Exxon Mobil, LyondellBasell among market cap stock movers on Wednesday

As traders approach another pivotal day for financial markets on Thursday, January 15, 2026, a series of crucial economic indicators will be released that could significantly influence market dynamics. Initial jobless claims, Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index, and Manufacturing PMI data will take center stage, providing vital insights into the health of the U.S. economy and potentially guiding Federal Reserve policy decisions in the coming months.

Major Economic Events to Watch

8:30 AM ET - Initial Jobless Claims: Expected at 215K versus previous 208K. This early economic indicator measures first-time unemployment insurance filings and offers insight into labor market conditions.

8:30 AM ET - Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index: Forecast at -1.6 compared to previous -10.2. This survey of manufacturers in the Philadelphia Federal Reserve district gauges general business conditions in the region.

8:45 AM ET - Manufacturing PMI: Previous reading was 52.2. This purchasing managers’ index measures activity levels in the manufacturing sector, with readings above 50 indicating expansion.

Other Important Economic Events to Watch

8:00 AM ET - Import Price Index: Expected at -0.1% versus previous 0.0%. This index measures price changes in imported goods and services.

8:00 AM ET - Export Price Index: Forecast at 0.2% compared to previous 0.0%. This tracks price changes of U.S. export goods.

8:30 AM ET - NY Empire State Manufacturing Index: Expected at 0.80 versus previous -3.90. This index rates business conditions in New York state.

8:30 AM ET - Continuing Jobless Claims: Forecast at 1,890K compared to previous 1,914K. This measures ongoing unemployment benefit recipients.

8:30 AM ET - Philly Fed Employment: Previous reading was 12.9. This is a key component of the Philadelphia Fed index focusing on employment conditions.

8:35 AM ET - FOMC Member Bostic Speaks: Atlanta Fed President will deliver remarks that may offer clues on monetary policy direction.

9:15 AM ET - Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Barr Speaks: His comments may provide insights on financial regulation and policy outlook.

4:00 PM ET - TIC Net Long-Term Transactions: Expected at 48.7B versus previous 17.5B. This measures foreign investment in U.S. securities.

4:30 PM ET - Fed’s Balance Sheet: Previous reading was 6,574B. This weekly report details the Federal Reserve’s assets and liabilities.

4:30 PM ET - Reserve balances with Federal Reserve Banks: Previous figure was 3.023T. This shows deposits maintained by financial institutions at regional Fed banks.

Other Economic Events to Watch

8:30 AM ET - Jobless Claims 4-Week Avg.: Previous reading was 211.75K. This smooths weekly jobless claims data to show the underlying trend.

8:30 AM ET - Philly Fed Business Conditions: Previous reading was 41.6. This component measures broader business outlook in the Philadelphia region.

8:30 AM ET - Philly Fed Capex Index: Previous reading was 30.30. This tracks capital expenditure plans among surveyed manufacturers.

8:30 AM ET - Philly Fed New Orders: Previous reading was 5.0. This component measures new order activity in the Philadelphia region.

8:30 AM ET - Philly Fed Prices Paid: Previous reading was 43.60. This tracks input price pressures faced by manufacturers.

10:30 AM ET - Natural Gas Storage: Expected at -89B versus previous -119B. This measures weekly changes in natural gas inventories.

11:30 AM ET - 4-Week Bill Auction: Previous yield was 3.550%. This represents the rate on short-term Treasury bills being auctioned.

11:30 AM ET - 8-Week Bill Auction: Previous yield was 3.540%. This shows the rate on slightly longer-term Treasury bills.

12:40 PM ET - FOMC Member Barkin Speaks: Richmond Fed President will deliver remarks that could offer policy insights.

1:30 PM ET - Fed Schmid Speaks: Kansas City Fed President may provide economic assessment and policy outlook.

4:00 PM ET - Foreign Buying, T-bonds: Previous reading was -61.20B. This tracks foreign purchases of U.S. Treasury bonds.

4:00 PM ET - Overall Net Capital Flow: Previous reading was -37.30B. This measures international financial flows into and out of the U.S.

4:00 PM ET - TIC Net Long-Term Transactions including Swaps: Previous reading was 17.50B. This provides a comprehensive view of foreign investment activity.

For further information and the latest updates, please refer to our Economic Calendar, here

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Earnings season continues to gain momentum as we approach mid-January. Below we highlight companies expected to report earnings the next trading day so you can position yourself ahead of potential market moves. Leading Thursday’s financial reports are several Wall Street heavyweights including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Blackrock, along with luxury goods giant Richemont and transportation company J.B. Hunt.

