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- 🚀 TRUMP'S CRITICAL MINERALS BOMBSHELL ROCKS MARKETS | Taiwan Semi CRUSHES Earnings - Chips Surge Into Thursday Trading
🚀 TRUMP'S CRITICAL MINERALS BOMBSHELL ROCKS MARKETS | Taiwan Semi CRUSHES Earnings - Chips Surge Into Thursday Trading
DCG COMMAND CENTER | Market Intelligence Report |Thursday, January 15, 2026 Pre-Market Edition | Breaking Overnight: Trump invokes Section 232, targets critical minerals supply chain | TSM beats by $0.35, guides Q1 revenue 4% above consensus | Oil plunges -5% as Iran tensions ease | Blackrock AUM hits $14T
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⚡ KEY THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE THE BELL
CRITICAL OVERNIGHT DEVELOPMENTS:
🇺🇸 WHITE HOUSE CATALYST: Trump issues Section 232 proclamation on critical minerals - Major implications for $UUUU, $MP, rare earth sector
💥 TSM EARNINGS BLOWOUT: Q4 EPS $3.14 vs $2.79 est (+12.5%), Revenue $33.7B vs $33.3B est - Stock +6% premarket
🛢️ OIL CRASH: WTI crude -4.8%, Brent -3.2% after Trump signals Iran response "on hold"
💰 BLACKROCK BEAST MODE: Q4 EPS $13.16 vs $12.63 est, AUM $14.04T (record high), Long-term inflows $267.8B
🔴 CHIP BAN DRAMA: China blocks Nvidia H200 chips, pressures Broadcom cybersecurity software
S&P FUTURES ($ES) KEY LEVELS:
Current: 6,989.00 (Market open pre-session)
Resistance: 7,020 (H4 long breakout) | 7,038 (Jan 13 high)
Support: 6,970 (L4 short area) | 6,923 (overnight low)
Bias: Consolidation mode, slight bearish tilt overnight but holding above 6,970
🎯 MARKET THEME RECAP: SECTOR ROTATION + POLICY CATALYST DOMINANCE
Wednesday's Close:
S&P 500: 6,926.60 (-0.53%)
Dow: 49,149.63 (-0.09%)
Nasdaq: 23,471.75 (-1.00%)
Russell 2000: Strong outperformer YTD (+7.2%)
WHAT CHANGED OVERNIGHT:
SEMICONDUCTOR SURGE: TSM earnings smash + positive Q1 guidance = Chip sector leadership confirmed
ENERGY COLLAPSE: Trump Iran de-escalation comments tanked crude, rotating OUT of energy names
CRITICAL MINERALS EXPLOSION: Section 232 order creates new legislative tailwind for domestic rare earth producers
FINANCIALS MIXED: Blackrock beats, but banking sector showing fatigue post-JPM disappointment
📊 HOT TRADES & KEY CATALYST BREAKDOWN
🔥 HOTTEST SECTOR: SEMICONDUCTORS (LEADERSHIP CONFIRMED)
$TSM - Taiwan Semiconductor (Closed: $331.21, Pre: $346+)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ STRONG BUY
Q4 Results: Revenue $33.73B (+25.5% YoY), EPS $3.14 (+35% YoY)
Q1 Guidance: $34.6-35.8B (above $33.2B consensus)
Catalyst: AI mega-trend continuing, advanced nodes at 77% of revenue, capex $52-56B
Entry Zone: Pullback to $340-343
Target 1: $365 (+10%)
Target 2: $385 (+16%)
Sympathy Plays: $NVDA, $AMD, $AVGO, $MU, $ASML
Trade Insight: TSM's capex raise and strong Q1 guide signals NO slowdown in AI infrastructure spend. This validates the entire chip ecosystem for 2026.
