Baker Hughes, Allied Gold and Newmont Stocks Rise While American Airlines Shares Fall

Baker Hughes, Allied Gold and Newmont led early gains in US premarket trading on Monday while American Airlines and other major airline stocks fell, reflecting sector‑specific performance divergence amid macroeconomic volatility and a looming Federal Reserve policy meeting.

At the start of trading on January 26, energy services firm Baker Hughes saw its shares rise more than 2% after reporting an 11% increase in fourth‑quarter adjusted profit, supported by robust demand for its gas technology equipment and services that offset weaker oilfield segments.

Precious metals producers Allied Gold and Newmont also registered gains in premarket activity, buoyed by a record rally in gold prices that pushed bullion to historic highs. Allied Gold climbed over 3% following confirmation of a C$5.5 billion acquisition agreement by Zijin Gold International, while Newmont and Barrick Mining shares rose sharply as investors sought safe‑haven exposure amid geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility influencing risk assets.

In contrast, shares of American Airlines fell by more than 1% in early trading alongside other large carriers such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The aviation sector’s weakness was attributed to investor concerns over possible flight delays and cancellations resulting from a severe winter storm affecting broad swathes of the United States, highlighting how exogenous operational risks can rapidly alter market sentiment for transportation equities.

The broader backdrop for these moves includes anticipation of a major Federal Reserve meeting this week, at which policymakers are expected to provide guidance on interest rate direction amid mixed economic data. US stock futures overall were modestly lower, suggesting investor caution as markets weighed macroeconomic policy prospects alongside company‑specific earnings and sector developments.

Beyond the headline movers, other notable shifts included a significant surge in USA Rare Earth stock, which jumped more than 20% on reports of a potential 10% government stake investment, and a rebound in Skywater Technology shares following acquisition news. Conversely, biotech firm Revolution Medicines saw a steep premarket decline after merger discussions reportedly ended, underscoring how deal speculation continues to influence small‑cap performance.

Meta Platforms bucked broader tech weakness with a modest uptick after an analyst upgrade, while defense contractor Leidos gained following its announcement of a substantial acquisition aimed at bolstering utility engineering services. These mixed premarket signals reflect a market balancing risk appetite with fundamental earnings news and external headwinds.

For investors, these premarket movements highlight the importance of sector rotation and risk management as market participants navigate policy shifts, earnings reports and unpredictable weather‑driven economic disruptions. Energy and mining stocks currently appear to benefit from defensive positioning and strong commodity prices, while cyclical sectors such as airlines remain sensitive to operational hurdles and broader economic uncertainty.