This week could define the quarter. The Magnificent Seven report earnings in rapid succession as investors focus on AI spending, revenue growth, and whether Big Tech’s dominance is built to last. Microsoft and Meta are expected to deliver blockbuster results, Tesla faces its toughest setup yet, and Apple’s iPhone demand and leadership turnover are under the microscope.

Add in a heavy slate of blue chip earnings, the Fed’s first policy decision of 2026, and rising geopolitical uncertainty, and the market is navigating powerful crosscurrents. We break down what matters most and what investors should be watching closely.

In this week’s CB3 Financials Weekly, portfolio manager Charles Brown breaks down the latest non farm payroll report and explains why the headline number tells only part of the story. While job growth slowed in December, key labor market signals suggest the economy is not sliding backward.

Charles walks through sector level job trends, wage growth, youth unemployment concerns, and what all of this could mean for Federal Reserve policy and interest rates heading into 2026.

The episode also previews a blockbuster earnings week, with major reports from JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley, and what rising deal activity means for financial stocks.

Finally, we explore January seasonality, historical market tendencies, and why small cap participation is critical for a healthy market rally. Plus, a sneak peek at CB3’s 2026 Annual Letter to Investors, arriving later this week.

Welcome to the first CB3 Financials Weekly Podcast of 2026. We open the year by breaking down three major forces setting the stage for markets in the months ahead.

The S&P just wrapped up its third straight year of double digit gains, with strong performances from the Dow and Nasdaq driven largely by AI and big tech. But what does that momentum mean as we enter a midterm election year?

In this episode, we cover the political and economic landscape under President Trump’s second term, including tariffs, deregulation, tax policy, and the potential impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on GDP growth. We also look closely at artificial intelligence as the defining investment theme, the growing divide between the Magnificent Seven and the rest of the market, and why international markets quietly outperformed in 2025.

We close with a deep dive into gold and silver’s strongest year since 1979 and why the upcoming decision on the next Federal Reserve chair, with Jerome Powell’s term ending in May, may be the most consequential market event of 2026.

A clear eyed roadmap for the year ahead and the key questions investors should be watching closely.

November delivered plenty of drama and almost no reward. After a sharp sell off fueled by stretched AI valuations, doubts about data center spending, and anxiety over the Fed’s next move, the month clawed its way back to finish barely positive—one of the weakest Novembers in a quarter century.

In this episode of the CB3 Financial Weekly Podcast, we break down what really happened beneath the surface. From the S and P’s last minute rescue, to the NASDAQ 2000’s face ripping rally, to why small caps needed a miracle just to finish near unchanged.

More importantly, we look ahead. Will December bring the rate cut investors are hoping for? Is the market already pricing in the first quarter of 2026? And what does this volatile setup mean for disciplined trend followers?

Stay with us for clear analysis, context you can use, and a grounded look at where markets may be heading next.

This episode examines a surprisingly rough November — a month that historically ranks as one of the strongest for equities, yet in 2025 sits among the worst in over two decades. Charles Brown walks through the drivers behind the downturn, including valuation pushback in AI, defensive rotations, and rapidly shifting expectations for the Federal Reserve’s December meeting.

We explore how the Fed’s divided outlook on rate cuts is impacting volatility, why AI leaders like Nvidia and Palantir are under pressure despite strong earnings, and how these trends are shaping the CG, DS, and GI portfolios. More importantly, Charles looks ahead to how the AI cycle, capital expenditures, and potential 2026 rate cuts could set the stage for the next leg of growth.

Clear analysis, context, and a measured approach guide this episode as we prepare for December’s key decisions and position for 2026.

November is acting more like October this year—volatile, unpredictable, and full of tension. In this episode of the CB3 Financial Weekly Podcast, we break down the recent market turbulence, the sharp pullback in tech stocks, and the fragile balance between optimism and fear. Will this month’s weakness give way to a year-end rally, or are we headed for a deeper correction?

Host Charles Brown explores:

• The tech-heavy NASDAQ’s worst week since April

• How the ongoing government shutdown is impacting markets and the airline industry

• Why valuations remain stretched and risk remains high

• What could trigger a rebound as the holidays approach

Stay informed, stay invested, and join us Thursday night for CB3 Live, where we dig deeper into which sectors are cracking—and which could lead the next rally.

In this week’s episode of the CB3 Financial Weekly Podcast, we unpack the October market landscape — where early-month momentum gives way to fatigue, and investors seek refuge in safe havens. Despite worries about the U.S. government shutdown, small-cap bank credit stress, and delayed economic data, the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq all managed to close the week in the green. Join us as we explore why resilience still defines Wall Street’s mood and what to watch ahead of Friday’s delayed CPI report.

Wall Street charged into October with record highs across the Dow, S&P 500, and Russell 2000—despite a government shutdown that leaves investors without critical economic data. The NASDAQ slipped as Tesla and tech stocks lost momentum, but AI and semiconductors remain the bright spots, with Nvidia topping a staggering $4.5 trillion market cap.

In this week’s CB3 Financial podcast, we unpack:

• Why markets shrugged off weak private jobs data and the shutdown

• The resilience of defensive plays like gold and healthcare

• October’s history of market crashes and the volatility challenge ahead

• Earnings season’s potential to guide investors in the absence of government reports

• Sector rotation from healthcare and staples now, to tech and growth in November

Even as policymakers and investors navigate without “radar,” the market’s undertone remains bullish—buying dips and pushing higher. Stay tuned for a clear-eyed look at the forces shaping this critical stretch for the markets.