Welcome Back,
Hi there
Good morning! In today’s issue, we’ll dig into the all of the latest moves and highlight what they mean for you right now. Along the way, you’ll find insights you can put to work immediately
Stock Market Update
Major U.S. indexes sold off sharply today:
Dow Jones: –1.76%
S&P 500: –2.06%
Nasdaq: –2.39%
Russell 2000: –1.21%
VIX: +6.63% (volatility rising)
Under the hood:
Tech & growth pulled back significantly:
Apple, Amazon, Broadcom, and Nvidia all saw notable declines.
Select defensive and income names held ground:
Costco was essentially flat; Exxon showed modest gains.
Financials & consumer staples:
Mixed: JPM slid, Coca-Cola and Kraft Heinz bucked the selloff.
Weakness in discretionary/consumer tech:
Roblox and Lululemon were notable decliners.
Market narrative:
Sell-offs were broad but not indiscriminate — quality staples and energy names acted as relative anchors while cyclical and inflation-sensitive sectors pulled back the most.
Stocks Tip:
When volatility spikes and markets sell off, reassess exposure to high-beta names and ensure your stop levels and diversification are intact.
Crypto Update
Today’s crypto snapshot showed mixed price action with bearish skews on longer timeframes:
Bitcoin ~$88.7K: Slight uptick intraday but negative weekly drawdown (weaker momentum).
Ethereum ~$2,948: Small gains on the day, but larger weekly pullback.
BNB, Solana, XRP: Mixed moves with moderate downside pressure.
Cardano, Dogecoin, Bitcoin Cash: Small positive intraday moves, but still showing weekly weakness.
Context:
Crypto markets reflected broader risk-off sentiment today as equities sold off and volatility (VIX) climbed, contributing to near-term pressure on risk assets. However, small pockets of accumulation appeared in mid-cap tokens.
Crypto Tip:
In times of broader market stress, consider staggered position sizing and focus on higher-quality protocols with deeper liquidity and clear fundamentals.
PRESENTED BY
What investment is rudimentary for billionaires but ‘revolutionary’ for 70,571+ investors entering 2026?
Imagine this. You open your phone to an alert. It says, “you spent $236,000,000 more this month than you did last month.”
If you were the top bidder at Sotheby’s fall auctions, it could be reality.
Sounds crazy, right? But when the ultra-wealthy spend staggering amounts on blue-chip art, it’s not just for decoration.
The scarcity of these treasured artworks has helped drive their prices, in exceptional cases, to thin-air heights, without moving in lockstep with other asset classes.
The contemporary and post war segments have even outpaced the S&P 500 overall since 1995.*
Now, over 70,000 people have invested $1.2 billion+ across 500 iconic artworks featuring Banksy, Basquiat, Picasso, and more.
How? You don’t need Medici money to invest in multimillion dollar artworks with Masterworks.
Thousands of members have gotten annualized net returns like 14.6%, 17.6%, and 17.8% from 26 sales to date.
*Based on Masterworks data. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Important Reg A disclosures: masterworks.com/cd
Real Estate Update
Mortgage rates remain volatile — mixed signals for buyers.
Mortgage rates shifted this week with modest downward pressure in mid-January before a resurgence of volatility due to geopolitical and policy headlines. The average 30-year fixed rate recently dipped near 6.26%, giving buyers some breathing room, but markets have seen whipsawing moves as political events and Fed expectations influence long-term yields.
Policy & industry activity:
Institutional home-buying proposals from policymakers are drawing attention — with new discussions around limiting big investor buys to support affordability (analysts suggest actual impact may be limited).
Big investors are still active — Heitman raised $2.6B targeting property sectors, signaling confidence among capital allocators.
Balance Homes relaunched with a new $30M equity infusion, expanding alternative equity access for homeowners facing debt.
Local data highlights:
Massachusetts home sales rose modestly in 2025, with prices continuing to climb.
Miami closed 2025 on firmer footing, with stronger sales and price data.
Real Estate Tip:
With rates still in flux and inventory tight, focus on timing entry around local demand cycles and locking rates quickly when conditions improve.
Resource Update
Energy
WTI Crude: ~$59.56 (–1.33%)
Brent Crude: ~$64.92 (+1.53%)
Gasoline / RBOB: ~$180.59 (down)
Natural Gas: ~$3.85 (slightly lower)
Heating Oil: ~$231.77 (down)
Energy prices were mixed today — Brent showed strength while WTI and refined products eased, possibly reflecting supply dynamics and demand concerns.
Precious Metals
Gold: ~$4,802.70 (+0.45%)
Silver: ~$96.05 (+0.77%)
Platinum: ~$2,509.50 (+0.34%)
Palladium: ~$1,920.40 (+0.65%)
Metals continued higher, reinforcing their role as hedges in risk-off environments and reflecting strength in safe haven demand amid equity weakness and geopolitical tension.
Resources Tip:
Gold and silver often perform well when volatility rises — consider small allocations for portfolio ballast when stocks and risk assets pull back.
That’s All For Today
I hope you enjoyed today’s issue of The Wealth Wagon. If you have any questions regarding today’s issue or future issues feel free to reply to this email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Come back tomorrow for another great post. I hope to see you. 🤙
— Ryan Rincon, CEO and Founder at The Wealth Wagon Inc.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the opinions of its editors and contributors. The content provided, including but not limited to real estate tips, stock market insights, business marketing strategies, and startup advice, is shared for general guidance and does not constitute financial, investment, real estate, legal, or business advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investment, real estate, and business decisions involve inherent risks, and readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before taking any action. This newsletter does not establish a fiduciary, advisory, or professional relationship between the publishers and readers.
