Business, Commodities & Shipping News 2026

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S&P and Dow retreat from records as rally this week loses some momentum: Live updates​


The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average pulled back from record levels on Wednesday as areas of the market that were hot to start the year lost steam.

The broad market index was last down 0.2% after rising 0.3% to a fresh all-time intraday high, while the 30-stock Dow fell 410 points, or 0.8%, after it gained more than 150 points, or 0.3%, to score a new high earlier in the session as well. The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.3%.

Financials and energy — two of the sectors that started off 2026 strong — saw losses during the trading day, with both declining more than 1%. Bank stocks that gave back some of their gains included JPMorgan, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Meanwhile, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips were key laggards in the energy space.

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www.freightwaves.com

Autonomous trucking faces growing product liability risks

Autonomous trucking product liability risks are rising as technology outpaces regulations. Explore legal challenges, crashworthiness standards, and nuclear verdicts facing self-driving truck manufacturers and fleets.
www.freightwaves.com www.freightwaves.com

www.freightwaves.com

DOT strips California of $160M over foreign truckers

The U.S. government has withheld millions in truck safety funds from California for missing a deadline to cancel thousands of CDLs issued to foreign nationals.
www.freightwaves.com www.freightwaves.com
 

UN Report Flags Growing Headwinds for Global Shipping as Trade Momentum Fades​

Global trade is losing steam just as the shipping industry was hoping for a steadier recovery, according to a new United Nations outlook that points to slower growth, fading demand drivers, and rising economic uncertainty.

The UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 report, released Thursday, projects global economic growth of 2.7% in 2026, down from an estimated 2.8% in 2025 and well below the pre-pandemic average of 3.2%. Geopolitical tensions, trade policy uncertainty, weak investment, and high debt levels—especially in developing economies—are expected to weigh on activity through next year.

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www.freightwaves.com

Layoffs, bankruptcies batter U.S. logistics and manufacturing at start of 2026

More than 2,000 workers have been laid off across logistics and manufacturing firms as 2026 begins, driven by facility closures, lost contracts and bankruptcy filings.
www.freightwaves.com www.freightwaves.com

www.freightwaves.com

DOT threatens to revoke North Carolina’s CDL authority

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to withhold $50 million from North Carolina after an audit found the state illegally issued over half of its foreign driver CDLs.
www.freightwaves.com www.freightwaves.com
 

Virginia’s Shrimping Boom: A New Coastal Industry Emerges​

Premiered Jan 7, 2026 #VirginiaBeach #Shrimp #Shrimping
Virginia Beach isn’t just about beautiful shores and offshore fishing anymore! In recent years, shrimping has become a thriving industry in Virginia’s waterways. Discover how this coastal tradition is evolving and what it means for local communities and seafood lovers.


5:46
 

January WASDE Preview Report​

Jan 9, 2026
Carah Hart and Ben Brown, University of Missouri Extension, talks about the upcoming WASDE report for January and the potential impact of the market trends.


7:21
 

S&P 500 rises to another record Friday, heads for winning week: Live updates​

The S&P 500 rose to a new all-time intraday high on Friday, pacing for a weekly gain, following the release of the latest jobs report.

The broad market index was last up 0.8%, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.9%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 240 points, or 0.5%.

The three major averages remain on track for a winning week. The S&P 500 is up more than 1% week to date, while the Dow and Nasdaq have each jumped roughly 2%.

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Doug Casey Nothing to see, can listen in one tab, play around the forum in a different tab. 39 mins.

Doug Casey: Gold, Silver to Hit New Highs, "Greater Depression" Ahead​

Jan 9, 2026 #Investing #Gold #Silver
Doug Casey of InternationalMan.com and ‪@DougCaseysTake‬ shares his thoughts on gold, silver and more heading into the new year. Casey, who is also a best-selling author, sees higher prices for both precious metals ahead.
"This gold bull market is coming from a whole different sector than past ones have, and at some point the public will get involved — yeah, gold is going higher. US$5,000, US$6,000 — something like that this year (is) not entirely unreasonable," he said.

Doug Casey: Gold, Silver to Hit New Highs, "Greater Depression" Ahead
 

Maritime Unions Push for U.S.-Flag Mandate on Venezuelan Oil to Rebuild American Shipping Fleet​

America’s largest maritime labor unions are urging the Trump administration and Congress to require that any Venezuelan crude imported into the United States be carried exclusively on U.S.-flag vessels crewed by American mariners, arguing the move would strengthen national security while jump-starting the long-declining domestic shipping fleet.

