US Stock Market Weekly commentary / stock picks- Week ending Jan 9, 2026

Week in Review: Markets Surge on AI Optimism Despite Tepid Employment Data

Wall Street wrapped up its best week since late November, with the Dow gaining 2.32%, the Nasdaq Composite rising 1.88%, and the S&P 500 advancing 1.57%—while the Russell 2000 outpaced all peers at 4.60%. November's disappointing jobs report (50,000 versus 55,000 expected) barely registered as investors treated labor statistics as backward-looking noise, instead focusing on 2026 growth expectations, prior rate cuts, and potential stimulus from the One Big Beautiful Bill. Meta Platforms sparked a tech rally by unveiling nuclear energy partnerships with Oklo, TerraPower, and Vistra to fuel its AI ambitions, sending the iShares Semiconductor ETF soaring 2.9%. Consumer Discretionary led sector performance (+5.12%) on strength in homebuilders and retailers, followed by Basic Materials (+4.64%) riding gold and precious metals momentum, while Utilities finished as the week's only loser. Geopolitical tensions from the U.S. strike on Venezuela triggered early-week energy volatility, and a looming Supreme Court decision on presidential tariff authority—along with upcoming earnings from JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Taiwan Semiconductor—sets the stage for potential fireworks ahead.