5 Things to Watch on
January 30, 2026

Stock index futures are down over -0.5% as markets react to a hotter-than-expected inflation print and President Trump’s announcement that he has selected Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chair. Warsh, a former Fed governor from 2006–2011, would succeed Jerome Powell when Powell’s term ends in May, marking a notable shift amid Trump’s long-running criticism that the Fed has been “too slow” to cut rates.

Apple (AAPL) is down slightly in premarket trading despite having delivered a strong fiscal Q1, beating expectations as revenue jumped +16% YoY to $143.8B and EPS reached $2.84, driven by a powerful rebound in iPhone demand. iPhone revenue surged +23%, with CEO Tim Cook calling demand for the iPhone 17 “staggering,” particularly in China, where sales climbed +38% on record upgrades and strong switching. Services continued to provide steady growth at +14%, reinforcing AAPL’s expanding ecosystem, even as Macs and wearables lagged.

SpaceX is weighing a potential merger with Tesla (TSLA) or a closer tie-up with Elon Musk’s AI venture xAI ahead of a possible blockbuster IPO that could value the rocket company at around $1.5T, according to Reuters. The discussions come as TSLA shifts away from legacy EV models, ending Model S and X production and repurposing its Fremont factory for Optimus humanoid robots, reinforcing Musk’s vision of a future centered on AI, robotics, and space-based computing. Investors briefly pushed TSLA shares higher on the reports.

Deckers Outdoor (DECK) is ripping higher, up more than +13.0% in premarket trading, after delivering a clean, confidence-boosting quarter and raising its FY26 outlook. Strong demand across both HOKA and UGG, paired with balanced growth in wholesale and DTC, drove record revenue and profit. Management framed the quarter as proof the brands are winning in expanding categories, not just riding short-term trends. Execution is strong, brand momentum is intact, and visibility into next year just improved materially, per CEO Caroti.

SoFi Technologies (SOFI) is up over +6.0% premarket after a solid Q4 underscored its shift from high-growth fintech to a profitable, scaled bank. Strong loan growth and a record surge in new members drove results, while management’s 2026 outlook came in ahead of expectations, reinforcing confidence in SOFI’s long-term earnings power. Investors reacted positively to signs that the platform’s growth engine is translating into durable profitability heading into next year.