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Nightly Wrap-Up
Thursday, January 08, 2026

GREEN SESSION: SPY +0.66% | Range-bound

SUBJECT: Nightly Market Wrap-Up - Thursday, January 8, 2026

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SESSION RECAP

Today's trading session painted a picture of cautious optimism as major indices closed in the green, led by a broad-based rally spanning nine of the eleven sectors. The S&P 500 commenced trading at $690.63, briefly dipping to a low of $689.18 before successfully rising to close at $694.07, marking a respectable gain of 0.66%. The session was typified by range-bound trading, with the benchmark index peaking at $695.31 before retracting slightly. Investors appeared to shrug off recent macroeconomic uncertainties, finding solace in robust corporate earnings and stabilizing geopolitical tensions.

Technology and Materials sectors spearheaded the activity as seen in shares of Intel and Broadcom, which surged on positive market sentiment regarding chip demand. The NASDAQ notched a solid 1.00% advancement to close at $626.65, buoyed by these tech giants. Meanwhile, the Russell 2000 aligned with the broad market enthusiasm, ascending 0.76% to end the day at $260.23. The VIX declined sharply by 6.21%, indicative of diminishing volatility as the cautious optimism prevailed amongst market participants.

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MARKET SCORECARD

- S&P 500 (SPY): $690.63 (Open) → $694.07 (Close) | +0.66% | Range: $689.18-$695.31 - NASDAQ (QQQ): $626.65 (Close) | +1.00% - Russell 2000 (IWM): $260.23 (Close) | +0.76% - VIX: 14.49 (-6.21%) - Volume: Normal (1.01x average)

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TODAY'S WINNERS

- Intel (INTC): +10.80% | Rallied on reports of unexpectedly robust quarterly earnings driven by burgeoning AI sector demand. - Oracle (ORCL): +4.95% | Gains fueled by a strong forecast for cloud service growth exceeding analysts’ expectations. - Home Depot (HD): +4.19% | Advanced on indications of resilient home improvement trends and robust retail sales data. - Broadcom (AVGO): +3.76% | Shares lifted by bullish analyst upgrades and favorable quarterly earnings beat. - Boeing (BA): +3.14% | Rebounded on fresh contract wins and easing supply chain concerns.

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TODAY'S LOSERS

- AbbVie (ABBV): -1.81% | Faced selling pressure amidst concerns over upcoming patent expirations. - UnitedHealth Group (UNH): -0.83% | Receded on investor apprehensions around healthcare policy shifts. - Advanced Micro Devices (AMD): -0.74% | Slightly down amid sector rotation and profit-taking after previous gains. - Visa (V): -0.70% | Moderated following a downgrade by a major brokerage citing competition challenges. - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): -0.66% | Eased back due to sector-wide healthcare retracement and liability concerns.

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SECTOR ROTATION ANALYSIS

The leadership of Materials, Technology, and Utilities underscores a balanced appetite for growth and defensive plays within the current market landscape. The strong performance from Materials may suggest rising confidence in industrial production and infrastructure investments, while Tech's leadership highlights underlying bullish sentiment towards innovation-driven growth. Conversely, the underperformance in Healthcare and Financials signals cautious positioning amid legislative uncertainties and fluctuating interest rate forecasts.

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TECHNICAL TAKEAWAYS

- The S&P 500 successfully breached short-term resistance at $692, holding its gains into the close and establishing $695 as the next resistance level. - A sustained closing above $694 suggests underlying strength, with support solidifying around the $690 zone. - The NASDAQ eyeing a potential test of its near-term high at $630, underpinned by tech sector momentum. - Russell 2000 consolidation suggests room for further upside, with a key breakout zone around $261.

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LOOKING AHEAD

Traders should keep an eye on overnight developments in key geopolitical regions and any after-market earnings surprises that could influence futures. Economic data releases early tomorrow, including the U.S. Job Openings report, may provide further market direction. Monitoring these indicators will be crucial for gauging sentiment and positioning accordingly.

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SESSION VERDICT

Accumulation session as investors displayed measured optimism, selectively bidding up shares across most sectors amidst a backdrop of easing volatilities.

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Stay informed and ready for tomorrow’s session with these insights.

Best regards,

Assets Bulletin Market Analysis Team

This edition was published to members after the close on Thursday, January 08, 2026.

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Archived market commentary from Assets Bulletin, an independent financial publication. Informational only — not investment advice.