Market Talk: Navigating Today’s Unsettled Market

        

Market Talk

This is a brief market and stock update from the desk of Spider J. Jones.

Let me be clear and unambiguous. Writing and maintaining this report takes time, thought, and discipline. Over the past year, several stocks discussed here have risen 300 percent and more—not through hype or promotion, but through observation, awareness, and disciplined risk management.

This site does not tout stocks. It focuses on market conditions, company fundamentals, and timing—while respecting that every investor must manage risk for themselves.

That said, readership engagement matters. If you’ve found value here—whether profit, perspective, or simply something different from the usual Wall Street noise—I’ll ask one simple question.

Did you pass this along to someone else who follows markets?

This report runs without ads, without trackers, and without sponsors. Whether it continues at its current pace—or at all—will depend on whether enough readers find it worth sharing.

With that context, today’s stock talk will be brief as I consider next steps.

Stock Talk

Gold and silver have surged to all-time highs. Given the geopolitical environment abroad and growing polarization at home, elevated tensions are a market reality—without injecting personal politics into what is strictly a market discussion.

This is no surprise to longtime readers.

Our picks Kinross Gold (KGC) and Hecla Mining (HL) have both moved into double-digit territory. A third name, with profitable gold and silver mines across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, is now being added to the watch list:

Coeur Mining, Inc. (CDE): $26

Earnings for all three are expected around mid-February, with exact dates still pending. When stocks run, markets often trade ahead of earnings. Even well-run companies can see pre-earnings volatility as funds attempt to shake the tree. Ultimately, price direction will depend on results—and just as importantly, guidance. With Kinross and Hecla, some volatility would not be surprising. Beyond that, this report maintains the previously stated view. As always, investors must make their own decisions.

Meanwhile, broader conditions continue to evolve. Modern warfare, shifting alliances, and supply-chain realities reinforce the importance of made-in-the-USA capability, especially in semiconductors.

Chips are everywhere—defense systems, aerospace, medical devices, vehicles, energy infrastructure, and communications.

Today brought news involving SkyWater Technology (SKYT), a low-share-count, GAAP-profitable semiconductor company previously discussed here. The company announced an agreement to be acquired by IonQ, offering a mix of cash and a collared stock swap valuing SKYT at approximately $35 per share.

After reviewing the proposed structure, this appears unfavorable for many retail shareholders. Owners of a profitable company are being asked to exchange shares for exposure to an unprofitable, higher-risk business—at what seems to be a limited premium.

While a counteroffer is always possible, the announcement language suggests the boards expect approval. That typically does not occur unless support is already well understood.

This situation bears watching.

Recent guidance from Intel (INTC) has pressured parts of the tech sector. Selectivity—and avoiding over-concentration—may be prudent for now.

Stocks currently on the Jones watch list:

The first four below are considered the most current and appear the most actionable given present market conditions.

• Kinross Gold (KGC)
• Hecla Mining (HL)
• Coeur Mining, Inc. (CDE)
• Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO)

  Some other watch stocks:

Intel (INTC)

Navitas Semiconductor Corp. (NVTS)

GlobalFoundries Inc. (GFS)

D-Wave Quantum, Inc. (QBTS)

SkyWater Technology, Inc. (SKYT)

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS)

-- and many more stocks as developments continue. 

This report remains free, ad-free, and tracker-free.

Do your own homework. Make your own decisions.

More developments remain on the radar as conditions evolve.
As always, stay sharp, stay selective, and stay nimble.

Jones Note: Readership will determine whether this report continues at its current pace.

- Jones Report

________

If interested - scroll back and view notes on other stocks, we watch here at the Jones report.  Why not? With the caveat that things change and we try to stay aware - It's all FREE to read and make your own calls and decisions.  Finally - maintain some dry powder and trade or invest according to your own due diligence.

______________

More later so ....Stay tuned, if you dare!

For now, we close by noting that any view on the market and stocks on any particular day may change in the days to come. That is why we watch and see how our views match up with reality.  Looking ahead a few months may be a way to do things - but thinking too deeply about world events and the recent alliances forming, can make projecting ahead a dicey endeavor. 

All in all - we use the word maybe "some", not "too much" and play it accordingly.  Never get arrogant in our notions because things do change - and individual stocks are subject to many factors outside our control. So, we try to -stay aware.

