Hi there,

Our patience in sitting on the sidelines for the first two weeks of the year has truly paid off. As US markets reopen today, Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the S&P 500 futures are down a sharp 1.6%, proving that skipping the early-January "froth" was the right defensive play.

We will be placing our first S&P 500 option trade this week.. stay tuned to our alerts on whats app.

WEEKLY MARKET PREVIEW: JANUARY 19–23, 2026

Market Sentiment: Risk-Off / Defensive

Key Theme: "The Greenland Pivot"—Geopolitical tariff wars and extreme weather anomalies.

1. EQUITIES: US & GLOBAL

• S&P 500 Futures: Down 1.6% today as Wall Street digests a holiday weekend full of trade rhetoric.
• The "Greenland" Factor: Pres. Trump has proposed 10% to 25% tariffs on eight European nations (including the UK, France, and Germany) over their opposition to the US acquisition of Greenland.
• European Markets: The DAX and CAC 40 are reeling, down nearly 2% as trade war fears overshadow early-year optimism.
• Earnings Focus: High-stakes week with Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, Intel, and Visa reporting.

2. CRYPTOCURRENCY: DIGITAL GOLD VS. RISK ASSETS

• Bitcoin ($BTC): Sliding roughly 3.5% to trade near $91,500–$92,000. While often called "Digital Gold," $BTC is currently trading as a "risk-on" asset, falling alongside tech stocks.
• Ethereum ($ETH): Underperforming $BTC, down 4.9% to test the $3,100 level.
• Outlook: Nearly $870 million in long liquidations occurred over the last 24 hours. The market is looking for support at the $89,000 psychological level.

3. COMMODITIES: ENERGY

• Natural Gas ($NG): UP 20% to $3.71/MMBtu.
• The Catalyst: A massive "Polar Vortex" is confirmed for Jan 26. Prices are surging as shorts cover positions ahead of temperatures forecasted to be 25°F below normal in major US hubs.

• Crude Oil (WTI): Drifting lower toward $58.50. Fears of a global trade slowdown are outweighing any geopolitical supply risk for now.

4. METALS: THE TRUE HAVENS

• Gold ($XAU): The star performer, hitting record highs of $4,660/oz. This is the primary destination for capital fleeing equities.
• Silver ($XAG): Extremely volatile, hitting $94/oz before a slight pullback. Silver is benefiting from a "physical squeeze" on exchange inventories.

5. FOREIGN EXCHANGE (FX)

• US Dollar Index (DXY): Slumping toward 98.50. In a rare twist, the Dollar is losing its "safe-haven" status this morning as traders worry about the inflationary impact of new US tariffs.
• EUR/USD: Bouncing to 1.1650 despite tariff threats, as the "Sell America" sentiment takes hold.
• USD/JPY: Sitting at 159.50. All eyes on the Bank of Japan (BoJ) rate decision this Friday.

CRITICAL ECONOMIC CALENDAR

SUMMARY STRATEGY

The "Wait and See" approach of the last 14 days has protected our capital from a 1.6% gap down in the S&P. Current focus remains on Hard Assets (Gold/Silver) and Energy (Nat Gas) while avoiding over-leveraged long positions in Crypto or Tech until the Davos rhetoric settles.

📞 Strategy Call Assistance

If you require assistance with trade setup, risk management, or strategy review, please schedule a strategy call.

• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
• All Other Members: Strategy calls can be scheduled at a rate of €100 per half hour.

Happy Investing

Share Navigator Support

www.sharenavigator.ie