Quick Summary
Trump officially picked Kevin Warsh to replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair
US stock futures fell, while gold and silver plunged sharply
Crypto markets saw US$1.7B liquidations amid policy shock
Apple and SanDisk delivered strong earnings, led by China recovery and pricing power
Key Market Developments
Trump Picks Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair
President Donald Trump confirmed he will nominate Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell when Powell’s term ends in May.
Market interpretation:
Warsh is supportive of lower rates, but
Cautious on heavy stimulus and Fed balance-sheet expansion
This reinforced expectations of tighter liquidity, even if rate cuts resume later in the year.
Before the Bell: Market Reaction
Nasdaq 100 futures: -0.39%
S&P 500 futures: -0.27%
Dow futures: -0.22%
US dollar: +0.21%
Precious metals were hit hard:
Gold: -4.62%, briefly below US$5,000
Silver: -10.17%, briefly below US$100
Crypto Shock: US$1.7B Liquidations
Trump’s Fed pick triggered a sharp risk unwind:
US$1.7 billion in crypto liquidations
270,000 traders affected
Leveraged bulls lost ~US$1.6 billion
Bitcoin: -2.12% to US$82,853
Ethereum: -3.04% to US$2,737
Key point: Liquidity expectations, not fundamentals, drove the selloff.
Politics: Shutdown Averted
Trump and Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer struck a bipartisan deal to:
Fund most of the government through September
Replace a controversial DHS bill with a two-week stopgap
Avoid a broader government shutdown
Corporate Highlights
Apple Earnings Impress
Apple posted a strong quarter:
China revenue beat expectations for the first time in nine quarters
Gross margin hit a record high
Net profit exceeded US$40B for the first time
SanDisk Smashes Estimates
SanDisk:
Revenue: US$3.03B, +61% YoY
Gross margin: 51.1%, far above guidance
Driven by higher pricing and datacentre demand
OpenAI Prepares for IPO
OpenAI is planning a Q4 2025 IPO, holding informal talks with Wall Street banks and strengthening its finance team ahead of a potential listing.
What to Watch Today
Data
US PPI (Dec) at 8:30am ET
Earnings (Before Market)
Exxon Mobil
Verizon
Bottom Line
Volatility is likely to stay elevated as markets recalibrate to a more disciplined Fed regime.

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