With all the above caveats and attempted prognostications, I will close this post. Stay tuned for more opining on the market and stocks to watch.

___________

ALL in my humble opinion, scroll down and read more.This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations.
________

The market doesn’t announce opportunity — it reveals it later.

       

Stock Talk

Well, it’s now mid-January 2026. Can you hardly believe it? Let’s talk the market and stocks for a few moments from the desk of Spider J. Jones.

Lately, gold and silver have surged to all-time highs. This comes as no surprise to some of us. Likewise, our picks — Kinross Gold (KGC) and Hecla Mining (HL) — have moved into double-digit territory, with HL trading around $23 and KGC near $33. Gold is currently hovering near $4,600 per ounce, while silver trades close to $90.

Earnings for both companies are expected around mid-February, with exact dates yet to be announced. When stocks run, the market often trades before earnings are reported. Even in strong, well-run companies, hedge funds like to test shareholder resolve and attempt to “shake the tree.” Whether shares move to the next level ultimately depends on the report itself — and just as importantly, on guidance. With Kinross and Hecla, some pre-earnings volatility would not be surprising. After the reports? This report maintains the same view as previously stated. As always, investors must make their own decisions.

With that backdrop, the market appears to be broadening beyond parts of the so-called “Fab 7,” and there may be good reasons for that shift. Coming posts will outline why the list below may merit further exploration. One way to deal with uncertainty is to edge into a position with a very small number of shares, watch how it trades, and get a feel for the action. If things develop favorably — and the stock dips — one might add incrementally. But always maintain dry powder.

Meanwhile, global conditions continue to evolve. Modern warfare, geopolitical tensions, and shifting balances of power remain very real considerations. America’s capability would benefit from more made-in-the-USA products — and one critical area is chips. Semiconductors are everywhere: aerospace systems, defense, medical devices, vehicles, appliances, networks, and power infrastructure.

Many of today’s AI-driven chips are produced overseas. Nvidia and AMD chips — the darlings of global AI buildouts — are largely manufactured in Taiwan. But wait a second there, Chauncy. AMD chips used to be made in America. By whom? Hint — it’s on the list below. Does anyone doubt that China is watching these developments closely and weighing its options regarding Taiwan?

There are American chip designers and manufacturers — lesser known, perhaps — but they are on the Jones list. One such example is Navitas Semiconductor. For those interested, here is a prior Jones Report on NVTS:

https://stockstowatch.blogspot.com/2025/10/nvts-coming-game-changer-behind-ais.html

Stay tuned — there will be more to say about this theme in future posts.

Stocks currently on the Jones watch list:

• Kinross Gold (KGC)
• Hecla Mining (HL)
• Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO)
• Intel (INTC)
• Navitas Semiconductor Corp. (NVTS)
• Global Foundries Inc. (GFS)
• D-Wave Quantum, Inc. (QBTS)
• SkyWater Technology, Inc. (SKYT)
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS)

If you haven’t seen the prior Jones Report on Navitas Semiconductor, we invite you to read it — if you dare. Why not? It’s all free. Do your own homework and make your own decisions.

…And many more stocks remain on the radar as individual circumstances play out.

As always, stay sharp, stay selective, and stay nimble.

— Jones Report

_________

If interested - scroll back and view notes on other stocks, we watch here at the Jones report.  Why not? With the caveat that things change and we try to stay aware - It's all FREE to read and make your own calls and decisions.  Finally - maintain some dry powder and trade or invest according to your own due diligence.

______________

More later so ....Stay tuned, if you dare!

For now, we close by noting that any view on the market and stocks on any particular day may change in the days to come. That is why we watch and see how our views match up with reality.  Looking ahead a few months may be a way to do things - but thinking too deeply about world events and the recent alliances forming, can make projecting ahead a dicey endeavor. 

All in all - we use the word maybe "some", not "too much" and play it accordingly.  Never get arrogant in our notions because things do change - and individual stocks are subject to many factors outside our control. So, we try to -stay aware.

With all the above caveats and attempted prognostications, I will close this post. Stay tuned for more opining on the market and stocks to watch.

