Markets Brace for FOMC Decision Amid Tech Earnings and Arctic-Driven Gas Rally
U.S. equities showed muted resilience as the S&P 500 eked out a 0.1% Friday gain, still down 0.4% weekly. The Nasdaq Composite's 0.3% Friday rally couldn't offset its 0.1% weekly decline, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.7%.
Natural gas futures surged 75% in five sessions as Winter Storm Fern triggered Arctic conditions across 150 million Americans. The commodity's volatility contrasted with equity markets' tentative stance ahead of critical tech earnings and Federal Reserve policy signals.
Geopolitical maneuvering dominated Davos, where the U.S. and EU reached a fragile Greenland agreement. Macquarie's Thierry Wizman noted the deal merely 'papered over structural fractures,' warning of dollar weakness and hemispheric realignment. Cryptocurrencies remained range-bound, with BTC and ETH mirroring equities' wait-and-see posture.
