Central Bank Demand and Market Caution  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

January 22, 2026   |   Read Online Not a fan of Fred? Unsubscribe here.   Why Gold Is Back in Focus as Big Buyers Step In Central Bank Demand and Market Caution January 22, 2026 MorningBullets is the fastest way to catch up on the market and political news that matter most to your money. Quick takes, sharp insight, and curated opportunities—served fresh every weekday morning. Sponsored Content See What's Moving — Before Wall Street Does Our latest free report highlights stocks building momentum now — before they spike. Names like $SOUN, $LLAP, and $JOBY showed the same patterns we track. This is your shot to act before the next big mover. Free access ends soon. 📥 Claim the Free Report By clicking this link you will automatically be subscribed to the Fierce Investor Newsletter. Gold quietly regains attention as global markets weigh long-term risk. Good Morning, Markets are hitting new highs, but not all signals point the same way. While stocks push forward, gold is quietly gaining support as large buyers step in and long-term risks stay in focus. We break down what's driving the move, why central banks matter more than traders right now, and what it could signal beneath the surface of the rally. Berkshire Hathaway's exit from Kraft Heinz marks a rare Buffett retreat, Trump's proposed 10% credit card rate cap rattles banks with Jamie Dimon warning of crisis, and rising UK inflation tempers hopes for near-term monetary easing—injecting new volatility into global markets. Don't forget to voice your opinion in my polls below. Here are your Morning Bullets. – Truly yours, Fred Frost 📈 Yesterday's Market Recap Yesterday, markets staged a powerful comeback as President Trump's announcement of a Greenland deal framework and tariff suspension eased trade tensions. The Dow soared 588.64 points (1.2%) to 49,077.23, the S&P 500 gained 78.76 points (1.2%) to 6,875.62, and the Nasdaq rose 270.50 points (1.2%) to 23,224.82. Beneath the headline rally, though, cracks remain—weekly losses persist, and investors are eyeing precious metals over tech. Here's what drove the action. Trump Reverses Tariff Threats: President Trump's decision to shelve a 10% tariff on eight European nations, set for February 1, lifted a major overhang on global trade sentiment. → CNBC Greenland Framework Boosts Confidence: A preliminary agreement on Greenland with NATO, as announced in Davos, further fueled optimism, though details remain vague. → MarketWatch Small Caps Outpace Giants: The Russell 2000 outperformed with a 2% gain, closing at 2,698.17, signaling broader market participation beyond megacaps. → ABC News 📉 Daily Performance Snapshot Index/Asset Closing Value Change S&P 500 685.40 +1.12% Nasdaq 616.28 +1.33% Dow Jones 490.80 +1.19% Gold 443.60 +1.48% Crude Oil 73.34 +2.04% Bitcoin 89,568 +1.18% 10-yr Treasury Yield 4.30% +0.06% 🔭 What to Watch Today Today's calendar offers a mix of corporate and geopolitical triggers that could sway markets. Keep your eyes on these developments for potential ripples in your portfolio. Bankinter Q4 Earnings Call (Morning ET): Bankinter, S.A. discusses 2025 results amid global fragmentation—expect commentary on economic uncertainty. → Seeking Alpha Rocket Lab Post-Launch Update: Following their first 2026 Electron launch, any operational updates could impact aerospace sentiment. → Stocktwits Greenland Deal Clarity: Watch for any concrete updates on Trump's vague Arctic framework—markets hate ambiguity. → CNBC 💡 Opportunity Watch Amid the noise of tariffs and tech rollouts, a few sectors and stocks stand out as potential plays. These themes tie to recent events and could offer upside for the sharp-eyed investor. Alphabet Inc. (GOOG): Raymond James upgraded to Strong Buy with a $400 target, signaling a 22% rally potential. → Benzinga Critical Metals Corp (CRML): Tanbreez mine in Greenland could halve China's rare earth dominance by 2028—geopolitical tailwinds. → Finance Monthly Cerence Inc. (CRNC): Partnership with Neusoft for AI-driven car cockpits taps into the software-defined vehicle trend. → Benzinga Sponsored Content How AI Is Reshaping Banking—And What You Can Do Financial decisions are increasingly being made by machines. Will you still have control over your banking, credit, and financial choices? Our free guide explains what's changing, and how to stay resilient in the AI age. 📗 Get the Report Now By following the link above or using any of the links provided below, you're choosing to opt in to receive insightful updates from The Wealthiest Investor plus 2 free bonus subscriptions! Privacy Policy 🔥 The Big Bullet Gold rises as central banks buy more and Wall Street lifts targets What happened: Gold prices moved higher as investors reacted to signs that demand is staying strong. One key driver is that central banks are hoarding bullion to hedge against the dollar, which adds steady buying pressure. This kind of buying can matter because central banks often move in big size and tend to hold for a long time. At the same time, market chatter picked up after Goldman Sachs lifted its gold price forecast again. When a major bank raises a target, it can pull more attention to the trade, even if prices were already rising. The story is not just about one day's move—it is about a wider shift in how big institutions think about safety. Investors also watched broader markets for clues on risk mood and the direction of the U.S. dollar. Overall, the signal from this news is that gold is