Markets were quiet after Christmas, but the bigger picture matters. This week, the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq all finished higher, while gold and silver hit record prices as investors reacted to global uncertainty. Oil prices moved sharply on geopolitical headlines, Bitcoin pulled back, and Nvidia made a major move in artificial intelligence with its Groq deal. We also saw travel disruptions from winter storms and renewed pressure on retailers like Target. Here’s a simple breakdown of what moved markets and why it matters.