Market Signal Briefing

Geopolitical Whipsaw: Iran Tensions Escalate Then Fade The dramatic price swings were driven primarily by escalating and then rapidly diminishing geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran, compounded by the resumption of Venezuelan oil exports.

Early in the week, crude oil jumped as massive protests and a violent government crackdown created the most significant Middle East supply risk since mid-2025. President Trump helped drive fears when he canceled meetings with Iranian officials and posted online that “help is on its way” to Iranian protesters. Trump’s moves also raised concerns of potential military strikes that sent prices surging toward multi-month highs.

The rally ended abruptly, however, and prices plunged on Thursday after Trump signaled he was stepping back from immediate military action. Trump based his reversal on assurances he had received from “very important sources” that the killing and scheduled executions in Iran had stopped.

Venezuela Production Resumes, Adding to Supply Glut Concerns The sudden reversal in prices also brought back into focus concerns over the supply glut that has overwhelmed the market for months. Compounding the issue was the news that Venezuela had begun reversing production cuts and resuming oil exports following the U.S. military operation that removed President Nicolas Maduro.

War Premium vs Supply Reality: The Key Question for Bulls Looking ahead to this week, the focus is likely to remain on the Middle East with speculators applying enough of a war premium to hold the market above key support. Even if Iran does experience temporary disruptions, the global surplus suggests any rally would be short-lived unless the supply loss is sustained and substantial.

The big question for bullish traders is how long can the hope of a supply disruption outweigh the reality of a supply glut? When that question is answered, crude oil prices will either be sharply higher or resuming its downtrend.

Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) is broadly expected to report a strong quarter on Jan. 20, driven largely by the final season of “Stranger Things” that pulled back lapsed subscribers and kept engagement high throughout the holiday period.

Consensus is for the streaming giant to earn 55 cents on a per-share basis in its Q4 – up an exciting 28% year-on-year. Its revenue is also seen climbing to $12 billion in the fourth quarter.

Yet, for investors that have been wary of the uncertainty surrounding NFLX’s attempt to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery assets already, what’s more important is whether this company can sustain momentum now that the Stranger Things tailwind is over.

At the time of writing, Netflix shares are down some 33% versus their 52-week high as investors wait and watch how the WBD situation develops, especially now that Paramount has sued Warner Bros. Discovery for picking NFLX’s bid over its own, which it asserts is actually “superior”.

What’s next for Netflix stock after Stranger Things? Copy link to section

According to Wedbush’s senior analyst Alicia Reese, however, the quarterly strength investors will likely see from Netflix on the coming Tuesday is far from temporary, or driven mostly by Stranger Things only.

Wedbush’s recent survey confirms subscriber numbers remained steady in the fourth quarter even after that TV show ended, she told CNBC in a recent interview.

In fact, a significant number of subscribers who had been away for at least three months “returned” to NFLX in recent months – and not just for Stranger Things.

Many of them returned to catch up on other buzzy titles like “Bridgerton” or the upcoming “WWE” content on the streaming platform, Reese added.

The Wedbush analyst emphasized that Netflix’s massive content library ensures quarter-on-quarter engagement, making it less vulnerable to single-title fatigue.

In her view, the company’s content pipeline and subscriber loyalty point to a durable growth story, which warrants buying NFLX stock at current levels.

Copy link to section

Alicia Reese continues to see Netflix stock as a “money maker with or without the WBD assets”. On the CNBC interview, she especially pointed to the massive advertising opportunity that remains overlooked by the market.

Reese described Netflix’s ad load as “the lowest of any streamer or of course any linear TV,” which makes the experience far less intrusive for viewers.

According to Wedbush’s survey data, retention among ad-tier subscribers has been improving each quarter, with fewer customers switching away. “People don’t mind,” Reese said, adding that Netflix has room to slightly increase ad load without alienating users.

The profitability of this tier is already evident, and advertisers are flocking to the platform thanks to Netflix’s data leverage and partnerships with Amazon and other demand-side platforms.

For Netflix, the ad tier is not just a side experiment – it’s becoming a “core driver” of sustainable revenue growth.

And if the Warner Brothers deal does go through, she expects production to ramp up across both studios, further enhancing Netflix’s ad leverage.

All in all, for investors willing to look past short-term noise, Reese said Netflix stock remains worth owning in 2026.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Nike bulls are hoping the business can get back to its winning ways soon.

Nike (NKE 0.33%) is one of the leading consumer-facing brands in the world. It has long held a strong position in the sportswear market. However, its challenges have been widely publicized in recent years, and investors hope that better days are in the near future.

Can this consumer discretionary stock reach $100 in 2026? The last time Nike was at this three-figure level was in March 2024 -- nearly two years ago.

Image source: Nike.

Nike stock needs a huge gain If Nike shares rise from $64 today to $100 by the end of this year, shareholders would see a huge 56% gain in about 11 months. It looks like a low-probability outcome, especially when you consider that the stock price is currently 64% below its all-time high from November 2021.

Nike wasn't always a losing investment. During the five-year period leading up to their peak, the shares had soared 255%. The bulls desperately want the business to get back to its winning ways.

The market has low expectations It helps Nike's case that the valuation is cheap on a historical basis. Shares currently trade at a price-to-sales ratio of 2. In the past 10 years, this multiple has averaged 3.5, so the setup right now indicates subdued investor enthusiasm.

The market is clearly struggling to find reasons to be optimistic. It makes sense why. Nike reported $46.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2025 (ended May 31, 2025), showing a decline of 10% from the prior year. Net income tanked 44% at the same time.

The company leaned too much on certain classic footwear products and direct-to-consumer distribution channels during the COVID-19 pandemic's height. That's understandable, given that this was working well at the time. But Nike wasn't ready when consumer behavior normalized, and its shortcomings opened up the door for younger rivals to take some market share and customer attention.

Nike is trying to get its business back on the right track, led by Nike veteran Elliott Hill, who has identified the top priorities.

"Fiscal year '26 continues to be a year of taking action to rightsize our Classics business, return NIKE Digital to a premium experience, diversify our product portfolio, deepen our consumer connections, strengthen our partner relationships and realign our teams and leadership," he said on the second-quarter 2026 earnings call.

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Investors should have muted expectations While it's important for investors to understand what leadership is working on, what matters at a high level is how these actions can affect the company's financial performance. Nike's earnings per share are expected to fall 28% in fiscal 2026, according to analyst estimates. That's not going to drive the stock higher.

Unless financial results improve dramatically and surprise investors to the upside, Nike shares getting to $100 is an unlikely outcome this year.

By 2030, surveyed executives anticipate AI spend to shift from efficiency to innovation AI productivity gains projected to increase by 42%, fueling reinvestment for growth 67% of respondents expect AI to eliminate resource and skills constraints , /PRNewswire/ -- New research from the IBM (NYSE: IBM) Institute for Business Value reveals that nearly eight in ten (79%) surveyed executives expect AI will significantly contribute to their revenue by 2030 – up from 40% today – yet, few (24%) have a clear view of where that revenue will come from.

Enterprise 2030 Despite this uncertainty, investment is accelerating: respondents predict that AI investment will surge approximately 150% between now and 2030. At the same time, 68% of executives surveyed worry their AI efforts will fail due to lack of integration with core business activities. 

"AI won't just support businesses, it will define them," said Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President, IBM Consulting. "By 2030, the companies that win will weave AI into every decision and operation. They will own powerful AI assets, move faster than competitors, bring innovations to market quickly, and deliver real, measurable business results using technology and automation."

The global study*, based on insights from 2,000 C-suite executives, shows that AI is emerging as a critical driver of enterprise growth through 2030. The findings suggest that future success will come from making bolder strategic bets, even as many surveyed executives face a gap between expectations and outcomes. Key findings include:

Executives are looking beyond AI efficiency to drive future gains

While nearly half (47%) of AI spend is now focused on efficiency, respondents expect 62% of AI spend will be dedicated to innovation by 2030. 64% of surveyed executives believe that by 2030, competitive advantage will come from innovation rather than resource optimization. 70% of surveyed executives plan to reinvest the value from AI-powered productivity gains into growth initiatives. Respondents expect AI to boost productivity by 42% by 2030, with 67% expecting to capture most AI-enabled productivity gains by then. Competitive advantage will depend on the right technology bets

While most surveyed executives (57%) say their competitive advantage will come from AI model sophistication, only 28% have a clear view of what AI models they'll need by 2030. 82% of respondents expect their AI capabilities to be multi-model by 2030, and 72% expect small language models (SLMs) to surpass large language models (LLMs). Surveyed organizations scaling AI across multiple workflows, using smaller, custom and foundation AI models, anticipate 24% greater productivity gains and 55% higher operating margins by 2030. While 59% of respondents say quantum-enabled AI will transform their industry by 2030, only 27% expect to be using quantum computing by then — a gap that underscores opportunity for organizations that are prepared to act today. AI is redefining leadership and the skills that matter most

By 2030, executives surveyed expect 25% of enterprise boards will have an AI advisor or co-decision maker, and 74% say AI will redefine leadership roles across the enterprise, with two-thirds believing AI will create entirely new leadership roles. Meanwhile, 67% of respondents say job roles are becoming shorter-lived, 57% expect most current employee skills to be obsolete by 2030, and 67% agree mindset will matter more than skills. In addition, 67% of surveyed executives expect AI to eliminate the resource and skills constraints that hold their organization back today. For AI-first organizations, analysis shows they are 48% more likely to create net-new jobs roles and 46% more likely to redesign their organizational structure to achieve more AI value. The study provides a roadmap for business leaders on how to turn AI-first ambitions into measurable outcomes. To view the full study, visit: https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/report/enterprise-2030

As part of the study, senior executives shared their perspectives on how technology is reshaping strategy, operations, and workforce priorities. See addendum below.

*Study Methodology
The IBM Institute for Business Value, in cooperation with Oxford Economics, gathered insights from 2,007 senior executives on how they expect their organizations to evolve between 2025 and 2030. The survey was conducted across 33 geographies and 20 industries during the third and fourth quarters of 2025. The survey explored strategic priorities, including AI-first operations, the integration of advanced AI models into products and services, workforce transformation, and readiness for emerging technologies like quantum computing.

The IBM Institute for Business Value, IBM's thought leadership think tank, combines global research and performance data with expertise from industry thinkers and leading academics to deliver insights that make business leaders smarter. For more world-class thought leadership, visit: www.ibm.com/ibv. To receive more insights, subscribe to the IdeaWatch newsletter: https://ibm.co/ibv-ideawatch. 

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service.  Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media Contact
Marisa Conway
IBM Corporate Communications
[email protected]

Executive Perspectives:

"The capabilities that transcend any particular job will remain very important: decision-making, judgment, strategy, collaboration skills, intuition, clarity of thought. Those things will become even more necessary in a world where you can delegate a lot of the underlying work to an agent." — Aaron Levie, CEO and Co-Founder, Box

"Quantum will never stand alone. Classical computing, AI, and quantum must work together in connected workflows." — Dr. Thomas Eckl, Chief Expert, Bosch 

"AI's future isn't about bigger models. It's about smarter integration with people and processes." — Jinesh Dalal, Head and VP, Technology Development, C-Metric

"We'll need more problem solvers who understand both the business and the models—people who can marry technical capability with business insight. That's the future of every company, including ours." — Umang Dharmik, SVP and Head of IT, Mercedes-Benz Research Development India (MBRDI)

"We're the first women's soccer league in the world to implement a video assistant referee. We know that AI is going to unlock tremendous efficiency and effectiveness to reduce or potentially even eliminate some of the human error that happens around the calls that happen on the field." — Jessica Berman, Commissioner, National Women's Soccer League

"By 2030, insight will be everywhere. Interfaces will be radically different, and AI will act as the business intelligence system, decision engine, and a participant in operations." — Chad Gates, Managing Director, Pronto Software 

"The entire C-suite should always be asking, 'How can we disrupt the market? How can we leverage disruption to our competitive advantage by reinventing the what's next and where are we going?'" — Maureen Power Sweeny, Chief Revenue Officer, RapidScale

SOURCE IBM

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - January 19, 2026) - Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation into Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOG) ("Apogee Enterprises, Inc.") concerning potential violations of the federal securities laws.

On January 7, 2026, before the market opened, APOG published fiscal third quarter 2026 financial results highlighting the company's performance expectations for the coming years.

APOG disclosed its gross margin decreased to 23.8% from 26.1% and adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 13.2% from 13.4% for third quarter fiscal 2026 compared to third quarter fiscal 2025, reducing the Company's future profitability.

Management attributed it to the impact of lower volume and price and higher aluminum, restructuring and health insurance costs.

