{"id":57879,"date":"2026-01-18T04:40:23","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T08:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-see-weekly-declines-amid-q4-earnings-and-rising-geopolitical-tensions\/57879\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T04:40:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T08:40:23","slug":"global-markets-see-weekly-declines-amid-q4-earnings-and-rising-geopolitical-tensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-see-weekly-declines-amid-q4-earnings-and-rising-geopolitical-tensions\/57879\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets See Weekly Declines Amid Q4 Earnings and Rising Geopolitical Tensions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-see-weekly-declines-amid-q4-earnings-and-rising-geopolitical-tensions\/57879\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-see-weekly-declines-amid-q4-earnings-and-rising-geopolitical-tensions\/57879\/#Global_Equities_Retreat_on_Earnings_and_Rate_Outlook\" >Global Equities Retreat on Earnings and Rate Outlook<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-see-weekly-declines-amid-q4-earnings-and-rising-geopolitical-tensions\/57879\/#Commodities_Gain_Amid_Geopolitical_Shifts\" >Commodities Gain Amid Geopolitical Shifts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-see-weekly-declines-amid-q4-earnings-and-rising-geopolitical-tensions\/57879\/#EU_Warns_of_%22Downward_Spiral%22_Over_Trumps_Tariff_Threats\" >EU Warns of &quot;Downward Spiral&quot; Over Trump&#39;s Tariff Threats<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-see-weekly-declines-amid-q4-earnings-and-rising-geopolitical-tensions\/57879\/#Turkeys_Honey_Industry_Under_Siege_by_Fake_Products\" >Turkey&#39;s Honey Industry Under Siege by Fake Products<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-see-weekly-declines-amid-q4-earnings-and-rising-geopolitical-tensions\/57879\/#Japan_Moves_Forward_with_Nuclear_Plant_Restart\" >Japan Moves Forward with Nuclear Plant Restart<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Global equity markets concluded the week lower<\/strong>, with the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/indices\/dowjones\/today\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Dow Jones Today\">Dow Jones<\/a> Industrial Average (<a href=\"\/stock\/DJIA\">DJIA<\/a>) declining 0.54%<\/strong> and the <strong>NASDAQ Composite (<a href=\"\/stock\/IXIC\">IXIC<\/a>) falling 0.82%<\/strong>, as an <em>uneven fourth-quarter earnings season<\/em> and diminishing expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts weighed on investor sentiment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Commodities saw gains<\/strong>, with <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/metal\/gold\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"gold price today\">Gold<\/a> (<a href=\"\/stock\/XAU\">XAU<\/a>) rising 0.55% to $4623<\/strong> and <strong>US Oil (<a href=\"\/stock\/CL=F\">CL=F<\/a>) increasing 0.64% to $5964<\/strong>, amidst <em>geopolitical developments and renewed trade tensions<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The European Union issued a strong warning<\/strong> of a &quot;dangerous downward spiral&quot; after former President Trump threatened new tariffs on European countries over Greenland, potentially <em>jeopardizing transatlantic trade relations<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Turkey&#39;s significant honey industry is under severe pressure<\/strong> from a surge in fake products, leading to <em>intense price competition<\/em> and concerns over the nation&#39;s reputation, with authorities seizing <strong>thousands of tons of adulterated sweeteners<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Syrian forces have taken control of the strategically important Koniko gas field<\/strong> in the east, a development following the <em>withdrawal of US forces<\/em> and highlighting the ongoing volatility in the region&#39;s energy resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Global_Equities_Retreat_on_Earnings_and_Rate_Outlook\"><\/span>Global Equities Retreat on Earnings and Rate Outlook<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Major global stock indices closed the week in negative territory, reflecting investor caution following an uneven start to the fourth-quarter earnings season. The <strong>Dow Jones Industrial Average (<a href=\"\/stock\/DJIA\">DJIA<\/a>) fell 0.54% to 49087<\/strong>, the <strong>NASDAQ Composite (<a href=\"\/stock\/IXIC\">IXIC<\/a>) dropped 0.82% to 25319<\/strong>, and the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/indices\/sp500\/today\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"snp500 today\">S&amp;P 500<\/a> (<a href=\"\/stock\/SPX\">SPX<\/a>) declined 0.38%<\/strong> for the week. This downturn was compounded by diminishing market expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, with the probability of a 25-basis-point cut in March easing to <strong>23% from 30%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>European and Asian markets mirrored the global sentiment, with Germany&#39;s <strong>DAX (<a href=\"\/stock\/DAX\">DAX<\/a>) falling 0.97% to 25077<\/strong>, the <strong>FTSE 100 (<a href=\"\/stock\/FTSE\">FTSE<\/a>) dropping 0.83% to 10171<\/strong>, and the <strong>Hang Seng Index (<a href=\"\/stock\/HSI\">HSI<\/a>) shedding 0.61% to 26469<\/strong>. While major banks reported solid earnings, they faced pressure from a proposed credit card interest rate cap by former President Trump. Conversely, semiconductor stocks showed resilience, posting gains.