Good morning investors! The market ended lower yesterday after economic data failed to impress investors. Bitcoin, however, jumped and oil went higher after Trump cancelled meetings with Iran, told protesters help is on the way.
Today we cover:
Inflation remains steady
Trump v/s Fed continues
JP Morgan and Delta report
📊 Economy and News
U.S. December 2025 CPI: Steady Inflation Amid Rising Food and Rent Costs
U.S. consumer prices rose 0.3% in December 2025, matching economist expectations and keeping the annual CPI increase at 2.7%.
The rise partially unwound distortions from the 43-day government shutdown (October-November 2025), which had suppressed November's figures by imputing unchanged prices for October. Core CPI (excluding food and energy) increased a moderate 0.2%, with the annual rate holding at 2.6%.
The report reinforces expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold rates steady (3.50%-3.75%) at its January 27-28 meeting, amid tensions with President Trump, who has proposed measures like directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower rates and banning institutional investors from single-family homes.
Higher food and rent costs continue to strain household budgets, contributing to an affordability crisis.
What Went Up (Monthly Changes)
Shelter/Rents: +0.4% (primary driver of CPI rise)
Food: +0.7% (largest since October 2022)
Fruits/vegetables and dairy: notable increases
Beef: +1.0% (steaks +3.1%; annual +17.8%)
Coffee: +1.9% (tariff-related)
Restaurant meals: +0.7%
Energy: +0.3%
Natural gas: +4.4%
Electricity: -0.1% (but +6.7% annually, driven by AI data center demand)
Other Core Items:
Airline fares: +5.2%
Hotel/motel rooms: +2.9%
Apparel: +0.6%
Healthcare: +0.4%
Owners' equivalent rent: +0.3%
Annual food prices: +3.1%
What Went Down (Monthly Changes)
Eggs: -8.2%
Gasoline: -0.5%
Used cars/trucks: -1.1%
Household furnishings: -0.5%
Wireless telephone services: -3.3%
Global hits:
Argentina’s inflation rises to 31.5% in 2025, December rate at 2.8%.
French central bank sees fourth quarter growth of at least 0.2%.
Japan’s bankruptcy cases hit 12-year high in 2025, survey shows.
Trump v/s Fed continues: President Donald Trump called Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell either “incompetent” or “crooked.”
“That jerk will be gone soon,” Trump said of Powell later in the day.
The latest attack came as Trump’s Department of Justice faces growing Republican opposition over its criminal investigation of the central bank leader.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said anything that undermines Fed independence “is probably not a great idea.”
On the other hand, global central bankers defended U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in a joint statement.
Powell has served with “integrity, focused on his mandate and an unwavering commitment to the public interest,” the statement said.
Reminder: U.S. power demand to hit new record in 2026. Elsewhere, US posts record $145 billion December deficit as outlays outpace receipts.
Trump says Fed should lower rates when market rises.
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📈 Stocks
S&P 500 6,963.74 (-0.19%)
DJIA 49,191.99 (-0.80%)
NASDAQ 23,709.87 (-0.11%)
BRENT CRUDE 65.17 (-0.46%)
* Prices as of Jan 14th, 12:20 AM UTC
JP Morgan Chase topped earnings and revenue expectations for the fourth quarter. The company recorded a one-time, preannounced charge related to its takeover of the Apple Card loan portfolio from Goldman Sachs.
Numbers:
Adjusted earnings: $5.23 per share vs. $5 consensus estimate from LSEG
Revenue: $46.77 billion vs. $46.201 billion expected by LSEG
While trading revenue beat Wall Street estimates, investment banking appeared to disappoint.
Interestling, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon called the U.S. economy resilient.
The bank expects full-year 2026 net interest income of about $103 billion and adjusted expenses of roughly $105 billion, though both measures are “market dependent.”
The stock fell 4.19% to close the day in red.
Interesting: Meta urges Australia to rethink under-16 social media ban after blocking over 500,000 accounts.
Orsted popped 5% after U.S. judge rules firm can resume wind project halted by Trump.
Ford expands Bronco SUV performance lineup with ‘more attainable’ RTR model.
Surprising: Boeing outsold Airbus last year for first time since 2018, deliveries rise to 600. However, Airbus continued to hand over more planes than Boeing.
Furthermore, Apple picks Google’s Gemini to run AI-powered Siri coming this year.
Lastly, Palantir is trying to ‘destroy’ Percepta through legal action, startup’s execs say in filing.
Delta Reports: Delta Air Lines’ earnings could jump more than 20% this year from 2025 thanks to robust travel demand. It forecast adjusted 2026 earnings of between $6.50 per share and $7.50 per share.
Here are the numbers:
Earnings per share: $1.55 adjusted vs. $1.53 expected
Revenue: $14.61 billion adjusted vs. $14.69 billion expected
The carrier expects first-quarter revenue to rise between 5% and 7% over last year, and earnings of between 50 cents and 90 cents a share, in line with analysts’ estimates.
Delta also said it will buy 30 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, its first of the long-haul planes from the U.S. manufacturer, as sales pick up for bigger jets.
The stock fell about 2.1% after the report.
💵 Personal Finance
Why You Must Regularly Revise Your Financial Goals
Revising financial goals periodically is essential for maintaining financial health and achieving long-term success. Life is dynamic—circumstances such as job changes, family milestones, economic shifts, or unexpected events like health issues can alter priorities and resources. Without regular reviews, goals set years ago may become outdated or unrealistic, leading to misalignment and missed opportunities.
One key benefit is tracking progress. Periodic revisions allow you to assess whether you're on pace for targets like building an emergency fund, paying off debt, or saving for retirement. If you're falling short, you can adjust strategies, such as increasing savings contributions or reallocating investments. Conversely, exceeding expectations might free up funds for new objectives.
Revising also accommodates changing priorities. For instance, early goals might focus on buying a home, but later shifts could emphasize children's education or early retirement. Market fluctuations and inflation further necessitate updates to ensure your plan remains viable.
Experts recommend annual or semi-annual reviews to stay proactive, reduce financial stress, and enhance decision-making. By treating financial goals as a living document, you gain greater control, adaptability, and confidence in your financial future.
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