___________

ALL in my humble opinion, scroll down and read more.This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations.
________

Sunday Night Stock Talk: Four Standing Out — KGC, HL, NVO, KTOS

      

Stock Talk

January has already delivered a few shockwaves across the stock charts. One area that captured a lot of air was defense, helped along by recent events involving Venezuela and renewed focus on defense spending.

Looking back at the Stock Watch List in our last post, you may have noticed one name in particular: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS).

KTOS was suggested here last January while trading in the $20s. Today, the stock sits at $113 and change. Just last week it jumped more than 20 points, and notably, momentum has not stalled. For smaller traders and investors, even modest positions — five or ten shares at a time — are gaining traction.

Why?

That remains part of the story. There still appears to be a veil of secrecy around exactly what KTOS is working on as the U.S. responds to increasingly complex strategic threats being set up by adversaries abroad. Some things are not meant to be loudly advertised. That said, for those who watch closely, there have been important developments — including contract awards tied to KTOS drone platforms, hypersonic programs, and command-and-control management systems.

It can be a sobering world when you think too hard and become fully aware. Still, it is reassuring to know that companies like KTOS are quietly working in the background to help protect the balance in the free world.

Enough said — for now.

If you’ve been watching the NFL playoffs, you may also have noticed the Ro commercials tied to the new weight-loss pill from Novo Nordisk (NVO). The advertising alone has many eyes on the new easy pill.

It’s also worth noting that NVO continues to look firm, with increasing attention around its 25 mg weight-loss pill. The level of interest alone suggests this remains an area being closely watched.

To keep this Stock Talk brief, what follows is simply a repeat and reminder of our December 23 Stock Talk, where we highlighted Kinross Gold (KGC), Hecla Mining (HL), and NVO as stocks to watch heading into the new year. Readers can refer back to that note for the full setup, drivers, and risks.

https://stockstowatch.blogspot.com/2025/12/staying-course-gold-silver-valuations.html

Again, these are some of the stocks we watch:

• Kinross Gold (KGC)
• Hecla Mining (HL)
• Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO)
• Intel (INTC)
• Navitas Semiconductor Corp. (NVTS)
• Global Foundries Inc. (GFS)
• D-Wave Quantum, Inc. (QBTS)
• SkyWater Technology, Inc. (SKYT)
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS)

…and many more stocks to watch as individual circumstances play out.

As always, stay sharp, stay selective, and stay nimble.

— Jones Report

_________

If interested - scroll back and view notes on other stocks, we watch here at the Jones report.  Why not? With the caveat that things change and we try to stay aware - It's all FREE to read and make your own calls and decisions.  Finally - maintain some dry powder and trade or invest according to your own due diligence.

______________

More later so ....Stay tuned, if you dare!

For now, we close by noting that any view on the market and stocks on any particular day may change in the days to come. That is why we watch and see how our views match up with reality.  Looking ahead a few months may be a way to do things - but thinking too deeply about world events and the recent alliances forming, can make projecting ahead a dicey endeavor. 

All in all - we use the word maybe "some", not "too much" and play it accordingly.  Never get arrogant in our notions because things do change - and individual stocks are subject to many factors outside our control. So, we try to -stay aware.

With all the above caveats and attempted prognostications, I will close this post. Stay tuned for more opining on the market and stocks to watch.

___________

ALL in my humble opinion, scroll down and read more.This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations.
________

Early 2026: Some Key Stocks on the Watch List

     

Market Talk

January 2026 is starting off with a bang. The move on capturing Maduro in Venezuela has implications that have yet to play out. There will be some near-term chaos and uncertainty, though hope may prevail that things ultimately work out for the better. What will actually come remains to be revealed.

What is the market? Groups of stocks, segregated into various indices, valued on metrics investors believe to be important. Value is in the eye of the beholder. Beyond simply watching the market, it matters which stocks we choose to buy — some with the prospect of increasing share values, and some offering dividends as well.

The past year was profitable, trading and investing in several of the stocks watched here at the Jones Report.

Stock Talk

The Jones Report focuses on stocks that are relevant now and in the coming world as it appears to be shaping up. Small investors, to stay ahead of the fancy-pants Wall Street hedge funds, must use foresight across a broad range — including fundamentals, projected earnings, speculation, and even geopolitical developments and risk.

