U.S. stock markets are experiencing a dynamic Tuesday, January 13, 2026, as investors digest crucial inflation data, kick off the fourth-quarter earnings season, and contend with persistent geopolitical concerns. While major indexes closed at record highs on Monday, premarket trading suggested a more cautious start, with futures initially slipping before finding some stability as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report largely met expectations.
Premarket Activity and Futures Movements
Early Tuesday, U.S. stock futures showed a mixed picture, with a general downward trend observed across the board ahead of key economic and corporate announcements. Nasdaq 100 futures were down between 0.2% and 0.3%, while S&P 500 futures and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures each saw declines of 0.1% to 0.2%. This initial apprehension was largely attributed to anticipation of the December CPI data and the commencement of the Q4 earnings season.
However, sentiment shifted slightly after the release of the December Consumer Price Index. Futures for the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average reversed earlier declines to tick marginally higher, up 0.2%, 0.2%, and 0.1% respectively, as the inflation data matched economists' expectations. The 10-year Treasury yield, a key indicator for borrowing costs, also responded, slipping to 4.18% from 4.20%.
In the commodities markets, gold futures remained largely unchanged, hovering near their recent record highs. Silver futures, however, surged to establish a fresh all-time high of $87.56 an ounce early Tuesday. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures saw a notable rise, climbing approximately 2% to $60.70 a barrel. This increase was driven by President Donald Trump's announcement of a potential 25% U.S. tariff on any country conducting business with Iran, stirring concerns about global oil supply. Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) was trading around the $92,000 mark, and the U.S. dollar index edged 0.1% higher to 98.92.
Major Market Indexes: A Look Back and Ahead
Monday's trading session saw a robust performance from the major U.S. stock indexes. The S&P 500 closed at a new record high of 6,977.27, gaining 0.16% (10.99 points). The Dow Jones Industrial Average also reached an all-time high, finishing up 0.17% (86.13 points) at 49,590.20. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite joined the rally, closing in the green with a 0.26% (62.55 points) increase to 23,733.90. These gains occurred despite initial jitters stemming from news of a Justice Department probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, which raised concerns about the Fed's independence.
As markets open today, the focus shifts to whether this upward momentum can be sustained amidst the fresh economic data and earnings reports.
Important Upcoming Market Events
Today, January 13, 2026, is a pivotal day for market participants. The most anticipated economic release is the December Consumer Price Index (CPI) data. Economists had largely expected the annual inflation rate to remain stable at 2.7%, with "core" prices (excluding volatile food and energy) projected at 2.6%, below some consensus projections. The actual data matching these expectations has provided some relief to investors.
The fourth-quarter earnings season officially kicks off today, with several major financial institutions and companies reporting their results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) is among the first to announce, with analysts closely watching its performance. Bank of New York Mellon (BK) is also scheduled to report its Q4 earnings. In the airline sector, Delta Air Lines (DAL) is releasing its fourth-quarter figures, which will be scrutinized for insights into the travel industry's health and its 2026 outlook. Other companies reporting today include Concentrix (CNXC).
Regarding monetary policy, the CME Group's FedWatch tool indicates a high probability—95%—of the Federal Reserve maintaining current interest rates unchanged in January. However, the ongoing Justice Department probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell continues to be a point of discussion, with concerns about its potential impact on the central bank's independence.
Major Stock News and Corporate Announcements
Several individual stocks are making headlines today due to corporate news and analyst actions:
- JPMorgan Chase (JPM) saw its stock rise in premarket trading despite reporting a drop in fourth-quarter profit. This decline was attributed to a one-time charge related to the loss of its credit card partnership with Apple (AAPL). Excluding this charge, the bank's quarterly profit actually increased, driven by strong trading performance, and it beat Wall Street's revenue and profit forecasts.
- Delta Air Lines (DAL) experienced a significant premarket decline of 4-5%. This drop followed the airline's release of fiscal 2026 first-quarter and full-year profit forecasts that fell below market expectations, alongside a miss on revenue estimates.
- L3Harris Technologies (LHX) shares surged by 11-12% in premarket. The defense contractor announced plans to spin off its Missile Solutions business, a move supported by a $1 billion investment from the Defense Department.
- Chipmakers Intel (INTC) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) both saw gains of 3.6% and 2.6% respectively. This positive movement came after KeyBanc upgraded both companies' shares to "overweight," citing stronger-than-expected data-center demand and tightening memory supply across the semiconductor industry.
- Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG) was up 0.68% in premarket trading, having recently achieved a $4 trillion market valuation. The tech giant's momentum was further bolstered by confirmation from Apple (AAPL) that Google Gemini will power a significant makeover for its Siri voice assistant.
- Xpeng Inc. ADR (XPEV) shares dipped 2.63% despite the electric vehicle manufacturer's announcement of establishing independent, localized supply chain teams in Europe and ASEAN for 2026.
- Travere Therapeutics (TVTX) saw a substantial slump of 28% after the biotech firm received a request from the FDA to clarify the clinical benefit of its therapy for a rare kidney disease.
- Synopsys (SNPS) fell 2.3% following a downgrade from Piper Sandler to "neutral," with the firm citing potential prolonged headwinds to growth for the chip design software company.
- Credit card companies, including Synchrony Financial (SYF), Capital One Financial (COF), and American Express (AXP), stabilized in premarket trading. This comes after they experienced declines yesterday due to President Trump's suggestion of a one-year, 10% cap on credit card interest rates.
- Walmart (WMT) saw gains yesterday on news of its inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index.
Today's market activity underscores a complex interplay of economic data, corporate performance, and political developments, keeping investors on high alert as the trading day progresses.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.