💎 CRITICAL MINERALS TRADE (WHITE HOUSE CATALYST)
$UUUU - Energy Fuels (Closed: $20.11, Pre: $20.90)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ BUY
Catalyst: Trump Section 232 order on critical minerals + BFS shows Phase 2 circuit capex only $410M
Key Quote: "Energy Fuels is on the cusp of solving America's rare earth processing 'bottleneck'"
Production Cost: $29.39/kg NdPr equivalent (among lowest globally)
Entry Zone: $20.00-20.50
Target 1: $24.00 (+19%)
Target 2: $28.00 (+39%)
Stop: Below $19.00
White House Impact: Section 232 investigation directs Commerce Secretary to negotiate agreements with trading partners on processed critical minerals. Promotes domestic production + price floors. 180-day timeline for implementation.
Other Critical Mineral Plays:
$MP (MP Materials) - Largest rare earth miner in Western Hemisphere
$LYNAS (Lynas Rare Earths) - Australian rare earth producer
$STLHF (Strandline Resources) - Rare earth sands
🏦 FINANCIALS: BLACKROCK DOMINATES
$BLK - BlackRock (Closed: $1,089.54, Expected open: $1,110+)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ BUY
Q4 Beat: EPS $13.16 vs $12.63 est (+4.2%), Revenue $7.01B vs $6.78B est
AUM Record: $14.04T vs $13.94T est (+4.7% QoQ)
Long-term Inflows: $267.80B (massive institutional demand)
Entry Zone: Pullback to $1,080-1,095
Target: $1,180 (+8%)
Sympathy Earnings Today (Before Open):
$MS - Morgan Stanley (Est: $2.43 EPS, $17.58B revenue)
$GS - Goldman Sachs (Est: $11.66 EPS, $14.12B revenue)
🖥️ SEMICONDUCTOR ECOSYSTEM PLAYS
$NVDA - Nvidia (Closed: $183.14, Expected: $185+)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ HOLD/BUY DIPS
Headwind: China H200 chip ban creates near-term uncertainty
Tailwind: TSM capacity sold out = alternative supply constraints benefit NVDA pricing power
Entry Zone: $180-182 (support)
Target: $200 (+9%)
$AMD - Advanced Micro Devices (Closed: $220.97, Expected: $223+)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ STRONG BUY
KeyBanc Upgrade: Overweight with $245 PT (datacenters sold out)
Catalyst: Server CPU nearly sold out for 2026, ASP increases 10-15% likely
ROCm software downloads: +10x YoY (alternative to CUDA gaining traction)
Entry Zone: $218-222
Target 1: $245 (+11%)
Target 2: $260 (+18%)
$AVGO - Broadcom (Closed: $354.61)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ HOLD (Wells Fargo upgrade to Overweight, $430 PT)
Headwind: China cybersecurity software ban (VMware exposure)
Wait for: Stabilization around $345-350 support
Target: $400 (+13% from current)
$MU - Micron Technology (Closed: $333.35)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ STRONG BUY
Barclays PT Raised: $450 from $275 (+$175 increase!)
Catalyst: HBM demand squeeze pushing DRAM/NAND prices up 55-60% in Q1 2026
Entry Zone: $328-335
Target 1: $380 (+14%)
Target 2: $450 (+35%)
⚠️ SECTORS TO AVOID/SHORT TODAY
🛢️ ENERGY - BEARISH SECTOR
Catalyst: Trump announces Iran military action "on hold," easing Middle East tensions
Impact: WTI -$3.00 (-4.8%) to $60.34, Brent -$2.10 (-3.2%) to $64.75
Bearish Names: $XLE, $XOM, $CVX, $COP, $SLB, $HAL
Trade: Energy sector likely to see continued selling pressure. Wait for stabilization before re-entry.
