positions liquidated in 24 hours.

BTC traded around $87,800, down 2% on the day, with Ether falling toward $2,880. Major altcoins Solana, XRP, and Cardano lost 3%-5%. Traders are on alert for potential Japanese yen intervention after official warnings, adding to market unease. Polymarket traders assign a 76% chance of a U.S. government shutdown by month-end.

Attention this week shifts to the Fed's expected steady rate decision and commentary from Chair Jerome Powell, alongside earnings from major tech firms like Microsoft and Apple. Bitcoin, trading as a risk asset, may react to these macro and corporate catalysts.

Intel Corporation (INTC) shares fell sharply after the company issued soft guidance for the current quarter alongside its Q4 2025 earnings report on January 25, 2026. The sell-off followed a significant rally, with the stock having gained approximately 109% in the 52 weeks preceding the earnings release.

For Q4 2025, Intel reported revenue of $13.7 billion, beating analyst estimates of $13.4 billion. Adjusted earnings per share were $0.15, nearly double the $0.08 forecast. However, net losses widened to $591 million. The company forecast Q1 2026 revenue between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion, with a midpoint below Street estimates, and guided for breakeven adjusted earnings, missing the expected $0.05. Intel attributed the weak outlook to supply issues it expects to ease in Q2 2026.

Europe faces a severe structural aluminum shortage, consuming 13.5 million tons annually but producing only 950,000 tons domestically as of January 2026. The 93% deficit, driven by high energy costs shuttering smelters like Slovalco, threatens automotive, aerospace, and construction supply chains.

Primary aluminum production in Western and Central Europe has fallen over 25% since 2010. While demand for high-strength alloys is projected to grow, supply is constrained by Chinese control of 95% of global magnesium production and low zinc inventories. The EU's new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism also taxes carbon-intensive imports needed to replace lost domestic output.

Downstream converters like Constellium SE are capturing margins from the aerospace backlog, but the industry remains dependent on primary smelting. Recycling is limited for critical aerospace components due to contamination, underscoring the precarious supply challenge.

Home heating costs for U.S. households are forecast to increase 9.2% this winter, driven by higher electricity and natural gas prices and colder-than-average temperatures across much of the country, according to a January 25 report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.

The rising utility expenses add financial pressure as many Americans already face high living costs. The association's seasonal forecast highlights the direct impact of energy commodity prices and weather on consumer budgets.