Web Trader MT5 
U.S. markets ended mixed on Tuesday as weak retail sales data and growing concerns about AI’s impact on the financial sector weighed on sentiment. The S&P 500 fell 0.2% to 6,949 and the Nasdaq dropped 0.40% to 25,172 while the Dow Jones rose 0.27% to a new record close above 50,237
Retailers such as Costco and Walmart declined after December retail sales came in flat, missing expectations. Financial stocks also slid sharply after Altruist launched an AI-powered tax tool, raising fears of disruption in the sector.
Investors are now focused on upcoming key data, including the U.S. jobs report and consumer price index. Despite the pullback, the broader market remains technically resilient, with the S&P 500 holding above its 50-day and 100-day moving averages following last week’s sell-off.
U.S. retail sales stalled in December, coming in flat after a 0.6% rise in November and missing expectations for a 0.4% increase.The slowdown, attributed to bad weather, tariff pressures and persistent inflation, capped an otherwise solid year for consumer spending.
In the Asian market, China’s producer price index fell 1.4% on a yearly basis, slightly better than expectations and an improvement from December’s 1.9% decline. On a monthly basis, producer prices rose 0.4% for a fourth straight month, partly supported by rising global gold prices.
Gold rebounded above $5,050 in Asian trading, recovering part of the previous session’s losses as a weaker U.S. Dollar, pressured by dovish Federal Reserve expectations, supported the precious metal. Softer U.S. retail sales data and signs of labor market weakness have increased bets on further Fed rate cuts in 2026, weighing on the dollar and favoring non-yielding gold.
Concerns about Fed independence resurfaced after President Trump suggested he could take action against incoming Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh if rates are not lowered, further undermining the dollar. Still, upside momentum in gold may be limited for now, as traders await the upcoming U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls report for clearer signals on the Fed’s policy path. Easing Middle East tensions and generally positive market sentiment could also temper safe haven demand in the near term.
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