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Fed Minutes Signal Higher-for-Longer Resolve as Officials Demand Sustained Disinflation Before Any Rate Cut

Minutes from the Federal Reserve's January FOMC meeting, released Wednesday, revealed a sharply hawkish tilt among policymakers, with most officials signaling that sustained progress on inflation — not merely a single favorable data print — would be required before resuming rate cuts, pushing market expectations for the first 2026 reduction firmly to July and pressuring rate-sensitive equities, financials, and growth stocks.

Walmart Beats Q4 Estimates but Soft Full-Year Guidance Rattles Investors

Walmart delivered better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and revenue on Thursday, fueled by robust e-commerce growth and expanding advertising revenue, but its full-year earnings outlook of $2.75 to $2.85 per share fell short of Wall Street's consensus of $2.96, sending shares modestly lower in premarket trading and raising questions about the pace of margin expansion under its new chief executive.

Federal Reserve Minutes Expected to Reveal Dovish Shift as Markets Price Two Rate Cuts in 2026

The Federal Reserve will release minutes from its January 16-17 policy meeting at 2 p.m. ET today, with investors seeking insights into policymakers' thinking after they held rates steady at 3.5%-3.75%. The document is expected to detail how officials weigh persistent inflation against signs of labor market stabilization, as markets now price in more than two quarter-point rate cuts by year-end following last week's benign CPI data.

Walmart Fourth Quarter Earnings Tomorrow to Provide Critical Read on U.S. Consumer Resilience

Walmart will report fiscal fourth quarter 2026 results before market open Thursday, with analysts forecasting adjusted EPS of $0.73 and revenue between $188.6-$190.5 billion. The report represents a pivotal test for the $1 trillion retailer following a 43-day government shutdown and carries outsized importance as a barometer of American consumer health amid a K-shaped recovery that has seen Walmart capture 75% of market share gains from households earning over $100,000.

Kevin Warsh Nomination Advances as Markets Weigh Federal Reserve Independence Risk and Monetary Policy Shift

President Trump's nomination of former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Fed chair remains a defining market overhang, with Senate confirmation complicated by bipartisan resistance tied to the administration's criminal investigation into Powell. As Powell's term expires in May, investors are recalibrating rate-cut expectations and reassessing rate-sensitive sectors from housing to financials given Warsh's historically hawkish monetary policy record.

Inflation Cools to 2.4% in January, Lowest Since May as Fed Rate Cut Hopes Intensify

U.S. consumer prices rose 2.4% year-over-year in January 2026, below the 2.5% consensus forecast and marking the slowest inflation pace since May 2025. The softer-than-expected reading sparked a Treasury yield decline to 4.07% and boosted market expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts beginning as early as March, providing relief to rate-sensitive sectors.

Organic Snacks IPO Sees Strong Debut With Double-Digit Gains

Once Upon a Farm PBC’s shares surged in their trading debut on Friday after the organic snacks maker raised nearly $198 million in an initial public offering. The double-digit gain highlights strong investor appetite for consumer brands with sustainability angles, marking one of the most watched listings of the year with broader implications for the IPO pipeline.