**Global Market Brief: Volatility Returns Amid Tech & Metal Rout** **Equity Markets: Caution Prevails** Global equities faced significant pressure on Friday, January 30, 2026, driven by mixed earnings and geopolitical unease. * **US Indices:** The S&P 500 hovered near **6,944**, while the Nasdaq traded around **25,800**, weighed down by a **10%** drop in Microsoft shares following concerns over slowing cloud growth. Conversely, Apple shares gained slightly on strong iPhone sales despite margin warnings. * **Asian & Indian Markets:** Indian benchmarks Sensex (**81,947**) and Nifty (**25,247**) tumbled in early trade, erasing recent gains ahead of the upcoming Union Budget. The sharp sell-off in IT and metal stocks dragged indices lower, mirroring weak global trends. **Commodities: Historic Volatility** A massive shake-up occurred in precious metals, with gold and silver witnessing extreme intraday swings. * **Gold:** After hitting record highs near **$5,600**, prices corrected sharply to trade around **$5,200** per ounce. In India, rates dropped to approximately **₹1.75 lakh** per 10 grams. * **Silver:** The metal saw a steeper decline, plunging nearly **6–12%** in varied markets, erasing billions in market value before a partial recovery. * **Oil:** Brent Crude slipped to **$69.73** per barrel, pressured by demand concerns despite ongoing geopolitical tensions. **Crypto: $1.7 Billion Liquidation** The crypto market experienced a "risk-off" flush, triggering over **$1.7 billion** in liquidations within 24 hours. * **Bitcoin:** Prices slid **7%**, falling to approximately **$82,000**. * **Ethereum:** The asset dropped below **$2,750**, reflecting broader bearish sentiment across altcoins. **Economic Drivers** * **Fed Policy:** The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at **3.50%–3.75%**, citing stabilizing labor conditions but elevated uncertainty. * **India Growth:** The latest Economic Survey projects India’s GDP growth at **6.8%–7.2%** for the upcoming fiscal year, reinforcing its status as a high-growth major economy despite external headwinds.