January 29, 2026

Markets:

Stock futures were higher on Thursday as traders mulled over the release of earnings reports from major technology firms as well as the latest Federal Reserve interest rate decision.

Meta Platforms added 8% in premarket trading after the Facebook parent gave a stronger-than-expected first-quarter sales forecast. Fellow “Magnificent Seven” member Tesla shares saw gains as well, adding 2% after the company’s fourth-quarter results beat expectations.

However, the broad market gains were kept in check by Microsoft’s 6% fall. That megacap tech name reported that cloud growth slowed in the fiscal second quarter. The company also issued soft guidance on operating margin for the fiscal third quarter.

Investors are now turning their attention to Apple, which is set to report earnings after the bell Thursday.

Elsewhere in earnings, Caterpillar shares were up more than 1% after the industrial giant reported fourth-quarter results that easily beat the Street.

Portfolio:

We enter the session holding setups in SATL, CONL, TSLL, and GME.

Yesterday we received terrific insight from FOMC and earnings bellwethers such as MSFT, IBM, META, and TSLA.  The primary focus is on results from Meta Platforms (strong beat with surging AI-related spending.

Earnings on Tap After the Close Today's after-hours highlights include: Apple (AAPL): The biggest name, with high expectations around iPhone sales, services growth, and AI initiatives.  But we will also receive earnings from names we love to follow such as V, WDC, and SNDK.  

Metals right now are going nuts; Copper, Gold, Uranium, Platinum, and Silver.  

Finally we are seeing some strength on QQQ and decisively breaking about the trendline here and closing over 629.5.  Now watching it build and hope Apple does not disappoint.  Really want to see 637 and break higher.

SPY struggling at 698 zone but staying above 695. Just floated with earnings AH. Watch the bull gap just below. We’d like that to stay open through EOW.  Give us the 700 test on SPY and lets see the runway it builds from there!