🏭 CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY (SELECT WEAKNESS)
$DUNELM: -17% after disappointing guidance (UK homeware retailer)
Broader retail showing cracks despite holiday strength
🔮 ECONOMIC CALENDAR (Thursday, January 15, 2026)
8:30 AM ET - CRITICAL DATA DUMP:
Jobless Claims (Consensus: 215K)
Retail Sales MoM (Key inflation/consumer strength indicator)
Philly Fed Manufacturing Index
Empire State Manufacturing Index
Import/Export Prices
Fed Speakers:
8:35 AM: Raphael Bostic
9:15 AM: Michael Barr
12:40 PM: Tom Barkin
What to Watch: Any retail sales miss could pressure consumer discretionary stocks. Strong data = supports "no rate cut" narrative.
💰 BITCOIN & CRYPTO SENTIMENT BREAKDOWN
$BTC - Bitcoin
Current: $96,394 (+1.46% 24h)
24h Range: $94,559 - $97,924
Volume: $29.1B (healthy)
Dominance: 59.03% (+0.27%)
Technical Setup:
Resistance: $97,250 (psychological, 90/100 score) | $104,000 (Supertrend)
Support: $90,007 (73/100 score, Fibonacci confluence at 0.618)
Bias: Bullish above $91,500, consolidation pattern forming
Institutional Flow: BlackRock Bitcoin ETF seeing massive inflows per BLK earnings. Corporate treasuries purchased ~260K BTC in last 6 months (more than mined).
Altcoin Leaders:
$DASH: +40.45% (Coin of the day!)
$ETH: $3,312 (+1.77%, market cap $399.7B)
$SOL: $145.01 (+0.50%)
$LINK: Testing 200-week SMA
Crypto Market Cap: $3.26T (+0.92%)
Trade Setup: BTC consolidating before potential breakout to $105K. Strong hands accumulating. ETH lagging = possible rotation opportunity.
🏛️ TRUMP IMPACT & POLITICAL EDGE
SECTION 232 CRITICAL MINERALS ORDER (MAJOR CATALYST)
What Happened:
Trump signed proclamation directing Commerce Secretary and USTR to negotiate agreements on processed critical minerals imports. Cites national security threats from foreign dependence on rare earths, lithium, cobalt.
Key Details:
Price Floors: Negotiations to include price floor mechanisms for critical minerals trade
Timeline: 180 days for agreement negotiations
Enforcement: President may impose tariffs/restrictions if negotiations fail
Scope: Rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, uranium, and derivative products
Market Impact:
✅ BULLISH: $UUUU, $MP, $LYNAS, rare earth miners, domestic lithium producers
✅ BULLISH: Defense contractors using these materials ($LMT, $RTX, $NOC)
❌ BEARISH: Chinese rare earth exporters, foreign mineral processors
Strategic Context: U.S. currently depends on China for 80%+ of rare earth processing. This order aims to rebuild domestic supply chains critical for defense, EVs, renewables, tech.
TRUMP MOMENTUM TRADES:
Venezuela Oil Play: Trump in talks with Acting President Delcy Rodriguez - Could lift more sanctions
Play: $CVX (Venezuela operations), $OXY (if sanctions eased)
Note: Energy sector down today on Iran de-escalation, but Venezuela angle is separate catalyst
Iran De-escalation:
Trump stated "will not attack Iran" per Iranian ambassador to Pakistan