As a result, Apogee lowered its fiscal 2026 outlook for net sales from $1.44B down to $1.39B and adjusted EPS from $3.80 - $4.20 to $3.40 - $3.50.

In direct response to this news, APOG's stock price fell by $6.29 (17%) to open at $31.00 per share.

If you suffered a loss on your Apogee Enterprises, Inc. securities and would like to explore a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, Learn More About the Investigation or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at [email protected] or call (212)363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.

WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10004
[email protected]
Tel: (212)363-7500
Fax: (212)363-7171

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280786

Source: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 19, 2026) - Unigold Inc. (TSXV: UGD) (OTC Pink: UGDIF) (FSE: UGB1) ("Unigold" or the "Company") announces that Endeavor Trust Corporation has replaced Computershare Trust Company as the transfer agent effective January 5, 2026. Shareholders do not need to take any action in respect to the change in transfer agent.

All inquiries and correspondence relating to shareholders' records, transfer of shares, lost certificates, changes of addresses or other inquiries related to shares should now be directed to Endeavor Trust Company as follows:

Endeavor Trust CompanyAddress:Suite 702 - 777 Hornby Street,
Vancouver, BC,
V6Z 1S4Direct Dial:1-416-977-7888 - Toronto
1-604-559-8880 - VancouverEmail:[email protected] Endeavor through their website at:www.EndeavorTrust.comForward-looking Statements

Where applicable, we claim the protection of the safe harbour for forward- looking statements provided by the (United States) Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280782

Source: Unigold Inc.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - January 19, 2026) - Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation into Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (NASDAQ: CORT) ("Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated") concerning potential violations of the federal securities laws.

What Happened?

On December 31, 2025, Corcept announced it received a CRL from the FDA, denying approval of Corcept's new drug application for relacorilant as a treatment for patients with hypertension secondary to hypercortisolism.

According to the Company's release, the FDA acknowledged the results of the previous GRACE and GRADIENT drug trials, but "concluded it could not arrive at a favorable benefit-risk assessment for relacordilant without Corcept providing additional evidence of effectiveness."

Why it Matters:

Today, in direct response to this news, Corcept's stock price fell by $31.42 (44.76%) per share to open at $38.78 per share on December 31, 2025.

This drop marks a new 52-week low for Corcept's stock, dropping to levels not seen since September 2024.

If you suffered a loss on your Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated securities and would like to explore a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, Learn More About the Investigation or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at [email protected] or call (212)363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.

WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10004
[email protected]
Tel: (212)363-7500
Fax: (212)363-7171

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280789

Source: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the broader cryptocurrency market experienced a sudden crash earlier today on fears that a potential trade war between the U.S. and the EU could further pressure the already fragile market sentiment.

According to The Block's bitcoin price page, the world's largest cryptocurrency dropped from $95,500 at 5 p.m. ET Sunday to $92,474 as of 9 p.m., a 3% decline in just a few hours. Other major cryptocurrencies, including ether, XRP, and Solana, tracked bitcoin's movement.

Due to the sudden drop, over $750 million in long positions was liquidated in the past four hours, according to Coinglass data aggregated from publicly available sources. Analysts attributed this plunge to fears of a looming tariff war between the U.S. and the EU. 

"The crypto market continues to show weakness relative to other asset classes," Min Jung, associate researcher at Presto Research, told The Block. "While U.S.-EU trade war concerns have had the largest impact on sentiment, other risk assets, including the KOSPI, are trading flat to higher. This suggests that crypto-specific weakness persists, with investors favoring other risk assets, a theme that has continued as most markets rally while crypto remains the laggard."

US v. EU Renewed fears of a full-blown U.S.-EU trade war emerged after President Donald Trump threatened to escalate tariffs — starting at 10% on February 1 and rising to 25% by June — on imports from eight NATO allies (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland) unless Denmark agrees to sell Greenland to the United States. 

The ultimatum drew sharp criticism from European leaders, who described the demands as "blackmail" and warned of a "dangerous downward spiral" in transatlantic relations, according to a Reuters report.

EU officials are now preparing retaliatory measures, including potentially restricting all American services in Europe, imposing new taxes on U.S. companies, or limiting investments in EU.

"The latest U.S.-EU trade war headlines have certainly injected fresh volatility into an already uneasy market … adding a layer of geopolitical uncertainty that markets were in no shape to absorb," said Rachael Lucas, crypto analyst at BTC Markets. "But while the headlines are loud, they’re not the fundamental driver of the current pullback in crypto."

Lucas pointed out that crypto market sentiment had already been deteriorating after the U.S. crypto market structure bill stalled. After Coinbase withdrew its support for the bill, the Senate Banking Committee decided to postpone its markup hearing with a new date yet to be announced.

"Meanwhile, Bitcoin has spent months consolidating after its October 2025 all time high near $126,000, with traders steadily taking profit after an extended period of volatility," Lucas said. "The recent break below the 50 week moving average triggered algorithmic selling, at the same time Spot Bitcoin ETFs shed $4.4 billion through November and December and futures open interest fell sharply, all signaling reduced appetite for risk."

The BTC Markets analyst added that bitcoin may fall to the $67,000 to $74,000 region if these macro pressures persist. Still, Lucas said that this does not resemble past crypto winters, noting that the entire industry is more mature with constructive regulatory signals.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Shalini Nagarajan

Crypto Reporter

Shalini Nagarajan

Part of the Team Since

Jan 2024

About Author

Shalini is a crypto reporter who provides in-depth reports on daily developments and regulatory shifts in the cryptocurrency sector.

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3 minutes ago

Bitcoin slid about 3% to around $92,000 in early Asian trading on Monday as traders cut risk after President Donald Trump threatened fresh tariffs on eight European countries, linking the levies to his push for US ownership of Greenland.

Trump said the US would impose additional 10% import tariffs from Feb. 1 on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Britain, and raise them to 25% on June 1 if no deal is reached.

European officials condemned the move, calling it coercive, as the tariff threat escalated a dispute already straining transatlantic ties.

Market snapshot Bitcoin: $92,506, down 2.6% Ether: $3,203, down 3% XRP: $1.96, down 4.7% Total crypto market cap: $3.21 trillion, down 2.7% Holiday Thins Liquidity As Futures Lead Risk-Off MoveThe shock hit global markets first through derivatives because US cash markets were shut for a holiday, which also thinned liquidity. US stock futures slid, with S&P 500 futures down 0.7% and Nasdaq futures down 1.0% in early Asian hours.