Small investors should weigh market influences on each stock and size positions accordingly. One long-standing tenet is “maybe some — not too much.” And yet, at times, being overweight in stocks that clearly scream “buy some” can mean the difference between a winning portfolio and a mediocre one. At the same time, awareness that things change — and flexibility in our investing notions — is important to staying in the game when they do.

After a stock doubles, institutional money managers, along with short-focused hedge funds, can and do pull the rug on any perceived weakness. When insiders decide to profit-take or unload large blocks of shares, it can feel like betrayal to the long-minded investor. That is something to watch, and at times it pays to stay nimble and take a gain when it is there. This can be one way small investors stay ahead of the game rather than becoming victims of the forces that affect share prices.  An astute small investor can feel like a quarterback trying to lead a wide receiver while being chased down by 300-pound linebackers.

With no further preamble, here are some stocks we are watching and will further expand on in future posts. As always, these are not buy or sell recommendations, and some venture into the world of speculation. It is up to each reader to perform their own due diligence and make decisions as they deem important within their own time frame. Just do so with awareness and stay watchful.
These are just a few stocks that were initially covered here and/or will be followed going forward:

Kinross Gold (KGC)

Hecla Mining (HL)

Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO)

Intel (INTC)

Navitas Semiconductor Corp. (NVTS)

Global Foundries Inc. (GFS)

D-Wave Quantum, Inc. (QBTS)

SkyWater Technology, Inc. (SKYT)

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS)

…and many more stocks to watch as individual circumstances play out.

As always, stay sharp, stay selective, and stay nimble.

— Jones Report

_________

If interested - scroll back and view notes on other stocks, we watch here at the Jones report.  Why not? With the caveat that things change and we try to stay aware - It's all FREE to read and make your own calls and decisions.  Finally - maintain some dry powder and trade or invest according to your own due diligence.

______________

More later so ....Stay tuned, if you dare!

For now, we close by noting that any view on the market and stocks on any particular day may change in the days to come. That is why we watch and see how our views match up with reality.  Looking ahead a few months may be a way to do things - but thinking too deeply about world events and the recent alliances forming, can make projecting ahead a dicey endeavor. 

All in all - we use the word maybe "some", not "too much" and play it accordingly.  Never get arrogant in our notions because things do change - and individual stocks are subject to many factors outside our control. So, we try to -stay aware.

With all the above caveats and attempted prognostications, I will close this post. Stay tuned for more opining on the market and stocks to watch.

___________

ALL in my humble opinion, scroll down and read more.This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations.
________

A Jones note - stay Tuned for more on Stocks To Watch

    

Market Talk 

January 2026 is starting off with a bang.  The move on capturing Maduro in Venezuela has implications that have yet to play out.  There will be some near-term chaos and uncertainty. Also hope may prevail that things will work out for the better. What will actually come is yet to be revealed.

What is the market?  Groups of stocks segregated into various indices, valued on various metrics in which investors believe to be important. Value is in the eye of the beholders. Apart from market watching- it matters which stocks we choose to buy some with the prospect of increasing share values and dividends as well.

The past year was profitable in trading and investing in some of the stocks watched here at the Jones Repot.

Stock Talk 

Stay tuned for future posts on Stocks to Watch.

As always, stay sharp, stay selective, and stay nimble.

— Jones Report

_________

If interested - scroll back and view notes on other stocks, we watch here at the Jones report.  Why not? With the caveat that things change and we try to stay aware - It's all FREE to read and make your own calls and decisions.  Finally - maintain some dry powder and trade or invest according to your own due diligence.

______________

More later so ....Stay tuned, if you dare!

For now, we close by noting that any view on the market and stocks on any particular day may change in the days to come. That is why we watch and see how our views match up with reality.  Looking ahead a few months may be a way to do things - but thinking too deeply about world events and the recent alliances forming, can make projecting ahead a dicey endeavor. 

All in all - we use the word maybe "some", not "too much" and play it accordingly.  Never get arrogant in our notions because things do change - and individual stocks are subject to many factors outside our control. So, we try to -stay aware.

With all the above caveats and attempted prognostications, I will close this post. Stay tuned for more opining on the market and stocks to watch.

___________

ALL in my humble opinion, scroll down and read more.This site does NOT make Buy / Sell recommendations.
________