still being treated as a "backup plan" asset. Why it matters: Gold often does best when investors feel unsure about budgets, currencies, or long-term stability. This week's headlines connected gold's strength to worries about big-picture policy and debt. For example, Ken Griffin warned the bond market is sending an "explicit warning" on U.S. debt, which can make investors think harder about inflation and future interest costs. If bond yields jump or stay high, that can change how attractive different assets look, including gold. Jobs and wages also matter because they shape inflation and rate expectations, and jobless rates in rich countries are shifting in unusual ways. If growth cools while prices stay sticky, markets can get jumpy—and safe-haven demand may rise. For stock investors, stronger gold interest can be a sign that some money is moving from "risk-on" bets to more defensive positions. For bond investors, it is another reminder that confidence in government finances and inflation trends can move markets fast. What's next: Watch whether risk appetite holds, because that can push money toward or away from gold. In global markets, Asian stocks rose after Wall Street gains tied to tariff news, showing how quickly trade headlines can swing sentiment. If trade tensions heat up again, investors may look for more "storm shelter" assets, which can support gold and other defensives. Keep an eye on headlines about tariffs and cross-border competition, like new shipments of Chinese EVs arriving as tariff talk grows louder. Those kinds of stories can affect the U.S. dollar, global growth expectations, and inflation fears—all inputs for gold. Also watch whether central banks keep adding to reserves at the same pace, since that is a big part of the demand story. Finally, pay attention to how bonds trade day to day; big moves in yields can change the market's "fear level" quickly. If yields climb sharply, gold can sometimes wobble at first, but long-term demand can still stay firm if uncertainty remains. Why governments and central banks are increasingly buying gold as a hedge against geopolitical risks and potential weaknesses in traditional reserve assets like the U.S. dollar and Treasury bonds – World Finance How years of rising official-sector purchases are tightening supply and creating a new price floor for gold, with broad implications for miners, institutions, and investors worldwide. – The Oregon Group How central bank interest rate decisions and monetary policy affect gold demand and price behavior – Policy Circle Reader Feedback Last time, I asked you: If interest rates stay high longer, who do you think feels the most pain? The majority of you at 38% said "Homebuyers and renters" Jason from Maryland replied: "I think homebuyers and renters get hurt the most because high rates make homes and rent cost more." Here's what I'm asking you today: Which statement best matches how you feel about gold right now? Gold is a smart safety play if markets turn shaky Gold is overhyped while stocks keep climbing I like both—gold for safety, stocks for growth Not sure / I don't follow gold closely Other As always if your opinion is not here, or you want to throw your two cents at me, reply to the E-mail, and let me know your exact thoughts. 🧭 Policy & Market Ripples Berkshire Dumps Kraft Heinz Stake: Berkshire Hathaway registered its 27.5% stake in Kraft Heinz for sale after a 70% share drop since 2015. A rare Buffett misstep unwinds, signaling portfolio cleanup. → CNBC Credit Card Rate Cap Pushback: Trump's 10% credit card rate cap proposal drew sharp criticism from JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon, who called it an 'economic disaster.' Expect bank stocks to wobble if Congress bites. → Benzinga UK Inflation Ticks Up: UK CPI rose to 3.4% in December 2025, dimming hopes for a February rate cut. Sterling held steady, but global investors might reassess British assets. → CNBC 📜 This Day in History – January 22 January 22 has a distributor's instinct: move information faster, standardize institutions, and package technology as something consumers will actually invite into their homes. 1984 – Apple's "1984" ad aired nationally, proving that in consumer tech, narrative and distribution can be as decisive as engineering. 1963 – The Élysée Treaty was signed, hardwiring Franco–German cooperation and giving Europe a sturdier institutional chassis for trade and integration. 1890 – The United Mine Workers of America was founded, a sign that industrial scale eventually forces bargaining power to professionalize too. 1673 – Regular mail service between New York and Boston was inaugurated along what became the Boston Post Road, early proof that commerce loves nothing more than reliable routes and predictable timing. Today's Trivia What is the primary purpose of means-tested government programs? A) To provide benefits to everyone equally B) To increase economic competition C) To provide assistance only to individuals or households that meet certain income or asset criteria D) To regulate financial markets 35% of you chose the right answer to our previous trivia question: The level of wealth, comfort, and material well-being available to individuals or groups I like my money where I can see it, hanging in my closet. – Carrie Bradshaw Thanks for Reading. Stay Sharp. Stay Focused. Fredrick Frost Editor, MorningBullets   Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2026 Morning Bullets 20 North Orange Ave. Floor 11 Orlando, Florida 32801, United States of America Terms of Service