The Weekly Update
Week of January 12th, 2026
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®
Stocks posted solid gains in an action-packed week of market-moving economic data, geopolitical news, and bullish new year sentiment.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.57 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 1.88 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.32 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, advanced 1.41 percent.
Santa Visits Dow, But Not S&P, Nasdaq
Stocks rose early Monday, led by the Dow Industrials, as investors looked past the news from Venezuela.
By Monday’s close, the Dow Industrials had gained enough to make the “Santa Claus Rally” a reality, pushing the Average to a 1.1 percent gain for the seven-session period (the last five trading days of 2025 and the first two of 2026). However, the S&P and Nasdaq came up short.
All three major averages continued their rise through midweek as the AI trade—led by chip manufacturers—helped momentum. The Dow Industrials crossed the 49,000 level for the first time, and both the S&P 500 and Dow hit record closes as well as all-time intraday highs.
The Dow then moved back into the “pole position” over the next session as investors appeared to rotate out of technology stocks and into other sectors, including cyclical stocks. Defense stocks got a boost from the president’s call for a $1.5 trillion annual defense budget in 2027—higher than the Pentagon’s target.
The December jobs report, released on Friday, showed modest job gains and a slight decline in the unemployment rate. Investors cheered the news, believing the update gave the Fed some flexibility with rates at its January meeting.
Jobs Report
The Labor Department’s latest employment report showed a net gain of 50,000 jobs last month while unemployment ticked down to 4.4 percent, missing economists’ expectations of 73,000 jobs.
Over the full year, net job growth averaged 49,000 per month—the lowest monthly pace in 22 years and a drop from 168,000 per month in 2024. Federal job cuts were a primary reason for the sluggish labor market in 2025, with 277,000 government positions eliminated.
This Week: Key Economic Data
Monday: Fed Presidents Tom Barkin (Richmond), Raphael Bostic (Atlanta), and John Williams (New York) speak.
Tuesday: NFIB Small Business Optimism Index. Consumer Price Index (CPI). New Home Sales* (Oct). Fed Presidents Alberto Musalem (St. Louis) and Barkin (Richmond) speak. Federal Budget Deficit.
Wednesday: Retail Sales* (Nov). Producer Price Index (PPI)* (Nov). Business Inventories* (Oct). Existing Home Sales. Federal Reserve’s Beige Book. Fed Presidents Neel Kashkari (Minneapolis), Bostic (Atlanta), and Williams (New York) speak. Fed Governor Stephen Miran speaks.
Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims. Import Prices* (Nov). Fed Governor Michael Barr and Fed Presidents Jeff Schmid (Kansas City) and Barkin (Richmond) speak.
Friday: Industrial Production. Capacity Utilization. Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson and Fed President Barkin (Richmond) speak.
* indicates publication of a report delayed by the government shutdown in October and November
Source: Investors Business Daily – Econoday economic calendar; January 9, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.
This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings
Tuesday: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BK), Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL)
Wednesday: Bank of America Corporation (BAC), Wells Fargo & Company (WFC), Citigroup Inc. (C)
Thursday: Morgan Stanley (MS), The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS), BlackRock (BLK), Infosys (INFY)
Friday: The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (PNC)
Source: Zacks, January 9, 2026. Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule their earnings reports without notice.
