New York, January 24, 2026, 09:44 ET — Market closed.
- Amazon shares climbed 2.06% on Friday, ending the session at $239.16.
- A report indicates Amazon may start a fresh wave of corporate layoffs as soon as next week.
- Amazon is scheduled to report earnings on Feb. 5, according to Nasdaq’s earnings calendar.
Amazon.com (AMZN.O) shares ended Friday 2.06% higher, closing at $239.16, after reports surfaced that the company is gearing up for another wave of corporate layoffs.
The timing is key. Amazon set its conference call for Feb. 5 to discuss fourth-quarter and full-year results, pushing costs and hiring back into the spotlight for investors.
Wall Street faces a packed schedule as markets open Monday, with the Federal Reserve set to announce its rate decision on Wednesday. Next week also brings earnings reports from major tech players like Apple, Microsoft, Meta, and Tesla. “Earnings are the driver,” said Franklin Templeton strategist Chris Galipeau. Reuters
Reuters says Amazon is gearing up for a second wave of corporate layoffs next week, aiming to slash around 30,000 corporate roles overall, according to two sources. CEO Andy Jassy has downplayed the cuts as neither financially motivated nor driven by AI, stating they’re about trimming excess layers and cutting through bureaucracy.
Friday wrapped with the Dow down 0.58%, while the Nasdaq managed a slight gain. Investors remain on edge, searching for signs that big bets on artificial intelligence are paying off in revenue. Jason Blackwell of Focus Partners Wealth said, “we feel pretty good about where we are today,” but Julian McManus at Janus Henderson described it as a “show-me” moment for earnings. Reuters
AMZN fluctuated between $234.57 and $240.45 on Friday, with volume hitting roughly 33.78 million shares, data showed.
The stock currently trades roughly 7% under its 52-week peak of $258.60, reached on Nov. 3, 2025, per FT market data.
Amazon bulls are watching closely to see if staffing changes affect investor confidence in AWS and retail execution, or if they’re simply seen as cost-cutting ahead of guidance. Either way, this kind of corporate housekeeping can shift sentiment fast, especially with traders already on edge over tech earnings.
However, there’s a risk. Should layoffs change course, or if trimming staff disrupts teams driving growth, investors might see “efficiency” as a sign of weakening demand — and that could quickly drag down multiples in big tech stocks.
Key signals will come from staffing updates as soon as Tuesday, followed by Amazon’s Feb. 5 earnings call. Investors will zero in on cost details, cloud growth, and the company’s outlook then.
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