WEEKEND TRADE SHEET for 1/24/2026
Actionable stock & crypto swing-trades—fresh every Saturday, zero noise.
WEEKEND TRADE SHEET
Paid subscribers only · Issue #36 — Saturday, January 24, 2026
PLUG (stop moved up into profit at 2.40). MU (stop moved into profit at 376.85).
This week exposed a growing split beneath the surface.
Equities held together but stopped advancing, crypto cooled further, metals went vertical, and the dollar slipped meaningfully. Volatility ticked up just enough to matter. This wasn’t a risk-off event, but it was a redistribution week in which capital rotated decisively rather than fleeing outright.
The market is no longer moving as a single organism.
Leadership is narrowing, and that matters.
Let’s break it down.
Macro snapshot
Equities stalled after the breakout.
SPY (689.23), NDX (25,605.47), and QQQ (622.72) spent the week chopping sideways with a mild upward bias early and fading momentum late. Buyers defended levels, but upside follow-through was limited.
RUT (2,669.16) pulled back more noticeably, suggesting small-cap enthusiasm cooled as financial conditions tightened slightly.
This is consolidation with friction, not a clean continuation.
Crypto continued to cool.
BTCUSD (89,179.80) drifted lower and failed to reclaim recent highs. ETHUSD (2,948.80) slipped back below the 3k handle. Alts softened broadly: SOL (127.24), DOT (1.929), ATOM (2.333), and ARB (0.1763) all lost ground.
BTC.D (59.77) edged higher, reinforcing that speculative appetite is shrinking rather than rotating.
Crypto is de-risking quietly.
Metals surged aggressively.
Gold (4,988.170) pushed to fresh highs, while silver (103.2672) exploded higher in a near-parabolic move. This is no longer merely a subtle hedge, rather it’s a statement. Capital is actively seeking protection from policy and currency uncertainty.
Metals are now the clearest trend in the market.
Energy broke higher.
WTI (61.477) firmed meaningfully, pushing out of its recent range. This adds a layer of complexity to the inflation narrative and will not go unnoticed by rates markets.
Rates steadied but remained elevated.
The 10-year (4.231) and 30-year TYX (4.83) eased slightly but stayed high enough to cap equity multiples. Rates are no longer accelerating, but they are not relaxing either.
Dollar weakened sharply.
DXY (97.456) slid lower, breaking decisively from its January range. This move explains much of the metals surge and provides partial insulation for risk assets.
Total crypto market cap slipped.
TOTAL3 (843.12B) confirmed that capital is leaking from alts rather than rotating internally.
Takeaway:
This was a rotation week, not a liquidation week. Equities paused, crypto cooled, and capital rushed into metals as the dollar weakened. The market is becoming selective, and that selectivity is increasing.
Catalysts in view
Earnings Season Dispersion
As earnings accelerate, index-level narratives will matter less. Single-stock reactions will dominate, increasing volatility beneath the surface even if indices appear calm.
Dollar Trend Sensitivity
DXY’s breakdown is now a primary macro variable. Continued weakness fuels metals and cushions risk; any sharp bounce would pressure both quickly.
Metals Momentum Risk
Gold and silver are extended. That doesn’t mean they reverse immediately, but it does raise the odds of violent pullbacks once momentum stalls.
Crypto Stability Test
BTC hovering below 90k is a key tell. Failure to stabilize here increases downside risk across alts.
Volatility Re-Engagement
VIX (16.09) crept higher. This is still low by historical standards, but the direction matters. Rising volatility alongside flat indices often precedes larger moves.
Why it matters:
The market is shifting from broad participation to targeted conviction. That transition usually produces uneven price action and surprise reversals.
Risk Gauge
VIX (16.09)
Volatility is waking up. Still controlled, but no longer dormant.DXY (97.456)
Dollar weakness is now a defining feature. Trend continuation favors metals; reversal risks ripple effects.10-Yr UST (4.231)
Rates remain restrictive. Equity upside requires relief here.Gold (4,988.170)
Dominant trend. Extended, but clearly bid.Equities (SPY 689 / NDX 25,605)
Consolidating with narrowing leadership. Support matters next week.Crypto (BTC 89,180 / ETH 2,949)
Cooling and vulnerable. Needs stabilization to avoid deeper retracement.
Technical Note: This is a market under rotation, not collapse. But leadership concentration increases fragility.
Fresh Trade Set-ups
(Aim: ≥ 20 % move in 14-30 days; longs ▲, shorts ▼)