Impact: Bearish for oil/energy, bullish for risk-on assets
Greenland Meetings: High-level talks at White House with Danish/Greenland officials
Working group established despite disagreement on sovereignty
Potential Play: Strategic metals, Arctic shipping routes
💪 BULLISH MARKET SENTIMENT
What's Working:
✅ Semiconductors - TSM earnings validate AI infrastructure thesis
✅ Critical Minerals - Policy tailwind from Section 232 order
✅ Asset Managers - Blackrock/financials showing strength
✅ Small Caps - Russell 2000 +7.2% YTD (leading major indices)
✅ Bitcoin/Crypto - Institutional adoption accelerating
Advancing Sectors:
Technology (selective chip names)
Industrials (+0.16%)
Materials (+0.04% but critical minerals subsector surging)
Financials (asset managers, not banks)
📉 BEARISH MARKET SENTIMENT
What's Struggling:
❌ Energy - Oil crash on geopolitical de-escalation
❌ Consumer Discretionary - Retail showing cracks, Dunelm -17%
❌ Chinese Tech Exposure - NVDA, AVGO hit by China bans
❌ Regional Banks - Post-JPM earnings fatigue
Declining Sectors:
Energy (-2.26%)
Consumer Discretionary (-1.58%)
Communication Services (-0.21%)
Technology (-1.22% Wednesday, may bounce today on TSM)
🎲 OPTIONS FLOW & DARK POOL ACTIVITY
Major Unusual Activity:
$TSM: Heavy call buying, Jan 16 $327.50 strike (78% confidence pre-earnings signal)
$AMD: Call flow accelerating post-KeyBanc upgrade
$UUUU: Volume spike on critical minerals news
$RIO: Options activity last week (AWS collaboration announced today for low-carbon copper to US data centers)
Dark Pool Prints:
Large blocks in $BLK ahead of earnings beat
$MU accumulation continues (Barclays massive PT raise)
🌍 MONEY ROTATION & SECTOR SHIFTS
Current Rotation Pattern:
OUT OF:
Energy stocks (oil crash)
Mega-cap tech (slight profit-taking after run)
Regional banks
INTO:
Semiconductors (TSM catalyst)
Critical minerals/materials
Small caps (Russell 2000 strength continues)
Crypto-adjacent stocks (BLK Bitcoin ETF flows)
Key Observation: Market showing healthy sector rotation vs. broad selloff. This suggests underlying bullishness with tactical repositioning.
📰 NEWS CATALYST WRAP-UP
MAJOR HEADLINES DRIVING TRADING:
POSITIVE CATALYSTS (Released after 3 AM CST):
Taiwan Semiconductor Earnings Blowout (4:55 AM CT)
Q4 revenue $33.73B (+25.5% YoY), EPS $3.14 (+35%)
Q1 guidance $34.6-35.8B (above consensus $33.2B)
Management: "AI mega-trend" continuing, capex $52-56B in 2026
BlackRock Record Quarter (5:03 AM CT)
AUM $14.04T (record), Q4 EPS $13.16 vs $12.63 est
Long-term inflows $267.8B validates institutional confidence
Trump Critical Minerals Order (5:34 AM CT)
Section 232 proclamation on processed critical minerals
Directs Commerce/USTR to negotiate supply agreements
Promotes domestic production + price floors
Broadcom Upgrade (5:53 AM CT)
Wells Fargo: Overweight rating, PT $430 from $410
Despite China headwinds, long-term AI infrastructure story intact
Micron Price Target Explosion (5:42 AM CT)
Barclays raises PT to $450 from $275 (+$175!)