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Commodities_Gain_Amid_Geopolitical_Shifts\"><\/span>Commodities Gain Amid Geopolitical Shifts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In the commodities market, both <strong>Gold (<a href=\"\/stock\/XAU\">XAU<\/a>) and US Oil (<a href=\"\/stock\/CL=F\">CL=F<\/a>) recorded gains<\/strong>. Gold advanced <strong>0.55% to $4623<\/strong>, nearing an all-time peak, driven by softer U.S. inflation data reinforcing rate cut expectations and ongoing geopolitical tensions. US Oil also saw a <strong>0.64% increase, reaching $5964<\/strong>. The <strong>EUR\/USD (<a href=\"\/stock\/EURUSD\">EURUSD<\/a>) currency pair<\/strong> experienced a slight dip of <strong>0.18% to 11577<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>These movements come as the Syrian army, supported by tribal groups, announced control over the strategically important <strong>Koniko natural gas field<\/strong> in the east of the country. This development follows the withdrawal of US forces, who had previously used the field as a military base, underscoring the volatile nature of energy resource control in the region. The Koniko gas field is a significant energy asset, previously capable of producing up to <strong>13 million cubic meters of natural gas per day<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"EU_Warns_of_%22Downward_Spiral%22_Over_Trumps_Tariff_Threats\"><\/span>EU Warns of &quot;Downward Spiral&quot; Over Trump&#39;s Tariff Threats<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Transatlantic trade relations are facing renewed strain as the European Union warned of a &quot;dangerous downward spiral&quot; following former President Donald Trump&#39;s threats of new tariffs on European countries. Trump&#39;s proposed tariffs, starting at <strong>10% from February 1st and potentially rising to 25% in June<\/strong>, are linked to his efforts to acquire Greenland and Europe&#39;s military presence there.<\/p>\n<p>EU Council President Antonio Costa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a joint statement emphasizing that tariffs would &quot;undermine transatlantic relations&quot;. An emergency meeting of EU ambassadors has been convened to discuss a coordinated response, with concerns that the tariffs could jeopardize the recently agreed EU-US trade pact.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Turkeys_Honey_Industry_Under_Siege_by_Fake_Products\"><\/span>Turkey&#39;s Honey Industry Under Siege by Fake Products<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Turkey, a major global honey producer, is grappling with a significant challenge from the proliferation of fake honey products. This surge has forced legitimate producers into &quot;unreasonable price competition&quot; and led hotels, restaurants, and other businesses to seek out cheaper, often adulterated, alternatives. The price disparity is stark, with fake honey selling for approximately <strong>EUR1.60 per kilogram<\/strong> compared to authentic honey reaching up to <strong>EUR8 per kilogram<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Turkish authorities have intensified efforts to combat this fraud, seizing <strong>8,150 tons of glucose, fructose, and sugar<\/strong> used in counterfeit production, along with <strong>100,000 fake honey labels<\/strong> in Ankara. The country&#39;s honey sector, valued at around <strong>EUR270 million ($283.4 million)<\/strong> annually, faces concerns over its international reputation. A 2023 report by the European Anti-Fraud Office highlighted the severity of the issue, finding that nearly half of honey samples imported into the EU were adulterated, including <strong>14 out of 15 samples from Turkey<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Japan_Moves_Forward_with_Nuclear_Plant_Restart\"><\/span>Japan Moves Forward with Nuclear Plant Restart<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In other news, Japan is proceeding with the restart of its nuclear power plants, including the world&#39;s largest, the <strong>Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant<\/strong>, nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster. This move signals a significant shift in the nation&#39;s energy policy, aiming to enhance energy security and achieve decarbonization goals, targeting nuclear power to account for <strong>20% of its energy supply by 2041<\/strong>. Regulatory approval for the restart of two units was granted in November 2025, following substantial safety upgrades, including a <strong>1.2 trillion yen investment<\/strong> by TEPCO.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Global equity markets concluded the week lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) declining 0.54% and the 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