Asian equities slipped as the risk-off mood spread, with Japan’s Nikkei down about 1% and MSCI’s broad Asia Pacific index outside Japan dipping 0.1%. Europe looked soft too, with Euro Stoxx 50 and DAX futures both down 1.1% as traders priced in a new bout of trade uncertainty.

Currencies echoed the move. The dollar weakened against traditional havens, easing about 0.3% against the yen and 0.2% against the Swiss franc, while the euro steadied after an early dip.

Bitcoin Liquidations Accelerate As Leverage UnwindsCommodities moved the other way. Gold jumped 1.5% to a record in the scramble for safety, and silver also hit all-time highs, while Brent and US crude both slipped as investors weighed what an all-out US-Europe trade fight could mean for growth and demand.

Crypto traders felt the macro jolt in real time because Bitcoin trades through the weekend and into Asia’s Monday open. As price fell, leveraged positions unwound, with some market trackers pointing to heavy long liquidations during the slide.

In Brussels, EU diplomats said ambassadors agreed to intensify efforts to dissuade Trump from following through, while preparing retaliation if the duties go ahead.

Options include reactivating a tariff package on 93B euros of US imports and, more controversially, considering the bloc’s never used Anti-Coercion Instrument that could restrict access to tenders, investment or services trade.

Strategists Warn Of Capital Flight ShockStrategists also flagged a bigger market risk that sits behind the headlines, the flow of capital. Deutsche Bank noted European investors own about $8 trillion of US bonds and equities, and warned that a shift in those holdings could prove more disruptive than tariffs themselves, describing it as a potential “weaponization of capital” rather than trade flows.

The calendar adds more catalysts. China is due to report economic growth figures, the Bank of Japan meets later this week with investors watching for hints of tightening, and US data later in the week will shape expectations for when the Federal Reserve might cut again. Leaders also head to Davos, where trade and security are likely to dominate conversations as the Greenland dispute sharpens.

US President Trump announced fresh tariffs over the weekend, reviving the risk of a US-EU trade war. XRP and the broader crypto market previously came under selling pressure as President Trump rolled out tariffs in 2024.

Crucially, XRP dropped below the $2.0 psychological level, despite strong demand for XRP-spot ETFs through January. Nevertheless, the medium-term outlook remains bullish.

Below, I will explore the key drivers behind recent price trends, the medium-term (4-8 weeks) outlook, and the key technical levels traders should watch.

US Tariffs on Eight European Countries Hit Risk Sentiment US President Trump announced a 10% tariff on eight European countries on Saturday, January 17, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland. The tariffs will take effect on February 1. Tariffs will then increase to 25% on June 1 as Trump pressures the EU to allow the US to acquire Greenland. Trump stated:

“This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”

The EU is reportedly preparing to retaliate, fueling fears of a full-blown trade war. The Kobeissi Letter reported:

XRPUSD – Daily Chart – 190126 – Tariffs Market Structure Bill Chatter Weighs on XRP Demand While markets reacted to the escalation in the US-EU trade war, analysts continued to criticize the efforts of US banks to block stablecoin rewards.

Last week, Coinbase (COIN) withdrew its support for the US Senate Banking Committee’s draft text of the Market Structure Bill. The Banking Committee responded by postponing its markup vote on the draft text, kick-starting XRP’s retreat. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong referenced text relating to stablecoin rewards, stating:

“Draft amendments that would kill rewards on stablecoins, allowing banks to ban their competition.”

US banks have warned that crypto legislation permitting stablecoin rewards could trigger more than $6 trillion in deposit outflows from the US banking system. The debate continued over whether US banks’ push to block stablecoin rewards is competition-related or protection-related.

Bloomberg Intelligence ETF Analyst James Seyffart commented on US banks’ concerns over stablecoin rewards, stating:

“I don’t fully understand the Banks’ argument here. There are so many high yield savings accounts out there that offer 3% or more. Betterment, Marcus/Goldman, CIT, SoFi, Amex, Wealthfront, etc. How are these not the same pressure on<0.1% yield deposits as stablecoin yields?”

XRP Remains Highly Sensitive to Regulatory Developments Recent price action has highlighted XRP’s sensitivity to developments in crypto-related legislation.

XRP rallied from $1.8103 on December 31 to a January 6 high of $2.4151 in response to the Banking Committee announcing a January 15 markup vote on the draft text. However, XRP has fallen to a January 19 low of $1.8502 following the Banking Committee’s postponement of the markup vote.

Despite the delays to the markup vote, optimism over US lawmakers delivering much-needed crypto legislation supports a bullish medium-term price outlook for XRP.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong fueled the optimism after withdrawing support for the draft text, stating:

“I’m actually quite optimistic that we will get to the right outcome with continued effort. We will keep showing up and working with everyone to get there.”

XRPUSD – Daily Chart – 190126 – Market Structure Bill Price Action 2026 XRP Price Forecast: Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term Targets Strong demand for XRP-spot ETFs, the progress of the Market Structure Bill, and increased XRP utility reaffirm a cautiously positive short-term outlook (1-4 weeks), with a $2.5 price target.

Furthermore, hopes that US lawmakers will pass crypto-friendly legislation reinforced the bullish longer-term price targets:

Medium-term (4-8 weeks): $3.0. Longer-term (8-12 weeks): $3.66. Key Downside Risks to the Bullish XRP Outlook Several events could change the positive outlook. These include:

The Bank of Japan announces a hawkish neutral interest rate (potentially 1.5%-2.5%), signaling multiple rate hikes. A higher neutral rate could trigger a yen carry trade unwind, mirroring price action in mid-2024. A yen carry trade unwind would invalidate the short-term outlook. US economic indicators and the Fed are dampening expectations of an H1 2026 rate cut. US lawmakers roadblock the Market Structure Bill, delaying crypto legislation. XRP-spot ETFs report outflows. These events would likely weigh on sentiment, sending XRP below $1.85, which would signal a bearish trend reversal.

Technical Analysis: Levels to Watch XRP slid 3.4% on Sunday, January 18, following the previous day’s 0.27% loss, closing at $1.9915. The token faced heavier selling pressure than the broader crypto market cap, which declined 1.60%.

A five-day losing streak left XRP below its 50-day and 200-day EMAs, signaling a bearish bias. However, the bullish fundamentals continue to offset technicals, limiting the downside.

