Markets, Attention, Ready, Go!

January 2, 2026

The new year on financial markets started with moderate optimism and growth, but investors remain cautious. History shows that the first day of the year rarely reflects long-term trends; however, it sets the tone and provides the first signals of market sentiment.

Futures and Asia Set the Tone

U.S. indices opened with moderate gains. The S&P 500 rose +0.5%, Nasdaq +0.8%, Dow Jones +0.4%. Experts remind that the start of the year rarely guarantees performance for the entire 2026. Nevertheless, market sentiment is positive: investors react to strong December company reports, corporate profit forecasts, and statements from regulators regarding stable monetary policy.

Asian markets appear more confident at the start of the year. South Korea and Hong Kong lead due to the technology sector. Samsung is again demonstrating strength in next-generation chips — AI chip orders are up 20% compared to the end of 2025. The Chinese market is somewhat steadier after the January holidays, and Japan strengthens its position through export companies. Overall, Asia sets a positive tone for the global market, reflecting high expectations for future technologies.

FTSE 100 and European Markets

The UK FTSE 100 surpassed 10,000 points, showing a confident start to the year. The European STOXX 600 is rising, mainly due to mining and metallurgy. After the correction at the end of 2025, investors return to gold and silver — the metallurgical sector is back in focus.

• Gold: +1.2% amid moderate inflation concerns and central bank demand for reserve metals.
• Silver: +1.5%, fueled by investments in the industrial sector and EV production.
• Metallurgy: strong quarterly reports from European aluminum and copper producers, rising orders for infrastructure and renewable energy projects.

The mining sector demonstrates resilience, and commodity companies attract increased interest from hedge funds seeking protection against market volatility.

Technology and EVs in Focus

• Tesla is preparing to report December deliveries. The market expects confirmation of growth amid production capacity expansion and increased EV share in key European and Asian markets.
  
  
  
  
• Palantir remains below key technical levels, with investors closely monitoring subscription reports for its analytics platforms.
• Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor receive support from AI chip orders, reflecting sustained demand for future technologies.
• The EV sector overall maintains a positive outlook: sales growth is expected in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and new models with improved batteries attract investor attention.

What Is Important to Understand Now

1. Growth is positive but cautious. The start of the year shows a balance between optimism and caution: investors are still analyzing financial reports, global news, and macroeconomic indicators.
2. Metals and technology leaders are in focus. Returning to gold, silver, and strategic tech companies reflects the market’s desire to combine protection and growth.
   
   
   
   
3. Medium-term drivers. Key company reports, economic indicator releases, and events in Asian markets will shape the trend for the first months of the year.
4. Fundamental selection is more important than rapid entries. Now it is essential not to chase sharp purchases but to carefully select companies with real growth drivers: strong revenue, new products, technological advantage, and sustainable demand.

Conclusion: 2026 begins with balanced growth, where risk and potential are closely intertwined. Investors show moderate optimism but continue to exercise caution. Markets offer opportunities for analysis and strategic investments — the key to success now is observation, evaluation of fundamental factors, and a patient approach.