January was a strong month for stocks (^GSPC, ^IXIC, ^DJI), but history suggests a rocky February ahead for equities. Yahoo Finance markets and data editor Jared Blikre appears on Catalysts to explain that February typically sees a market rise early in the month, peaking around mid-February and then followed by a decline. He notes potential bearish signals, like rising tariffs and a spike in the volatility index (^VIX), and which sectors are facing the highest wave of volatility. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. This post was written by Josh Lynch

USCF Investments, a leader in exchange traded fund (ETF) innovation, announced today that its USCF ETF Trust platform has grown to over $500 million in assets under management. The USCF SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Strategy No K-1 Fund (SDCI) has grown significantly year-to-date, and SDCI was nominated for "Commodity ETF of the Year" by ETF.com last week. These important milestones reflect the firm's commitment to innovative strategies that help shareholders achieve their investment and diversi

Yahoo Finance host Julie Hyman joins Brad Smith on Wealth to discuss the recent surge in utility stocks (XLU), the sector leaning into volatility over rising demand for AI data centers and the energy needed to power them. Traditionally a stable industry, utilities are now facing shifting dynamics, exemplified by the growth in power generation and expansions into solar, wind, and nuclear. Vistra Corp.'s (VST) 300% rise and Constellation Energy's (CEG) nuclear reactor deal with Microsoft (MSFT) highlight this. Mizuho Americas managing director and senior analyst Anthony Crowdwell cautions investors, stating the firm has "struggled with valuation" for Constellation. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Josh Lynch

According to new data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), pending home sales fell 5.5% month-over-month in December 2024. The West Coast in the United States was hit the hardest. Redfin Head of Economic Research Chen Zhao joins Wealth to discuss what this signals for the broader health of the housing market. Zhao notes that as 2024 came to a close, "housing market activity really slowed, and we're seeing that continue into the new year." She notes this is related to a rise in mortgage rates as the Federal Reserve began signaling a pause to interest rates. "I think that the housing market is likely to remain fairly sluggish in the near term," she tells Yahoo Finance, though she notes continued "uncertainty" stemming from new Trump administration policies that could drive mortgage rates higher. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Angel Smith

Mortgage rates remain nearly unchanged this week, with the 30-year fixed rate mortgage ticking down 0.01% to 6.95% as reported by Freddie Mac. Yahoo Finance senior housing reporter Claire Boston sits down with Brad Smith to talk more about the outlook on the rate environment after the Federal Reserve opted to hold interest rates where they are in its January FOMC meeting. Read up on Claire Boston's coverage of slowing housing contract activity in December. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

In a recent episode of Trader Talk, Sylvia Jablonski, CEO and CIO of Defiance ETFs, pushed back against Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s claim that quantum computing is still 15 to 30 years away. Huang’s statement, made at the CES conference, sent quantum stocks plummeting, with names like IonQ and D-Wave taking severe hits. However, Jablonski argues that while large-scale quantum supercomputers may still be in development, the technology is already making an impact in key industries. “Quantum already exists in some form,” Jablonski explained, pointing to real-world applications in financial risk management, cryptography, and drug discovery. Companies like D-Wave are actively using quantum annealing technology, and major firms, including Google (GOOGL, GOOG) and IBM (IBM), continue to push forward with breakthroughs in quantum processing. She also questioned Huang’s authority in the quantum space, noting that while he is a leading voice in AI and GPU computing, he is not necessarily an expert in quantum technology. Notably, despite his dismissive remarks, Nvidia recently posted job openings for quantum computing roles, raising questions about the company’s actual stance. Jablonski remains bullish on quantum investing, acknowledging volatility but emphasizing the long-term potential. “It’ll take time,” she said, reinforcing the importance of looking beyond short-term market reactions. Watch more episodes of Trader Talk here. Trader Talk with Kenny Polcari on Yahoo Finance delivers expert analysis and actionable insights. Drawing on decades of trading floor experience, we empower you to navigate market volatility and keep your portfolio from getting burned. This post was written by Langston Sessoms.

On the latest episode of Yahoo Finance’s Trader Talk, host Kenny Polcari sat down with guest Bulleye Investment Group's Adam Johnson to break down the forces driving today’s market volatility. The pair explored how psychology, Federal Reserve policy, and the rise of algorithms contribute to the unpredictable ups and downs of the market. Johnson pointed out the market’s tendency to overreact to good news, which often triggers fears of inflation and interest rate hikes. “You buy stocks because of earnings growth, not because you think the Fed's going to cut rates,” Johnson said, urging investors to focus on long-term fundamentals instead of speculation. Polcari echoed this but stressed the importance of caution. “You should understand what the economy is doing around you before you just haphazardly go and start buying stocks,” he advised, noting the impact inflation could have on stock selection and timing. The conversation also highlighted the role of algorithms in driving erratic market movements. Johnson explained that pre-programmed systems often respond automatically to data, amplifying volatility. Polcari added that fear indicators like the VIX crossing 22 can set off sell programs, leading to further market turbulence. Both agreed that if the 10-year Treasury yield hits 5%, it could spell trouble for stocks, especially if inflation surges or economic growth slows. To gain more insights and discover potential investment strategies, tune into the full episode of Trader Talk on Yahoo Finance. This post was written by Langston Sessoms.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving fast. It was only two years ago that OpenAI's GPT-3.5 models sparked the AI arms race, and the pace of innovation has since been staggering. For instance, a China-based AI lab called DeepSeek dominated headlines this past week because of its latest large language models (LLMs), which offer a significant leap in efficiency compared to those that currently lead the industry.

Trump's Push for Lower Interest Rates Sparks Debate Over Fed's Independence

Equity markets (^DJI, ^IXIC, ^GSPC) are focused in on the Big Tech earnings due out later today and the Federal Reserve's upcoming interest rate decision this afternoon. Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Tesla (TSLA), and IBM (IBM) will release their fourth quarter results after the market close. Stuart Kaiser, head of US equity trading strategy at Citi, sits down in-studio on Catalysts to emphasize that the earnings results still matter, but explains the CEO commentary to come in earnings calls will be just as crucial "Most of the hyperscalers kind of already recently updated their guidance on CapEx spend. So, a lot of this may be actually what gets said in the press conference, and what is the CEO's kind of body language," Kaiser says. "How committed are they to that CapEx spend? How vital do they think that spending [is], and particularly, the really, really high-end Nvidia (NVDA) chips are to their development?" While generally positive on large-cap growth, Kaiser remains cautious due to the lack of clarity and information on DeepSeek's new AI model and its efficiency. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. This post was written by Josh Lynch