HBM supply constraints + DRAM pricing power
AMD Upgrade (5:33 AM CT)
KeyBanc: Overweight with $245 PT
Server CPUs sold out for 2026, ASP increases likely
Energy Fuels BFS Results (5:37 AM CT)
Phase 2 circuit capex $410M (lower than expected)
Production cost $29.39/kg NdPr (globally competitive)
Rio Tinto AWS Partnership (5:51 AM CT)
Strategic collaboration to supply low-carbon copper to US data centers
Critical minerals theme gaining momentum
NEGATIVE CATALYSTS:
China Nvidia H200 Ban (4:19 AM CT)
Chinese customs advised H200 chips not permitted
Creates near-term uncertainty for $NVDA China revenue
China Cybersecurity Software Ban (Overnight)
Beijing banning US cybersecurity software including VMware ($AVGO exposure)
Broadcom pressured despite Wells Fargo upgrade
Trump Iran Comments (6:07 AM CT)
"Will not attack Iran" statement tanks oil -5%
Energy sector bearish across the board
🎯 KEY CATALYST TRADES FOR THURSDAY
HIGH-CONVICTION PLAYS:
1. $TSM Sympathy Chain ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Logic: TSM earnings validate entire AI semiconductor supply chain
Plays: $AMD (upgrade + sold out), $MU (PT raised +$175), $NVDA (capacity constraints = pricing power)
Entry: Market open or first pullback
Hold Period: Swing trade, 2-4 weeks
2. Critical Minerals Basket ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Logic: Trump Section 232 order creates legislative + pricing tailwind
Plays: $UUUU (primary), $MP (larger cap), $LYNAS (diversification)
Entry: Market open momentum or wait for $UUUU pullback to $20.00
Hold Period: Position trade, 3-6 months (policy implementation cycle)
3. Micron HBM Squeeze ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Logic: Barclays massive PT raise validates supply/demand imbalance in high-bandwidth memory
Play: $MU calls, Feb/Mar expiry, $360-380 strikes
Entry: $328-335 support
Target: $380-400 over 4-6 weeks
4. Financial Sector Select ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Logic: Blackrock beat shows asset management strength; today's bank earnings could surprise
Plays: BLK (confirmed), $MS/ GS (earnings speculation), avoid regional banks
Entry: Post-earnings dips
Hold Period: Day trade to 1 week
📈 OVERALL MARKET STRATEGY
Thursday Trading Plan:
8:30 AM - Economic Data Release:
Watch jobless claims + retail sales for consumer health signals
Strong data = risk-on, weak data = potential pullback
9:30 AM - Opening Bell:
Primary Focus: Semiconductor momentum (TSM sympathy plays)
Secondary Focus: Critical minerals policy plays ($UUUU, $MP)
Avoid: Energy sector until oil stabilizes
10:00-11:00 AM - Fed Speakers:
Monitor Bostic/Barr comments on rate path
Any hawkish tilt could pressure growth stocks
Afternoon Session:
Look for sector rotation continuation
Small caps ($IWM) could continue outperformance
Risk Management:
S&P 500 support at 6,923-6,970 must hold for bullish bias
VIX at 15.98 (elevated from 14.75 Monday) - manage position sizes
Economic data at 8:30 AM could create volatility spike
Key Takeaways from Trading Community:
Inner Circle Trader (ICT): Emphasized mindset focused on "making real money, not ego-driven trading." Focus on few simple approaches vs. trying to implement everything.
Sector Leadership: Multiple traders noting semiconductors forming clear leadership after TSM earnings. "Chips on the move" - Palmer
Volatility Positioning: Several traders highlighting that despite rate cut reduction expectations, stocks "seem to love it" (Mike Zaccardi)
Data Center Boom: BofA notes North America data center vacancy "effectively 0%" with construction pipeline 87% encumbered. Hyperscalers to spend $400B in 2025, $510B in 2026.
Critical Minerals Awareness: Trading community rapidly connecting Trump Section 232 order to opportunities in $UUUU, $MP, and rare earth supply chain.
Community Sentiment: Cautiously optimistic. Recognize tech leadership but watching for policy catalysts (Section 232) to create new opportunities outside crowded mega-cap names.
🚀 DCG FINAL TAKEAWAYS & ACTION ITEMS
MUST-WATCH TODAY:
✅ 8:30 AM Economic Data - Sets tone for day
✅ TSM Sympathy Momentum - Primary trade opportunity
✅ Critical Minerals Sector - Policy-driven breakout potential
✅ BLK/BLK/ BLK/MS/$GS Earnings - Financial sector health check
✅ Oil Stabilization - When does energy sector become buyable again?
