S&P 500 Falls 1.29% Amid Geopolitical Tensions and Rising Yields
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 20 2026
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Market Sentiment Decline: The S&P 500 index fell by 1.29%, the Dow Jones by 1.22%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 1.41%, all hitting two-week lows due to rising geopolitical tensions over Greenland, indicating a heightened risk-off sentiment among investors.
- Rising Bond Yields: The 10-year Treasury yield surged to 4.31%, a 4.75-month high, driven by concerns over an independent Fed and negative spillover from soaring Japanese bond yields, which pressured stocks and raised investor anxiety about economic outlook.
- Gold and Silver Surge: The crisis in Greenland spurred safe-haven buying, pushing gold and silver prices to all-time highs, which boosted mining stocks, highlighting a divergence in market performance despite overall bearish trends.
- Natural Gas Stocks Rally: U.S. natural gas prices soared over 25% to a three-week high, leading to significant gains in natural gas-producing stocks, reflecting strong demand in the energy market and investor optimism about future energy prices.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
