Morning Squawk: Trump's Latest Tariffs, JPMorgan Chase's $10 Billion Initiative, Government Shutdown Job Cuts, and More
Market Reactions to Tariff Threats: Stocks fell after President Trump threatened a significant increase in tariffs on Chinese goods, coinciding with China's expansion of export restrictions on rare earth materials, which Trump labeled as "hostile."
JPMorgan's Investment Initiative: JPMorgan Chase announced a plan to invest up to $10 billion in companies critical to U.S. interests, as part of its Security and Resiliency Initiative, aiming to facilitate $1.5 trillion in funding for key sectors like defense and energy technology.
Government Shutdown Impact: The Trump administration began laying off federal workers as the government shutdown continues, with Trump indicating that many government employees would be cut and identifying funds to pay military members if the shutdown persists.
Retail Trends Among Generations: While baby boomers continue to shop at department stores like Macy's, younger consumers, particularly Gen Z, are less interested, with retail experts noting that the appeal to older shoppers may deter younger ones from these traditional retail environments.
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- Asset Management Scale: HoldCo Asset Management manages approximately $2.8 billion in regulatory assets, showcasing its strength and influence in the financial services sector, indicating its significant position within the industry.
- Activist Shareholder Campaigns: The firm has launched five public activist campaigns targeting banks such as KeyCorp and Comerica, demonstrating its proactive role in driving corporate governance and management changes, which is expected to impact upcoming shareholder meetings.
- Soft Activism Engagements: Additionally, HoldCo has engaged in behind-the-scenes 'soft activism' dialogues with four banks, reflecting its diversified strategy to promote industry change through constructive discussions aimed at achieving substantive improvements.
- Management Changes: Co-founders of HoldCo noted that over the past six months, management teams and boards have made significant changes due to their initiatives, indicating the effectiveness of their shareholder activism and potentially reducing the need for future proxy contests, thereby enhancing investor confidence.
- Price Target Upgrade: Truist raised Fifth Third Bancorp's (FITB) price target from $55 to $60, reflecting the bank's stronger-than-expected Q4 performance, indicating its robust market position.
- Profit Growth: Fifth Third reported a profit increase in Q4, with net interest income rising 6% to $1.53 billion, primarily driven by improved loan demand and economic growth, showcasing its competitiveness in the credit market.
- Fee Income Surge: Wealth and asset management revenue jumped 13% to a record $185 million in Q4, while commercial payments revenue increased by 8%, demonstrating the bank's success in diversifying its income sources.
- EPS Forecast Adjustment: Despite the strong Q4 performance, Truist lowered its FY26 EPS estimate by $0.10 to $4.18, mainly due to the earlier-than-expected closure of the Comerica deal and an increased tax rate, reflecting future uncertainties.
- Lawsuit Background: Comerica Incorporated has been sued in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, alleging the implementation of an unlawful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program characterized by 'Soviet-style' personnel controls and strict demographic quotas.
- Systematic Quota Allegations: The complaint claims that under CEO Curt Farmer, Comerica established corporate-level quotas that bypass merit-based hiring, directly linking executive compensation and performance ratings to these quotas.
- Damages Claim: Plaintiff James Spilko alleges he was denied nearly 30 promotion opportunities over five years despite exemplary performance reviews, seeking damages exceeding $30 million for violations of federal and state discrimination laws.
- Attorney Statement: Plaintiff's attorney James Fetto stated that while diversity is a commendable goal, Comerica's practices are illegal and reflect egregious behaviors implemented by some large employers at the management level.
- MidCap Addition: TTM Technologies (TTMI) will be added to the S&P MidCap 400 on January 30, 2026, highlighting its recognition in the information technology sector, which is expected to enhance its market liquidity and investor interest.
- MidCap Deletion: Civitas Resources (CIVI) will be removed from the S&P MidCap 400 on the same date, which may impact its stock performance and market confidence, reflecting its relative weakness in the energy sector.
- SmallCap Addition: Amneal Pharmaceuticals (AMRX) will join the S&P SmallCap 600 on January 30, 2026, strengthening its market position in the healthcare industry and likely attracting more investor attention.
- SmallCap Deletion: TTM Technologies (TTMI) will also be removed from the S&P SmallCap 600 on the same date, indicating its poor performance in the small-cap market, which may lead investors to reassess its investment value.
- Constituent Changes: TTM Technologies will replace Civitas Resources in the S&P MidCap 400 on January 30, indicating ongoing market interest in tech stocks, which may enhance TTMI's market liquidity.
- Acquisition Activity: SM Energy is acquiring Civitas Resources, expected to close soon, allowing SM Energy to retain its position in the SmallCap 600, thereby strengthening its competitive edge in the market.
- New Additions: Dutch Bros and Advanced Energy Industries will join the S&P MidCap 400 on February 2, highlighting growth potential in the consumer and tech sectors, which may attract more investor attention.
- Liquidation Impact: Elme Communities is undergoing liquidation, leading to its removal from the SmallCap 600, reflecting the market's emphasis on financial health, which could affect investor confidence in related stocks.