Key technical levels to watch include:

Support levels: $1.85, $1.75, and then $1.50. 50-day EMA resistance: $2.0681. 200-day EMA resistance: $2.3146. Resistance levels: $2.0, $2.5, $3.0, and $3.66. Viewing the daily chart, a break above $2.0 would bring the 50-day EMA into play. A sustained move through the 50-day EMA would indicate a near-term bullish trend reversal. A bullish trend reversal would open the door to testing $2.2. A breakout above $2.2 would enable the bulls to target the 200-day EMA.

Significantly, a breakout above the EMAs would reaffirm the bullish medium- and longer-term price targets.

XRPUSD – Daily Chart – 190126 – Bullish Structure XRP Outlook Hinges on Tariff Developments, Capitol Hill, and Central Banks Looking ahead, trade developments and crypto-related regulatory headlines are likely to influence XRP’s price outlook.

Traders should closely monitor trade developments. Additionally, updates from the Banking Committee and Agriculture Committee will be key. This week, the Agriculture Committee will release its draft text on the Market Structure Bill. The Agriculture Committee has scheduled a markup vote on January 27.

Meanwhile, central bank chatter and XRP-spot ETF flow trends will also influence the near-term price outlook.

Increased bets on a March Fed rate cut, and a dovish BoJ neutral rate (potentially 1%-1.25%) would lift sentiment. Strong demand for XRP-spot ETFs and positive crypto-related news from Capitol Hill would reinforce the constructive bias.

In summary, these scenarios support a medium-term (4–8 weeks) move to $3.0. Meanwhile, a March Fed rate cut and the Senate passing the Market Structure Bill would reaffirm the longer-term (8–12 weeks) price target of $3.66.

Looking beyond the 12-week time horizon, these events are likely to drive XRP to its all-time high of $3.66 (Binance). A break above $3.66 would support a 6- to 12-month price target of $5.

Bitcoin's stagnant price obscures a deep repricing underway as structural supply constraints collide with a looming productivity boom, positioning the cryptocurrency to absorb outsized wealth creation, according to ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood.

Journalist

Posted: January 19, 2026

FARTCOIN crashed more than 10% in the past 24 hours, falling below the $0.36 mark.

This decline reduced its January returns to about 26% as of press time, despite earlier beliefs that Q1 could yield significant gains following a weak close to the year 2025.

The memecoin opened the year with a rally past $0.40, though it has failed to live up to the expectations. That said, can buyers step in and reverse the declining price action?

Price weakens more after liquidity sweep The charts showed FARTCOIN’s price was extending its decline even after sweeping the sell-side liquidity at $0.36. Initially, this level had held strongly, but the sellers and probably market makers forced a breakdown.

This weakness was evident on the MACD, which was red with signal lines crossing below the neutral level. Furthermore, the On Balance Volume (OBV) had been falling for the past two days.

Its reading was negative $0.163 billion when writing.

Continued decline could see FARTCOIN revisit levels around $0.27, this year’s open price.

Source: TradingView

Conversely, the liquidity sweep could be a strategy to take out weak holders. Institutions and whales manipulate price by doing so and then push it in the opposite direction.

However, a green candle close above $0.36 was necessary to bet on price trading back to levels around $0.40 or higher.

With that in mind, it was worth analyzing the recent exchange activities.

What do the exchange activities mean? The data from Solscan showed that Kraken and Gate.io had moved tokens to Wintermute, averaging about $200K in FARTCOIN in different batches.

This activity elicited sell-offs from other participants, bearing in mind that the memecoin was still up 26% in January. The reasoning behind this decision was that traders follow what exchanges do, as they are more savvy.

The withdrawal did not only mean exchanges were selling but also could be advantageous for traders. This is because Wintermute further deposited these tokens for liquidity provision.

Source: Solscan

The latter explained the decline in price of FARTCOIN. If the selling was planned, the memecoin’s price could continue to fall. However, buyers were starting to step in.

Are buyers stepping in? The data from CoinGlass showed that Funding Rates had turned green alongside Open Interest (OI). This meant that buyers were paying sellers to close their orders.

Most popular exchanges were green. The highest readings on the Hyperliquid and KuCoin exchanges were 0.01% and 0.0119%, respectively. These values meant that buyers were stepping back into trading the memecoin.

Source: CoinGlass

With the liquidity sweep and buyers returning gradually, the price fall could be short-lived. However, there was a need to be wary of the sellers’ force that broke down the support level at $0.35.

Final Thoughts The price of FARTCOIN crashed below a key support level as exchanges transferred tokens to the Wintermute market maker.  FARTCOIN could be shaping for a bullish reversal after the liquidity sweep and buyers stepping back. 

2 mins mins

Key Points:

Trove DEX opts for Solana, shifting from Hyperliquid after a liquidity partner exit.ICO participants react negatively to the sudden platform change.Solana ecosystem continues to grow with increased adoption and migrations. Trove announced the migration of its perpetual DEX platform from Hyperliquid to Solana after raising $11.5 million via ICO and faced liquidity issues on January 19th.

The move has unsettled the community due to expectations of continued operations on Hyperliquid, reflecting broader concerns in the decentralized finance ecosystem about platform reliability.

Price Changes and Future Challenges for Trove With this migration, Trove aims to leverage Solana’s capacity for lower transaction costs and could widen its asset coverage. However, this abrupt shift has unsettled initial backers, creating dissatisfaction over the change in strategic direction. Responses from the community emphasize disappointment, given expectations from earlier disclosures. The announcement sparked rigorous debate, with some users voicing concerns over transparency and project trajectory.

As of January 19, data from CoinMarketCap shows Hyperliquid (HYPE) priced at $23.95, with a market cap of $7.23 billion and a fully diluted value of $23.03 billion. Recent withdrawals led to a 5.93% decrease over 24 hours amid a 99.37% change in trading activity.

Unfortunately, no specific quotes or sources were identified in the search results related to the migration or current developments surrounding Trove’s transition from Hyperliquid to Solana. Expert Insights Did you know? Trove’s switch to Solana highlights a trend in decentralized exchanges seeking networks with higher throughput and reduced fees, following record volume growth on the Solana DEX.

Coincu researchers provide insights into Trove’s transition, suggesting potential challenges in user retention amidst ecosystem realignment. Historical trends in similar migrations reveal possible impacts on token liquidity and scalability. Solana’s robust architecture, aligning with Trove’s goals, yet regulatory uncertainties could pose future compliance hurdles.