Earnings Before the Open:

• Goldman Sachs Group (GS) - EPS Est: $11.62, Revenue Est: $14.49B

• Morgan Stanley (MS) - EPS Est: $2.41, Revenue Est: $17.72B

• Blackrock, Inc. (BLK) - EPS Est: $12.44, Revenue Est: $6.75B

• Compagnie Financiere Richemont (CFRUY) - Revenue Est: $7.29B

• First Horizon National (FHN) - EPS Est: $0.462, Revenue Est: $861.44M

• Bank7 (BSVN) - EPS Est: $1.05, Revenue Est: $24.02M

• Insteel Industries (IIIN) - EPS Est: $0.38, Revenue Est: $161.71M

Earnings After the Close:

• J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) - EPS Est: $1.80, Revenue Est: $3.1B

Stay informed throughout earnings season by checking back daily for updates and real-time results at Investing.com’s Earnings Calendar and Latest Headlines. Do you want to trade the earnings of the biggest companies like a pro? Then get InvestingPro now and access over 1000 metrics that will give you a significant advantage in the shark tank that is Wall Street. Click here.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Investing.com -- Fresh off its upsized $3 billion capital raise, Brad Jacobs-led QXO Inc (NYSE:QXO) is just weeks to months away from announcing a significant new acquisition, according to people familiar with the matter.

QXO is in late-stage talks with seven potential takeover targets, the people added. The potential deals range from mid-sized businesses with $1 billion to $5 billion in annual revenue to a transformational transaction involving a company with more than $5 billion in revenue, it was relayed. Several of the targets are private, family-owned businesses in both the U.S. and Europe.

One caveat of the recently raised funds is that QXO must complete at least one acquisition by July 15, 2026. That may not prove to be a major hurdle, as people say the company is already prepared to digest a second — and possibly a third — acquisition, following its successful $11 billion purchase of roofing supplier Beacon last year.

The recent financing brings QXO’s dry power to roughly $10 billion, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Christopher Snyder. The equity raise was led by Apollo and Temasek, and also included PGIM, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Iconiq, AllianceBernstein, Liberty Mutual, ClearBridge Investments, BCI, and AIMCo, the sources said.

While the identities of QXO’s potential targets could not be learned, one name that continues to surface is Builders FirstSource Inc (NYSE:BLDR). An event-driven analyst who tracks board nomination windows noted that both of QXO’s targets last year, Beacon and GMS, were approached shortly after their nomination windows opened. Builders FirstSource’s nomination window opens on January 27, although its staggered board could limit the effectiveness of a proxy fight. QXO ultimately acquired Beacon after an initial hostile bid, but lost out to Home Depot in the contest for GMS.

Two other public company names that have been mentioned are ADI Global Distribution, which is being spun out of Resideo Technologies Inc (NYSE:REZI), and Core & Main Inc (NYSE:CNM).

Among the private companies being discussed as possible targets are White Cap Construction Supply, US LBM, and 84 Lumber.

Analysts are bullish on the prospects of a new takeover for QXO.

Snyder notes the M&A pipeline is the largest driver for the stock. "...  the now increased dry powder allows for bigger deals which in turn will bring down QXO valuation and more than offset any dilution from the transaction," the analyst stated. "As capital is deployed, QXO valuation steps lower and bigger deals mean more significant compression," he added. Snyder rates the stock an Overweight with a $35 price target.

Investing.com -- Fresh off its upsized $3 billion capital raise, Brad Jacobs-led QXO Inc (NYSE:QXO) is just weeks to months away from announcing a significant new acquisition, according to people familiar with the matter.

QXO is in late-stage talks with seven potential takeover targets, the people added. The potential deals range from mid-sized businesses with $1 billion to $5 billion in annual revenue to a transformational transaction involving a company with more than $5 billion in revenue, it was relayed. Several of the targets are private, family-owned businesses in both the U.S. and Europe.

One caveat of the recently raised funds is that QXO must complete at least one acquisition by July 15, 2026. That may not prove to be a major hurdle, as people say the company is already prepared to digest a second — and possibly a third — acquisition, following its successful $11 billion purchase of roofing supplier Beacon last year.

The recent financing brings QXO’s dry power to roughly $10 billion, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Christopher Snyder. The equity raise was led by Apollo and Temasek, and also included PGIM, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Iconiq, AllianceBernstein, Liberty Mutual, ClearBridge Investments, BCI, and AIMCo, the sources said.

While the identities of QXO’s potential targets could not be learned, one name that continues to surface is Builders FirstSource Inc (NYSE:BLDR), although William Blair analyst Ryan Merkel said that the name remains lower on their list given its "size and business model complexity."  Meanwhile, an event-driven analyst who tracks board nomination windows noted that both of QXO’s targets last year, Beacon and GMS, were approached shortly after their nomination windows opened. Builders FirstSource’s nomination window opens on January 27, although its staggered board could limit the effectiveness of a proxy fight. QXO ultimately acquired Beacon after an initial hostile bid, but lost out to Home Depot in the contest for GMS.

Two other public company names that have been mentioned are ADI Global Distribution, which is being spun out of Resideo Technologies Inc (NYSE:REZI), and Core & Main Inc (NYSE:CNM).

Among the private companies being discussed as possible targets are White Cap Construction Supply, US LBM, and 84 Lumber.

