Listen to today’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-nqwUyvLDEvs7bV985k-gQ
Stock Market Daily Podcast — January 28, 2026
Welcome back to the Stock Market Daily Podcast. Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories:
Why Japan’s economic plans are sending jitters through global markets
Author: John Power | Date: January 27, 2026
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s pledge to suspend the 8% consumption tax on food and non-alcoholic beverages for two years sent long-dated Japanese government bond yields to record highs and stirred yen volatility, as investors questioned fiscal sustainability with debt already above 230% of GDP. Higher local yields could curb Japanese demand for foreign bonds like U.S. Treasuries, nudging global rates higher. Economists say crisis risk is limited by Japan’s domestic investor base and yen-denominated debt, but markets are testing policy credibility and BOJ coordination.
Health insurer stocks slide after Trump administration proposes keeping Medicare payment rates steady
Author: Siladitya Ray | Date: January 27, 2026
CMS proposed a 0.09% increase to 2027 Medicare Advantage payment rates—well below the 4–6% Wall Street expected—triggering sharp premarket declines in major insurers including UnitedHealth, Humana, CVS, Elevance, and Centene. The proposal follows President Trump’s criticism of insurer profits and contrasts with last year’s 5.06% increase set for 2026. The signal: tighter reimbursement could pressure margins and reshape MA growth expectations.
Asian stocks dip on Korea tariffs, yen holds gains
Author: Bloomberg | Date: January 27, 2026
Asian equities softened as tariff risk returned on President Trump’s threat to raise levies on South Korean goods; the Kospi fell 0.9% and the won weakened, while Japanese shares slipped as the yen held recent gains near 154 per dollar amid intervention chatter. The wobble comes ahead of a pivotal week for megacap tech earnings and a Fed decision expected to keep rates steady, heightening sensitivity to policy signals. Weather-driven spikes in U.S. natural gas prices added to cross-asset volatility.