Hyperliquid(HYPE), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 04:07 UTC on January 19, 2026. Source: CoinMarketCap Coincu researchers provide insights into Trove’s transition, suggesting potential challenges in user retention amidst ecosystem realignment. Historical trends in similar migrations reveal possible impacts on token liquidity and scalability. Solana’s robust architecture, aligning with Trove’s goals, yet regulatory uncertainties could pose future compliance hurdles.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.

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Strategy chairman Michael Saylor has hinted at another major Bitcoin buy after adding $1.25 billion worth of the cryptocurrency to its holdings just last week.

In an X post on Saturday, Saylor shared a screenshot of a graph from StrategyTracker, showing the price of Bitcoin (BTC) and the times Strategy has made purchases for its Bitcoin reserve, with the caption “Bigger Orange.” 

Source: Michael Saylor The Strategy chairman has often teased upcoming Bitcoin buys via X this way, and has shown no signs of slowing down its Bitcoin purchases in 2026.

The firm kicked the year off with a $115.97 million purchase of 1,283 BTC on Jan. 4, then followed that by buying 13,627 BTC for $1.25 billion on Jan. 11.  

The firm now holds 687,410 BTC at an average purchasing price of $75,353 per coin, according to data from StrategyTracker. The price of BTC is currently $92,300 according to Coinbase, putting Strategy’s Bitcoin reserve at a profit.

Reserve in the green, but debt is looming However, the firm’s stock price has suffered over the past 12 months, dropping around 52.67% to sit at $173.71 as of Jan. 16,  according to data from Yahoo Finance. 

Strategy has utilized a range of methods to help it raise capital for Bitcoin purchases, with a key avenue being the selling of short-term debt via convertible notes. 

However, across late 2027 and 2028, debt holders will start to be able to convert billions of dollars worth of notes, putting pressure on the firm to drum up large sums of capital. 

Strategy has reiterated on several occasions that it has enough resources to weather the storm, but has also suggested it could sell some of its stash to free up capital if it had to. 

Cointelegraph has reached out to Strategy for comment.

Magazine: Bitcoin ‘bullish’ in Q1 says Willy Woo, XRP lacks CLARITY: Trade Secrets

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

Bitcoin fell almost $3,500 on Monday as Europe hinted at retaliatory measures against US President Donald Trump, who threatened new trade tariffs unless negotiations could begin over Greenland. 

Bitcoin (BTC) prices have dumped 3.6% in a matter of hours, falling from $95,450 to just below $92,000 on Coinbase in early trading on Monday morning, according to TradingView.

Around $750 million in long positions were liquidated in four hours, bringing total 24-hour liquidations to over $860 million, according to Coinglass. The asset had marginally recovered from its weekly low, trading at $92,580 at the time of writing. 

Meanwhile, precious metals have surged as they continue to decouple from digital assets, while stock futures were also down.  

Gold futures soared to record highs of $4,667 per ounce as markets reacted to the resumption of the US-EU trade war, according to Google Finance. Silver futures also skyrocketed above $93 per ounce for the first time in history. 

BTC dumps $3,500 in a couple of hours on Coinbase. Source: TradingViewEurope retaliates to Trump tariffs Over the weekend, Trump announced 10% trade tariffs on eight European countries  — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK — starting Feb. 1. 

These would rise to 25% by June if no agreement on his push to control Greenland is reached. 

European leaders responded forcefully, with French President Emmanuel Macron urging the EU to activate its “anti-coercion instrument,” also known as a “trade bazooka,” which could restrict US access to EU markets.

The European Union is also considering 93 billion euros ($108 billion) in previously delayed retaliatory tariffs. 

“At least judging from the first reactions, some European leaders are willing to play hardball,” wrote Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING, according to CNN. 

Trade war fears sparking risk-off moodCrypto industry analysts told Cointelegraph the trade war could create a risk-off environment in the markets. 

“I see Trump’s tariffs over Greenland sparking trade war fears and creating a risk-off mood in markets,” said Andri Fauzan Adziima, research lead at Bitrue.

“Bitcoin, acting like a tech stock, dropped below $93,000 due to liquidations and FUD, showing how it gets hit hard by big economic shakes. Short-term pain continues, but both could rise long-term if money weakening happens,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Jeff Mei, chief operations officer at the BTSE exchange, said that trade war threats “are causing a bout of market unease — especially since this time he is threatening some of America's closest allies.” 

“Right now, traders are thinking about the worst-case scenario, in which markets could plunge to April 2025 levels. Once the U.S. market opens, it’s possible that institutional investors may move to de-risk their holdings if they think Trump’s threats are serious.”Magazine: Wintermute on crypto recovery, BTC allocation cut on quantum risk: Hodler’s Digest

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

By PYMNTS  |  January 18, 2026

 | 

Meta-owned social media platform Threads is reportedly surpassing X in terms of mobile usage.

Threads now has more daily usage on mobile devices than Elon Musk’s X, TechCrunch reported Sunday (Jan. 18), citing data from Similarweb. 

Meta introduced Threads, a text-based app seen as its answer to Twitter/X, in 2023. Although X, formerly Twitter, still beats Threads among web-based users, the Threads mobile app has seen a continued increase in daily active users over the last several months, the report said.

The data shows that Threads had 141.5 million daily active users on iOS and Android as of Jan. 7, following months of growth, while X has 125 million daily active mobile users. By contrast, Threads has had little traction among web-based users, while X’s audience on that front is around 150 million user visits each day.

According to the report, this growth seems to be due to longer-term trends, rather than a response to recent controversies surrounding X. These include the discovery that some users were employing Grok, the platform’s AI system, to generate nonconsensual nude images of women, including minors. 

Concern around the deepfake images has led California’s attorney general to open an investigation into Grok, following similar investigations by other regions worldwide.

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Meanwhile, Musk said earlier this month that X would open its new algorithm to the public, a change that includes all code for organic and advertising post recommendations.

In other Meta news, PYMNTS wrote last week about Meta Compute, the company’s new artificial intelligence (AI) initiative aimed at centralizing and supercharging its data center and AI infrastructure build-out. 

CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta Compute will create tens of gigawatts of computing capacity this decade, with the goal of scaling to hundreds of gigawatts over time, energy levels comparable to the kind found in small countries.

