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 marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER This content is marketing material. Trading financial instruments carries risks. Always ensure that you understand these risks before trading. This material does not contain investment advice or an encouragement to invest in a particular manner. Historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo Bank A/S receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options.

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 marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER This content is marketing material. Trading financial instruments carries risks. Always ensure that you understand these risks before trading. This material does not contain investment advice or an encouragement to invest in a particular manner. Historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo Bank A/S receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options.

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 marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER This content is marketing material. Trading financial instruments carries risks. Always ensure that you understand these risks before trading. This material does not contain investment advice or an encouragement to invest in a particular manner. Historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo Bank A/S receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options.

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 marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER This content is marketing material. Trading financial instruments carries risks. Always ensure that you understand these risks before trading. This material does not contain investment advice or an encouragement to invest in a particular manner. Historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo Bank A/S receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options.

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 marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER This content is marketing material. Trading financial instruments carries risks. Always ensure that you understand these risks before trading. This material does not contain investment advice or an encouragement to invest in a particular manner. Historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo Bank A/S receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options.

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 marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER This content is marketing material. Trading financial instruments carries risks. Always ensure that you understand these risks before trading. This material does not contain investment advice or an encouragement to invest in a particular manner. Historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo Bank A/S receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options.

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 marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER This content is marketing material. Trading financial instruments carries risks. Always ensure that you understand these risks before trading. This material does not contain investment advice or an encouragement to invest in a particular manner. Historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo Bank A/S receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options.

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 marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions.

Click here to open an account with Saxo.

Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

DISCLAIMER This content is marketing material. Trading financial instruments carries risks. Always ensure that you understand these risks before trading. This material does not contain investment advice or an encouragement to invest in a particular manner. Historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo Bank A/S receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options.