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- “Focus on What’s In Front of You!"
Hi There! This past Saturday, I went hiking up Point Cistern Hill, way on the most westerly side of Carriacou (Issue #34). Twenty nine of us set out on a path that tested our minds before it even touched our lungs. We pushed through bushes, crossed a white sand beach, cut through more bush, then stepped onto a black sand beach until we finally reached the bottom of the peak.
That is when I looked up and my stomach tightened a little.
The slope was lined with loose pebbles, debris, cactus, pika bush (plants with thorns). For a brief moment, a bit of fright slid in and whispered, “You will not be able to do this.”
I was in the middle group, so I could hear soft mutters behind me and ahead of me. People focusing on how challenging the climb was, how steep the hill looked, or how long it would take. But, I made a decision to stop feeding the negative chatter. I hone in on the hikers who had already made it to the top and were cheering us on. Then I did the simplest, most powerful thing. I turned up the volume of the voice in my head chanting you got this, focused on what was directly in front of me, and trekked up the hill one step at a time.
Before I knew it, I reached the summit.
I did not even look down to measure how far I came. Instead, I looked out and I admired the 360 view. I could see the ocean stretching wide, Sandy Island sitting pretty in the distance, and the lushness all around. I breathed in the fresh air, laughed, talked, and cheered on the hikers who were still climbing.
Right there, I found my theme for 2026.
“Be grateful and present!”
In 2026, I am not doing the most. I am not doing it all. I am not starting the year with a long list of goals with extra parts and side quests. Last year taught me that consistency dies under the weight of too much.
If you are at a crossroads, wondering what comes next. Your life and your money can feel like that hill. You look up, see the loose pieces, and the fear starts to creep in.
When that happens, pick what is directly in front of you. Make that one decision. Focus on making a monthly payment to reduce that one credit card debt. Deposit money each month into that one savings account. Eat one clean/ healthy meal a day. Focus on that one lift. Take one honest look at yourself. Then, take the next step.
This year, we moving different:
Present, Grateful, and Steady.
My view from the top of Point Cistern Hill (on 1/3/2025)
Alright, let’s dig in!
The first trading week of 2026 came in quiet and choppy, with light holiday volume and a mild defensive tilt. U.S. stocks faded, volatility perked up, and investors mostly waited for the next real catalyst as the calendar flipped.
U.S. Markets Recap (December 28, 2025 - January 3, 2026)
Equities:
Major U.S. indexes finished last week lower: S&P 500 -1.01%, Nasdaq -1.48%, Dow -0.67%, and Russell 2000 -1.05%. On a month view, the DJIA was still +1.92%, while the Nasdaq was -0.73%. Early 2026 YTD moves were basically flat, with S&P 500 +0.21% and Nasdaq +0.01%.
Under the surface, sector leadership looked like a classic “safety plus energy” mix. Energy led at +3.35%, followed by Utilities +1.16% and Industrials +0.39%. The biggest drag came from Consumer Discretionary at -2.97%, with Financials -1.27% and Info Tech -1.54% also sliding.
A separate snapshot showed the “Magnificent 7” down -1.77% for the week, while VIX rose +6.69%, a reminder that even a sleepy week can still punish crowded positioning.
Fixed Income:
Bonds were nearly flat but leaned slightly lower. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index was -0.01%, while High Yield was +0.20% and Munis were +0.08%.
In Treasuries, the 10Y yield rose +6 bps on the week, while the 2Y was little changed.
Commodities:
Energy had a better week than metals. Oil was up +0.88%, while Natural Gas fell -16.70%. Gold dropped -4.70% and Silver sank -9.01% as volatility hit precious metals again.
Currencies:
The USD strengthened last week, even after a tough 2025 where it logged a -9.4% move for the year as the euro and pound gained over that same period.
U.S. Economic Recap (December 28, 2025 - January 3, 2026)
Last week was light on fresh economic drivers, but the December FOMC meeting minutes were still part of the backdrop. The minutes suggested that most officials see room for additional cuts if inflation keeps moderating, though caution and disagreement remain. Translation: the market hears “possible cuts,” but it is not treating it as a guaranteed green light yet.