As PYMNTS reported, the effort puts leadership for data center design, supply chain partnerships and strategic capacity planning under an organization co-led by company vets Santosh Janardhan and Daniel Gross, with guidance from freshly appointed President Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to the Trump White House.

“Meta’s push comes as the company seeks to catch up with AI heavyweights like Google, Microsoft and OpenAI,” the report added. “Last year’s Llama 4 model received a lukewarm market response, and Meta is now betting that owning larger swaths of compute, paired with reliable energy procurement, will yield strategic advantage.”

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National Harbor, Maryland Would Become Second U.S. Location For Sphere And First To Utilize Smaller-Scale Venue Design Model

Project Would Receive Approximately $200 Million In State, Local, And Private Incentives

NEW YORK & NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR), the State of Maryland, Prince George’s County, and Peterson Companies announced today their intent to develop a new Sphere venue – which would be the second in the U.S. and first to utilize a smaller-scale design model – at National Harbor, a premier destination in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The addition of Sphere would create a new Maryland landmark that drives significant economic, cultural and community benefits for the County, State, and region, and provides unparalleled immersive experiences powered by advanced technologies.

“Our focus has always been on creating a global network of Spheres across forward-looking cities,” said James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sphere Entertainment. “Sphere is a new experiential medium. With a commitment to bringing innovative opportunities to residents and visitors, Governor Moore, County Executive Braveboy, the State of Maryland, and Prince George’s County recognize the potential for a Sphere at National Harbor to elevate and advance immersive experiences across the area.”

“Maryland has a long history of providing world-class entertainment and we could not be more excited to work with Sphere Entertainment to bring this cutting-edge project to life,” said Governor Wes Moore. “This will be one of the largest economic development projects in Prince George’s County history – proving once again our state is the best place in the country to bring dreams to life. We’re excited for what this means for our people, and how it will showcase the best of what Maryland has to offer to everyone who visits.”

“This is a world-class win and an incredibly exciting moment for Prince George’s County. This achievement reflects the strong partnership we have built with Governor Wes Moore and the State of Maryland, as well as a disciplined, experienced team that knows how to compete and win major projects at a national scale,” said Prince George's County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy. “As only the second Sphere venue in the United States, this project demonstrates the future of economic development in Prince George’s County, how we compete, how we win, and how we attract other world-class destinations that will become flagship projects for our County, our State, and the entire region. I love winning for Prince George’s County.”

“We are excited to partner with Sphere Entertainment, the State of Maryland, and Prince George’s County to bring a Sphere to National Harbor,” said Jon Peterson, Chief Executive Officer of the Peterson Companies. “This innovative project will further reinforce National Harbor as the national capital region’s premier destination for conventions, entertainment, retail and dining, and hospitality; deliver more economic activity and jobs; and elevate National Harbor, and Maryland, as one of the country’s preeminent tourism and entertainment hubs.”

This project would utilize a combination of public and private funding, including approximately $200 million in state, local, and private incentives. Sphere would support approximately 2,500 jobs during the construction phase, and 4,750 jobs once operational, in addition to generating millions in additional revenue for the County and State. Once open, the economic impact of Sphere National Harbor is expected to be greater than $1 billion annually.

Located just 15 minutes from Washington, D.C., National Harbor is a top entertainment and tourism destination in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) region. Situated along the Potomac River, National Harbor offers world-class entertainment, dining, retail, gaming, convention, and leisure activities to more than 15 million visitors annually. A Sphere at National Harbor would become a major year-round draw, offering an array of immersive experiences, including original Sphere Experiences, concerts, and brand events, for residents and the millions of domestic and international visitors who travel to the area each year.

Sphere in Las Vegas was recently ranked #1 on both Billboard’s and Pollstar’s 2025 lists of top-grossing venues worldwide. As part of Sphere Entertainment’s vision for a global network of venues, which now includes Sphere in Las Vegas and the planned venue in Abu Dhabi, the Company has designed plans for various sized Spheres that deliver the fully immersive experiences that are the signature of Sphere in Las Vegas.

The proposed National Harbor venue would be the first smaller-scale Sphere, with capacity of 6,000 seats. Smaller-scale Spheres would feature an Exosphere – the exterior LED display of Sphere that showcases both artistic and branded content and reaches audiences globally. The venue would also feature a 16K x 16K interior display plane – the world’s highest-resolution LED screen. All of Sphere’s advanced technologies would be incorporated, including Sphere Immersive Sound, as well as haptic seating and 4D environmental effects.

Any construction, development, financing and operation of a Sphere venue at National Harbor is contingent upon, among other things, negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, as well as receipt of certain governmental incentives and approvals from Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland.

For press assets, please click here.

About Sphere
Sphere is an experiential medium that is redefining the future of immersive experiences. Powered by advanced technologies that ignite the senses, Sphere is a venue where the foremost artists, creators, and technologists create extraordinary experiences that bring storytelling to a new level and transport audiences to places both real and imagined. The venue hosts original Sphere Experiences from leading Hollywood creatives; concerts and residencies from the world’s biggest artists; and premier brand events. The first Sphere opened in Las Vegas, with a second venue planned for Abu Dhabi. More information is available at thesphere.com.

About Sphere Entertainment Co.
Sphere Entertainment Co. is a leader in immersive experiences, technology and media. The Company includes Sphere, an experiential medium powered by advanced technologies. The first Sphere opened in Las Vegas, with a second venue planned for Abu Dhabi. In addition, the Company includes MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG Sportsnet, as well as a direct-to-consumer and authenticated streaming product, MSG+, delivering a wide range of live sports content and other programming. More information is available at www.sphereentertainmentco.com.

About Peterson Companies
Peterson Companies is one of the largest privately-owned real estate development companies in the Washington, D.C. region, with a diverse portfolio spanning mixed-use, retail, residential, office, industrial, and self-storage assets. For more than 60 years, the company has delivered prominent destinations such as National Harbor, Rio, Fairfax Corner, Tysons McLean Office Park, and Fair Lakes. Combining market expertise with a fully integrated development platform, Peterson Companies develops vibrant residential and business districts throughout the region. For more information, visit www.petersoncos.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about Sphere Entertainment’s plans, strategies, beliefs and expectations. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results, developments or events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements for a Sphere at National Harbor, the receipt of governmental incentives and approvals from Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland and the factors described in Sphere Entertainment’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained therein. Sphere Entertainment disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

More News From Sphere Entertainment Co.