Analysts are bullish on the prospects of a new takeover for QXO.

Snyder notes the M&A pipeline is the largest driver for the stock. "...  the now increased dry powder allows for bigger deals which in turn will bring down QXO valuation and more than offset any dilution from the transaction," the analyst stated. "As capital is deployed, QXO valuation steps lower and bigger deals mean more significant compression," he added. Snyder rates the stock an Overweight with a $35 price target.

Investing.com-- U.S. stocks fell Wednesday, as investors digested a fresh batch of earnings from major Wall Street banks as well as data showing inflation growth. 

At 09:35 ET (14:35 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 90 points, or 0.2%, the S&P 500 index fell 26 points, or 0.4%, and the NASDAQ Composite slipped 145 points, or 0.6%.

The main averages dropped on Tuesday, with the blue chip Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping almost 400 points, or 0.8%, the S&P 500 falling 0.2% and the Nasdaq Composite shedding 0.1%.

Bank earnings in spotlight 

There are more earnings from the banking sector for investors to focus on Wednesday, with Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) and Citigroup (NYSE:C) all reporting.

Bank of America’s average loans grew 8% from a year earlier, and its net interest income - or the difference between what it earns from loans and pays out in deposits - surged to a record $15.9 billion.

Citigroup’s average loans climbed 7% in the fourth quarter, driven by is markets, U.S. personal banking and services businesses, while Wells Fargo also saw the pace of loan growth pick up, with loans growing 12% for its commercial businesses in the fourth quarter.

The prints will be closely studied for more cues on the U.S. economy, as well as acting as barometers of sentiment in the opening weeks of 2026, and come after banking major JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) started the quarterly results season rolling on Tuesday.

JPMorgan Chase, the largest U.S. bank, posted a decline in fourth-quarter profit, dragged down by provisions related to its acquisition of a credit card partnership with Apple from Goldman Sachs. The lender also warned of the impact President Donald Trump’s proposed cap on credit card interest rates could have on industry returns and consumers.

Analysts were also on the lookout for any commentary around the independence of the U.S. central bank, which has become a central focus since the Trump administration launched a criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The Fed leader has said the move was motivated by a desire to influence how policymakers set interest rates.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon backed an independent Fed, saying anything that "chips away" at its ability to adjust policy free of political influence "is not a good idea."

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) and asset manager BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) are also set to report earnings on Thursday. 

Producer inflation, retail sales data mixed

Beyond bank earnings, producer price index inflation data for both October and November was released earlier Wednesday.

The producer price index for final demand rose 0.1% on the month in October, after rising by a revised 0.6% in September, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said.

The bureau also released the November figures at the same time, and these showed monthly growth of 0.2% 

That said, the widely-watched ‘core’ PPI figure, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, grew a substantial 0.7% on the month in October, and 0.2% in November on a  monthly basis.

For the 12 months ended in November, prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services climbed 3.5%, the largest 12-month increase since rising 3.5% in March.

The print comes just a day after consumer price index inflation data read largely in line with expectations for December, while core CPI cooled slightly. 

Complicating the situation for the Federal Reserve was the news that U.S. retail sales grew by more than anticipated in November, rebounding from a contraction in the prior month, suggesting some strength in consumer spending heading into the final month of 2025.

Retail sales expanded by 0.6% on a month-on-month basis, faster than expectations for an increase of 0.5%, data from the U.S. Census Bureau showed on Wednesday. In October, the figure, which is comprised mostly of goods and is not adjusted for inflation, was revised lower to show a contraction of 0.1%.

Consumer spending is one of the major engines of the American economy, typically accounting for roughly two-thirds of total output.

Oil slips, gold near record highs 

Oil prices rose, adding to recent gains, even as Venezuela resumed exports and U.S. crude inventories rose, while developments in Iran remained in focus.

Brent futures climbed 1.2% to $66.22 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 1.1% to $61.83 a barrel.

Both contracts surged more than 2.5% on Tuesday, pushing Brent to an 11-week high and WTI to a 10-week peak, extending strong gains over four consecutive sessions.

Crude stocks in the U.S., the world’s biggest oil consumer, rose by 5.23 million barrels in the week ended January 9, the American Petroleum Institute reported on Tuesday.

Official stockpile data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration will be released later on Wednesday.

Additionally, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries member Venezuela has resumed exporting crude as part of a deal between Caracas and Washington in the wake of the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The mounting protests in Iran, however, have increased fears of supply disruptions from the fourth-largest OPEC producer.

Elsewhere, gold prices scaled fresh record highs as the U.S. inflation data cemented expectations for Fed rate cuts later this year and geopolitical tensions in Iran underpinned safe-haven demand.

Spot gold rose more than 1% to a record high of $4,640.13 an ounce, surpassing the previous session’s all-time high of $4,634.33/oz. U.S. Gold Futures for March advanced 1% to $4,643.10/oz.

Ambar Warrick contributed to this article