Today, the weak tech, strong broad market theme deepens as we wonder what is driving it. Also, geopolitical developments are coming quick and heavy, with the situation in Iran looking especially impactful from here if the regime is overturned. Elsewhere, a focus on the US dollar today on the US jobs report and whether nearly-dead FX can wake up if macro trades are revived in its wake. This and more on today's pod, which is hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy.

John's The FX Trader from today.

For our longer form podcasts, you will also find links discussed on the podcast and a chart-of-the-day over at the John J. Hardy substack.

Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER

Today, we run through a number of factors, from the very tactical, to the very big picture, on why bears might try to make a stand here - with earnings season in the wings to test this wildly bullish market anyway in the weeks ahead. Regardless, Trump's new populist pronouncements on big defense companies and companies buying US housing are pivotal, as they will have strong bipartisan support. Elsewhere, geopolitics will remain a massive distraction even if markets continue to ignore developments there for now, outside of European defense stocks, at least. Today's pod hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy.

Links discussed on the podcast and our Chart of the Day can be found on the John J. Hardy substack (within one to four hours from the time of the podcast release).

Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER

Today, we note the strong risk-on vibe continues, though more in the broader market rather than in the megacaps. We also highlight that major commodity indices are in for an annual rebalancing in coming days, with interesting implications for gold, silver and even cocoa. There's also lots of Nvidia news shaking the autonomous driving space, very little going on in the FX space, though Aussie is doing its best to make noise and key US data incoming. This and more (including geopolitics and oil) on today's pod, which features Saxo Head of Commodity Strategy Ole Hansen and is hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy.

For our longer form podcasts, you will also find links discussed on the podcast and a chart-of-the-day over at the John J. Hardy substack.

Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER

Today, a rundown of a positive day for stocks, though two Mag 7 stocks look rather weak here given the backdrop. We also discuss a reconstitution of our AI basket, FX trying to become relevant again with some possibly interesting moves developing and the hope that the US dollar can make a statement one way or another by the end of the week with key data incoming. A few comments on Venezuela and more on today's pod, which is hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy.

Today's interesting link is to a comment on AgrisAcademy's X account by a former Cargill trader who describes what a failed state looks like from ground level. There is an awful lot to change to get a functioning economy again.

For our longer form podcasts, you will also find links discussed on the podcast and a chart-of-the-day over at the John J. Hardy substack.

Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER

Today, an assessment of the reasons behind the US' surgical removal of Venezuela's political leadership and what the fallout may be for oil and likely more importantly, geopolitically. We also bring the Iran situation into the conversation and note that it could prove a far bigger deal for oil and gas markets if sanctions are eventually lifted there. As well, we discuss the insane ramp in silver prices into year-end, the moves in FX and more. Today's pod features Saxo Head of Commodity Strategy Ole Hansen and is hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy.

Links discussed on the podcast and our Chart of the Day can be found on the John J. Hardy substack (within one to four hours from the time of the podcast release).

Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER

Today, we take a humble stab at forecasting the coming year, from the economy and global equity markets to outcomes for rates and FX, as well as touching on key policy and geopolitical topics with uncertain outcomes that could make a mockery of any forecast. We even assemble a sample portfolio for 2026 that we'll return to throughout the year. (Important: this is not a recommendation, it's presented in order to have as a point of departure for discussions).

You can find the sample portfolio instruments listed in a coming post on the John J. Hardy substack (within a few hours of this podcast release).

Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER

Today, we look at equity markets trying to ramp up for a strong close to a strong year. On Tesla's recent share price ramp, we have finally gotten the memo, as there is clearly a SpaceX angle for the company's stock of late that could send it higher still depending on market conditions for an eventual SpaceX IPO and whether Tesla shareholders get special access. Elsewhere, the JPY tries to make a stand after Friday's ugly downdraft and as JGB yields spike again. This and more on today's pod, which is hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy.

Links discussed on the podcast and our Chart of the Day can be found on the John J. Hardy substack (within one to four hours from the time of the podcast release).

Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER

Today, a look at AI stocks trying to get back their stride, Trump's DJT stock now becoming a nuclear fusion play and thoughts on what exactly can stop the yen from weakening when the market continues to play the currency as an emerging market currency after today's BoJ hike, with weakness in the currency coinciding with new 26-year highs in the 10-year JGB yield, which has ripped higher through 2.00%. Today's pod hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy.

For our longer form podcasts, you will also find links discussed on the podcast and a chart-of-the-day over at the John J. Hardy substack.

Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER

Today, a look at a weak session for US equities, led by fresh selling in nearly everything AI-related, though Micron did all it could to right sentiment after the close with stunning forward projections. We also talk Oracle's latest stumbles, Nike earnings incoming and the European fashion space, macro and FX, especially the incoming Bank of Japan meeting Friday as yen traders are likely set to pounce. Today's pod features Saxo Equity Strategist Ruben Dalfovo and was hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy.

Today's links: 

Ruben's look at European fashion stocks

The epic Craig Tindale X post with a strategic analysis of critical materials supply chains - super stuff.

Arnaud Bertrand breaks down the recent shocking US National Security Strategy document as a historic moment for Europe, finding parallels in Khrushchev's shocking the Soviet relationship with China.

For our longer form podcasts, you will also find links discussed on the podcast and a chart-of-the-day over at the John J. Hardy substack.

Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER

On a meh day for US equities, retail traders take Tesla to a new all time highs on robo-taxi hopes. Elsewhere, we break down some critical news for owners of US defense stocks as Trump weighs moving against their buybacks and dividend payments. Elsewhere, we run through the latest on the crude oil and natural gas outlook, the wild price action in metals, a key US dollar reversal and the massive stakes going into the Bank of Japan meeting this Friday for the yen. This and more in today's pod, which features Saxo Head of Commodity Strategy Ole Hansen and Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy.

Links discussed on the podcast and our Chart of the Day can be found on the John J. Hardy substack (within one to four hours from the time of the podcast release).

Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER