New York, January 15, 2026, 17:04 EST — After-hours
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) broke a two-day losing streak on Thursday, climbing 292.81 points, or 0.60%, to finish at 49,442.44. Strong bank earnings and a boost in chip stocks, fueled by Taiwan Semiconductor’s upbeat forecast, lifted the index. “It’s been growth, tech or bust,” said Longbow Asset Management CEO Jake Dollarhide, highlighting renewed interest in banks and “old-school industrials.” (Reuters)
The shift is significant as the market tests whether it can push higher without relying on a handful of tech giants. Reuters noted a rotation into industrials, healthcare, and smaller stocks, driven by growing skepticism over pricey tech valuations and doubts about the AI trade. Reuters
The struggle was evident the day before. On Wednesday, the Dow dipped 0.1%, the S&P 500 lost 0.5%, and the Nasdaq dropped nearly 1%. Chip stocks and other big tech weighed down the market, even as some “old economy” sectors managed to hold steady. (Reuters)
Goldman Sachs pushed the Dow higher after topping profit expectations. CEO David Solomon told analysts, “The world is set up… to be incredibly constructive in 2026 for M&A and capital markets,” citing strength in dealmaking and trading that boosted the quarter. (Reuters)
Morgan Stanley topped profit forecasts, driven by a jump in investment-banking revenue fueled by debt underwriting and M&A deals. CFO Sharon Yeshaya told Reuters the firm is witnessing “an accelerating pipeline in M&A and IPOs,” with momentum picking up in sectors like healthcare and industrials. (Reuters)
BlackRock boosted the positive mood in financials, unveiling record assets under management at $14.04 trillion. CEO Larry Fink noted the firm heads into 2026 with “accelerating momentum,” fueled by strong markets and inflows that pushed fee income higher. (Reuters)
Sentiment in semiconductors shifted sharply after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co posted record profits and forecast nearly 30% revenue growth for 2026, alongside capital expenditures between $52 billion and $56 billion. CEO C.C. Wei tempered enthusiasm on the AI surge, admitting, “We’re also very nervous about it,” as the firm ramps up its investments. (Reuters)
The Dow’s price-weighted setup means pricey stocks have outsized influence — big moves in a few high-ticket shares can shake the index more than usual. (SlickCharts)
Weekly jobless claims dropped unexpectedly to a seasonally adjusted 198,000, though Reuters pointed out that seasonal adjustments near year-end can skew the figures. Nancy Vanden Houten from Oxford Economics described the labor market as showing “at least stable labor market conditions,” despite ongoing weak hiring. (Reuters)
Movements elsewhere shaped the mood. Oil prices dipped and gold slipped after President Donald Trump dialed back his stance on Iran. Phil Flynn from Price Futures Group noted traders began to speculate, “maybe there is not going to be an attack on Iran.” (Reuters)
One risk still looming over the tape is policy uncertainty, particularly for financial stocks. Banks and card-related names stumbled earlier this week amid concerns over Trump’s plan to cap credit-card interest rates at 10% for one year. Investment manager Tim Ghriskey described the proposal as “extremely difficult” to actually happen. (Reuters)
With the cash session wrapped, attention now shifts to whether earnings can sustain the rebound. Reuters’ week-ahead preview highlights upcoming reports from Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, and Intel, among others. Markets will be closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Strategists are also watching a U.S. Supreme Court hearing on Trump’s bid to oust a Federal Reserve governor, another key event on the near-term radar. (Reuters)