An oil pumpjack in front of a house in Ganado, Texas, U.S., January 8, 2026. REUTERS/Antranik Tavitian Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

BEIJING, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Oil prices were little changed on Monday, after rising in the previous session, as Iran's deadly crackdown on protests quelled the civil unrest in the country, reducing the chance of a U.S. attack on the major Middle Eastern producer that could disrupt supplies.

Brent crude was trading at $64.18 a barrel by 0158 GMT, up 5 cents or 0.08%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate for February rose 8 cents, or 0.13%, to $59.52 a barrel. That contract expires on Tuesday and the more active March contract was at $59.36, up 2 cents, or 0.13%.

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Iran's violent crackdown on protests spurred by economic hardship, which officials say killed 5,000 people, quelled the unrest. U.S. President Donald Trump seemed to step back from his earlier threats of intervention, saying on social media Iran had called off mass hangings of protesters, although the country had not announced any such plans.

That appeared to lower the odds of a U.S. intervention that could have disrupted oil flows from the fourth-largest producer among the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The downturn signalled a renewed retreat from multi-month highs reached last week, although prices still settled higher on Friday. Still, U.S. military are moving to the Gulf, underscoring the continued concern.

"The pullback followed a swift unwind of the 'Iran premium' that had driven prices to twelve-week highs, triggered by signs of easing in Iran's crackdown on protesters, compounded by U.S. inventory data showing a substantial crude build and reinforcing bearish supply pressures," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note.

Crude stocks were up by 3.4 million barrels in the week ended January 9, the EIA said last week, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.7 million-barrel draw.

Markets continued to closely watch plans for Venezuela's oil fields, after Trump said the U.S. would run Venezuela's oil industry following the capture of Nicolas Maduro.

The U.S. energy secretary told Reuters on Friday that the U.S. is moving as fast as possible to grant Chevron an expanded production license in the country.

But markets were less confident about the prospects for scaled-up Venezuelan production.

"It is becoming clear that Venezuela's production ramp-up will take many years to play out," Sycamore said.

Reporting by Colleen Howe; Editing by Christian Schmollinger

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By PYMNTS  |  January 18, 2026

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Pinterest is reportedly launching a shoppable TV partnership with streaming platform Roku.

Two companies are set to debut “Bring My Pinterest to Life,” an original series where viewers can move seamlessly from watching to shopping through Pinterest and its brand partners, Chain Store Age reported Friday (Jan. 16).

In the series, set to premiere in March on Roku, creators Drew Michael Scott, Caroline Vazzana, and Tay BeepBoop Nakamoto work with Pinterest users to turn their boards into “real spaces and transformations,” the report added.

Per Chain Store Age, each installment focuses on an “inspiration to realization” journey, led by hosts who focus on ideas, products, and brands from featured Pinterest boards in a shoppable format. Viewers can also move from the show to Pinterest to get more ideas and boards, or to brand sites to buy items they’ve just seen featured on the show.

The news comes weeks after Pinterest announced plans to extend its performance advertising capabilities to connected TV (CTV) by purchasing CTV performance advertising platform tvScientific, which allows advertisers to run their own CTV campaigns, pay by outcome and determine the impact of TV. 

“Looking ahead, advertisers will be able to buy TV with the performance metrics they are already using, turning Pinterest into a true search, social and CTV performance solution,” Pinterest CEO Bill Ready said in a news release.

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Pinterest also recently began testing a new shoppable recipe experience in the U.S. This service lets users add ingredients from eligible recipe pins (uploaded images and videos stored to their account for fast retrieval) directly to their Walmart online or mobile cart by tapping on the “Shop Ingredients” button.

Research by PYMNTS Intelligence has shown the power social media influences have in guiding purchasing decisions, especially among younger consumers.

Last year’s “Gen Z Decoder Ring” report found that 14% of Americans among that age group say they regularly make purchases based on influencer recommendations, 20 times more than their parents and grandparents. 

“However, they aren’t replacing expertise with personality; they’re accessing expertise through different channels,” PYMNTS wrote.

“A gaming influencer on Twitch is a subject matter expert whose credibility comes from demonstrated knowledge rather than institutional credentials. Instagram and TikTok have created new pathways for expertise to reach audiences, where a makeup artist can build authority through consistent results rather than formal training credentials.”

NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds persons who invested in securities of SLM Corporation a/k/a Sallie Mae (NASDAQ: SLM) between July 25, 2025 and August 14, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important February 17, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased SLM securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the SLM class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=49601 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 17, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) SLM was experiencing a significant increase in early stage delinquencies; (2) accordingly, defendants overstated the effectiveness of SLM’s loss mitigation and/or loan modification programs, as well as the overall stability of SLM’s private education loan (“PEL”) delinquency rates; and (3) as a result, defendants’ public statements made a materially false and misleading impression regarding SLM’s business, operations, and prospects at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the SLM class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=49601 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

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Contact Information:

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4DMedical Limited (FDMDF) Discusses Imaging Technology Portfolio and Market Positioning in Cardio-Pulmonary Diagnostics January 18, 2026 7:30 PM EST

Company Participants

Andreas Fouras - Founder, MD, CEO & Director

Presentation

Andreas Fouras
Founder, MD, CEO & Director

Hey, everybody. It's really great to have such a big crowd on here today. Such strong interest in continuing to stay in touch with the 4DX story. So thank you, thank you very much. We have the usual legals.

I'm going to spend a little time taking everyone back to the core of where we are. And we are a Melbourne-based company that is here to bring imaging software to the world. And we have a portfolio of structural and functional imaging technologies protected by 100 patents and represented by 9 FDA-cleared devices. We are a small but mighty team of 130 people where our U.S. folks are concentrated on our customer-facing efforts, and Australia covers the engineering, R&D and support capabilities with overwhelming majority of folks being based out of Australia. We have incredible technical and clinical expertise, and we have great brands supporting our distribution.

Here is the portfolio of products. And we spread now across the heart and the lungs. And we have a combination of products that cover the entire portfolio. And one of the lessons we've learned over the last -- over our years of being in the market, and I'm sure that most of you recognize and acknowledge that it's really been since our generation 3 product CT:VQ has been to market that we've really had our breakout moment. But we've been working hard in the years before that. And one of the key lessons that we've learned is by having a full service offering, by having the full coverage of everything that a hospital needs to cover lungs or as much as possible heart and