Global Markets Recap (December 28, 2025 - January 3, 2026)
Europe:
International stocks finished mostly higher. Europe +0.59% for the week, with the UK +0.50% and France +0.29%, while Germany was -0.21% and Switzerland -0.33%.
Asia:
Emerging Asia stood out. China was +1.58%, Taiwan +2.78%, India +1.34%, and South Korea was the big leader at +6.66%.
South Korea’s market rose +4.4% over its abbreviated week, supported by chip and AI related optimism. Different measurement, same message: Korea led.
Crypto Recap (December 28, 2025 - January 3, 2026)
Crypto started 2026 with real momentum in large caps.
Weekly performance: BTC +3.00% and ETH +6.73%
Top crypto gainers (last week): PEPE, RNDR, VIRTUALS, BONK, FLOKI
Here are other key crypto highlights from last week
Privacy prevailed in an otherwise dismal Q4 for crypto.
China’s financial associations reclassified RWAs as ‘risky‘.
Illivium’s risk-to-earn deathmatch, Axie Infinity to take ‘big swings’.
More NFTs, less money: Supply rose to 1.3B as sales fell 37% in 2025.
Shift4 brought 24/7 stablecoin payments to Global Commerce on Polygon.
This is the first full trading week of 2026!!
Key U.S. Economic News:
Mon: ISM Manufacturing PMI
Wed: ADP Nonfarm Payrolls, ISM Services, JOLTS Job Openings, Factory Orders
Thurs: Jobless Claims
Fri: Nonfarm Payrolls, Unemployment Rate, Consumer Sentiment
Fed Speakers:
Tues. 8:00 AM: FOMC Member Barkin
Wed. 1:10 PM: FOMC Member Bowman
Fri. 1:35 PM: FOMC Member Barkin
Earnings:
Notable earnings releases are shown below.
Medium-to-High Impact Global Economic Events This Week:
Did You Know? There's a simple mental math trick that can help you estimate how long it will take your retirement savings to double. It's called the Rule of 72. Just divide 72 by your expected annual return rate, and you'll get the approximate number of years needed to double your investment. For example, if your portfolio grows at 7% annually, your money will double in roughly 10.3 years (72 ÷ 7). This quick calculation can help you visualize your retirement timeline and understand the power of compound growth—showing why starting early and maintaining consistent returns makes such a dramatic difference in building your nest egg.
Week 12/28/25 - 1/03/26 Recap
Special Tools & Strategies - SLV Seasonality Watch for Jan 2026
Silver has been popping up all over the stock market news lately after pushing to fresh highs. This move is not a random surprise. Silver tends to have seasonal patterns, and January is one of the windows traders keep an eye on.
Why SLV Is One to Watch
SLV (iShares Silver Trust ETF) is one of those tickers that shows strong seasonal tendencies. When a stock or ETF has seasonality, it means it has a history of performing well during specific times of the year.
SLV has a 91% seasonal tendency using a 10 year cycle, which makes it a strong candidate for a January watchlist.
When to Pay Attention
Seasonal trades are best planned at the beginning of the month, but entries are taken when the window lines up and prices are low.
Key dates to watch are Jan 15 or Jan 16, Jan 22, and Jan 29.
These dates are the “pay attention” zones. They are not automatic buy signals. They are the windows where traders get ready for potential entries.
Hint, hint, hint: option traders often look at SLV calls during these windows.
If you trade options, keep it simple: define your risk first, size your trade appropriately, and do not treat a seasonal tendency like a guarantee.
Risk Management and What Can Disrupt the Cycle
Seasonality works until something bigger steps in. The main catalysts that can disrupt these cycles are:
Big macro surprises (inflation, jobs, Fed tone) that whip the US dollar and yields
Weather impacts (for commodity related movement)
Sudden geopolitical risk spikes that cause forced liquidations
Supply policy headlines (export restrictions, mining disruptions). China related supply concerns have been in the silver narrative recently.
That is why risk management matters. Even high probability setups can fail.
Put SLV on your January watchlist now. Mark the dates. Then plan your risk before you plan your profit.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is strictly educational. The information this report provides does not constitute investment, financial, trading, or any other advice. You should not treat any of the report’s content as such. Please be careful and do your research.