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and Bitcoin rebounds
Good morning investors! Bitcoin is back around $100,000 as investors are confused about where the market is headed.
Fun fact: Oklahoma just became the 12th state to propose starting a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve. More states and countries are seriously considering adding Bitcoin to their treasuries as 10 countries also consider it, including the U.S., Russia, Japan, Brazil, Poland, Switzerland and Hong Kong.
These countries are already holding Bitcoin: U.S., El Salvador, China, Bhutan and the UK.
U.S. Senator Lummis, who is pushing for a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve said today, “things are about to get crazy” for Bitcoin.
UPDATE: Since I wrote this, now Texas is proposing a BTR, becoming the 13th state. Things are moving fast!
I did a live video yesterday about why you should consider some Bitcoin in your portfolio. Watch it here.

Today we cover:
Conflicting data has investors confused
Bitcoin back over $100,000. Should you buy?
Best dividend stocks of 2025
📊 Economy and News
The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for 2025 shows a surprising 0.4% month-over-month increase (2.9% annualized), surpassing expectations, while the core CPI, at 3.2%, was slightly better than the 3.3% forecasts.
So CPI inflation is just okay, but Core inflation got slightly better.
This discrepancy is causing confusion over inflation trends, complicating market reactions and potentially Federal Reserve policy decisions.
This surge indicates that inflation might be reaccelerating, potentially due to factors like rising energy costs or supply chain issues. However, the core CPI, which excludes the volatile food and energy components suggests some underlying price pressures might be moderating.
The conflicting data over the past 2 weeks has led the markets to whipsaw. Last week the job data sent markets lower and yesterday’s CPI data sent it back up.
This discrepancy between headline and core CPI figures adds to the confusion about the direction of inflation. The higher-than-expected general CPI could influence the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, possibly leading to a reevaluation of interest rate cuts if inflation is seen as not cooling down as anticipated. Investors and policymakers are closely watching these numbers, as they could dictate market behavior and influence economic forecasts for the year.
What’s going on and how do we invest in this market?
Investors are advised to adopt a long-term strategy, focusing on macroeconomic trends rather than short-term volatility. Dollar-cost averaging is still the best method to navigate uncertain times, emphasizing the need for a consistent investment approach regardless of market fluctuations.
In other words, ignore the market and stick to your plan. Consistently investing every time you get paid.
Consider opportunities in undervalued stocks and look beyond popular, potentially overvalued options.
📈 Stocks
S&P 500 5,949.91 (+1.83%)
DJIA 43,221.55 (+1.65%)
NASDAQ 19,511.23 (+2.45%)
BRENT CRUDE $82.43 (+3.14%)
* Prices as of Jan 15th close
Bank Earnings: The financial sector saw notable gains, with financial stocks among the biggest performers in the S&P 500. This was attributed to stronger than expected trading revenues for Wall Street in the fourth quarter, with banks like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs kicking off the earnings season with positive results.
JPMorgan Chase ($JPM):
Earnings Per Share (EPS): Reported $4.02 per share, beating the consensus forecast of $4.02.
Revenue: $40.9 billion, which was above expectations.
Net Interest Income (NII): Strong performance in NII, with expectations set for continued growth into 2025.
Investment Banking: Significant gains in this sector, with revenues up in the mid-teens percentage range.
Market Reaction: JPMorgan shares remained flat despite beating expectations due to market-wide movements.
Wells Fargo ($WFC):
EPS: Reported earnings of $1.26 per share, surpassing the forecast of $1.34 per share but missing on revenue expectations.
Revenue: Revenue was below expectations.
Market Reaction: Shares rose by about 3.3%, driven by the EPS beat.
Performance Details: Investment banking revenues were up, but there was a noted decrease in deposits compared to last year, reflecting broader banking trends.
Citigroup ($C):
EPS: Reported $1.25 per share, slightly beating the consensus.
Revenue: Revenues also slightly beat expectations.
Market Reaction: Shares increased by 3.9% after the earnings report.
Other Notes: Announced a significant $20 billion buyback program, signaling confidence in future performance.
🔐 Crypto
Bitcoin $99,808 (+3.3%)
Ether $3,429 (+6.1%)
Solana $204 (+8.5%)
Total market cap $3.66 Trillion (+8.5%)
* Prices as of January 15th, 12:50 PM UTC
Bitcoin Surges Past $100,000
Bitcoin (BTC) approached the $100,000 mark, reaching a high of $99,718.94. This represents a 3.29% increase in the last 24 hours. The rally was fueled by:
Better-than-expected U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, which indicated slowing inflation and increased the likelihood of Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Optimism surrounding potential regulatory changes under the incoming Trump administration.
Regulatory Developments
Reports suggest that the incoming SEC leadership under the Trump administration is preparing to overhaul crypto policies as soon as next week. This potential shift could provide clearer guidance on when crypto assets are considered securities and potentially freeze some ongoing enforcement actions.
Market Outlook
The total cryptocurrency market capitalization increased by 5.6% to $3.33 trillion, with daily trading volume surging 25% to $154 billion.
As the market anticipates potential regulatory changes and the upcoming Trump inauguration, analysts expect continued volatility in the coming days, with the possibility of price swings for major assets.
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💵 Personal Finance
Dividend Stocks: Enhancing Total Returns in a Lower Interest Rate Environment
In today’s investment landscape, dividend-paying stocks stand out as an attractive strategy for boosting total returns. With interest rates trending down, the appeal of these stocks increases, offering both income and diversification.
We recommend stocks that not only pay dividends but also have the potential for growth, backed by solid financials.
We compiled a list of some of the best dividend paying stocks for 2025 for our other newsletter, Dividend Download. You can get the full list on our website.
💰 Be a Better Investor
"Bitcoin is a remarkable cryptographic achievement and the ability to create something that is not duplicable in the digital world has enormous value."
Resources:
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👩🏽⚖️ Legal Stuff
Nothing in this newsletter is financial advice. Always do your own research and think for yourself.