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Are Farmers Really Walking Away from Farmland in 2026?​

Jan 9, 2026
Responding to crippling input costs, Georgia farmer Alex Harrell is slashing his cropland in half, while predicting significant U.S. acres may be bare come spring. But he is alone in that? Chip Flory weighs in.


5:28
 

Inside IKEA: The Brilliant Trick That Makes You Buy More​

Jan 6, 2026 LOS ANGELES
A closer look inside the Swedish maze of affordable creations. Meatballs 4ever 💙💛


24:59

0:00 Swedish Furniture Giant
1:15 The IKEA Experience
4:38 Low Price By Design
7:26 Volume and Global Control
12:10 The IKEA System and Psychology
17:22 Future and Challenges
23:05 Question For You + Bloopers
 
Bloomberg

Wall Street Week | US-Venezuela Policy, Farming Without Subsidies, Robotaxis, Everest Exclusivity​

Jan 10, 2026
This week, what the Trump Administration’s action in Venezuela reveals about America’s new foreign policy priorities. And, could New Zealand’s no-subsidy agriculture industry work around the world? Plus, is 2026 finally the year robotaxis move beyond hype and tiny test zones? Later, we follow the rise of ultra-luxury Everest trips, where six-figure price tags promise speed and comfort on a mountain that remains brutally unforgiving.

Wall Street Week | US-Venezuela Policy, Farming Without Subsidies,​

 
goldseek.com

The Bipolar Economy

Let me offer some general thoughts first. One of the lessons my many mentors taught me over the years is that when everybody is on the same side of the boat a correction is due.
goldseek.com goldseek.com
 

Take Five: Hold on to your hats, it's getting busy​

LONDON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Markets and the news are certainly up and running again after a brief lull for the holidays, and the pace is now set to pick up even more.

Updates are coming on nearly all the big themes of the year, from AI to the U.S. economy, via Germany's fiscal transformation, all while speculating about the next surprise in global politics.

Here's all you need to know about the coming week in financial markets by Karin Strohecker, Sophie Kiderlin in London, Rocky Swift in Tokyo, and Lewis Krauskopf and Saeed Azhar in New York.

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Dow Jones futures fall as Fed chief Powell under criminal probe; JPMorgan, Goldman, Delta, Taiwan Semi ahead​

Dow Jones futures fell modestly Sunday night, along with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures. Federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation of Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell, who said it's really a result of not cutting interest rates as fast as President Donald Trump wants.

A big week of earnings and announcements loom.

The stock market rally had a broad advance this past week, led by small caps. The Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Russell 2000 all hit record highs. The Nasdaq is moving toward all-time levels, despite some sharp tech losses on Thursday.

More:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/mar...aiwan-semi-ahead/ar-AA1TUPrw?ocid=socialshare
 

Morning Bid: Powell pulls no punches​

What matters in U.S. and global markets today
By Anna Szymanski, Editor-in-Chief, Reuters Open Interest

Markets got yet another weekend surprise from the Trump administration on Sunday, with news that the Justice Department is threatening to indict Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over comments made about a building renovation project – something the Fed Chair called a “pretext” for the White House’s aim of gaining more influence over interest rate policy.

The initial market reaction has been muted – and President Donald Trump denied any knowledge of the actions – but Powell’s pointed response signals that in the escalating battle between the Fed chair and the president, the gloves have come off.

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S&P 500, Dow climb to closing records as traders look past Fed independence risk: Live updates​

Stocks rallied off their session lows, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting new all-time highs as investors shook off the Department of Justice opening a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

The S&P 500 rose 0.16% to end at 6,977.27, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ticked up 86.13 points, or 0.17%, and settled at 49,590.20. Both indexes touched fresh all-time intraday highs and closed at records. The Nasdaq Composite was up 0.26% and closed at 23,733.90.

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WASDE Report

The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) is prepared and released by the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB).
www.usda.gov www.usda.gov
 

S&P 500 retreats from record Tuesday as JPMorgan slides, traders evaluate multiple Trump edicts: Live updates​

The S&P 500 fell on Tuesday as investors sold JPMorgan despite better-than-expected numbers and grappled with volatility from a flurry of President Donald Trump proposals floated in the past few days.

The broad-based index slipped 0.19% and closed at 6,963.74, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 398.21 points, or 0.8%, and ended at 49,191.99. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.1% and settled at 23,709.87.

JPMorgan dipped 4%, even after the company’s fourth-quarter results beat on the top and bottom lines. While both companywide and equities trading revenue increased in the quarter, investment banking fees fell and missed expectations.

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