HIGHEST PROBABILITY SETUPS:
LONG:
$AMD: $218-222 entry, $245-260 targets (semiconductor leadership + upgrade)
$MU: $328-335 entry, $380-400 targets (HBM squeeze + massive PT raise)
$UUUU: $20.00-20.50 entry, $24-28 targets (Section 232 catalyst)
$TSM: $340-343 entry, $365-385 targets (pullback to support after earnings)
SHORT/AVOID:
Energy sector ($XLE, $XOM, $CVX) - Wait for oil stabilization
Regional banks - Sector fatigue post-JPM
Chinese-exposed tech until clarity on bans
RISK FACTORS TO MONITOR:
⚠️ Upside Risks (Could accelerate gains):
Stronger than expected economic data at 8:30 AM
Additional bank earnings beats ($MS, $GS)
Fed speakers signal dovish tilt
⚠️ Downside Risks (Could trigger pullback):
Retail sales miss at 8:30 AM (consumer weakness)
Fed speakers hawkish on rates
S&P breaks below 6,923 support
Escalation in China tech ban situation
💎 TRADE RATING SUMMARY
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ HIGHEST CONVICTION (5/5):
$AMD - Upgrade + sold out datacenters + TSM validation
$MU - HBM squeeze + Barclays $175 PT increase
$UUUU - Trump Section 232 catalyst + BFS results
$TSM - Earnings beat + strong guidance (on pullback)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ STRONG CONVICTION (4/5):
$BLK - Record AUM + earnings beat
Critical Minerals Basket - Policy tailwind developing
Semiconductor Sympathy Chain - Sector leadership confirmed
⭐⭐⭐ MODERATE CONVICTION (3/5):
$NVDA - China headwind vs. capacity constraints (conflicting signals)
$AVGO - Upgrade but China ban creates uncertainty
MS/MS/ MS/GS - Earnings speculation
⭐⭐ LOW CONVICTION (2/5):
Energy sector - Wait for oil stabilization
Consumer discretionary - Showing cracks
⭐ AVOID (1/5):
Regional banks - Sector fatigue
Chinese tech with heavy mainland exposure
🎯 SESSION OUTLOOK & FINAL WORD
Thursday, January 15, 2026 is shaping up as a SECTOR ROTATION DAY with clear winners and losers.
WINNERS: Semiconductors (TSM catalyst), Critical Minerals (Trump order), Select Financials (BLK strength)
LOSERS: Energy (oil crash), Chinese-exposed tech (ban headlines), Consumer discretionary (cracks forming)
THE BOTTOM LINE: This market rewards stock pickers and punishes index huggers. The rotation INTO semiconductors and critical minerals represents fresh capital deployment, not just defensive positioning. Taiwan Semi's earnings removed any doubt about AI infrastructure spending continuing through 2026. Meanwhile, Trump's Section 232 order on critical minerals creates a multi-month policy catalyst for a sector that's been overlooked.
TRADING APPROACH: Be aggressive on confirmed catalysts (TSM sympathy, critical minerals) but selective on crowded trades. The market is giving us clear signals - listen to them.
Stay sharp, trade smart, and remember: The best setups often come when policy meets momentum. Today we have BOTH.
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Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only. Not financial advice. All trading carries risk. Do your own research and consult with financial professionals before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Price targets and ratings are based on technical and fundamental analysis as of the publication date and subject to change.
DCG COMMAND CENTER | Powering Profitable Traders Since 2024
Last Updated: Thursday, January 15, 2026 - 6:30 AM CST
QUICK REFERENCE - TOP 5 PLAYS TODAY:
$AMD → Long @ $218-222, Target $245+ (KeyBanc upgrade + datacenter sold out)
$UUUU → Long @ $20.00-20.50, Target $24-28 (Trump Section 232 + BFS results)
$MU → Long @ $328-335, Target $380-400 (Barclays $450 PT, HBM squeeze)
$TSM → Long on pullback to $340-343, Target $365+ (Earnings beat + strong Q1 guide)
$BLK → Long on dip to $1,080-1,095, Target $1,180 (Record AUM, earnings beat)
SHORT: Energy sector ($XLE, $XOM, $CVX) until oil stabilizes
AVOID: Regional banks, consumer discretionary showing weakness
"In markets driven by policy and innovation, those who identify the catalysts first profit the most." - DCG Command Center
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