FX.co ★ Barclays report for the 4th quarter led to a drop in shares

In the meantime, the US stock market was frozen in anticipation of retail sales data for January of this year, which may cause even more volatility than yesterday's inflation data, according to a report from Barclays today. Barclays also reported an annual net profit of 5.023 billion pounds for 2022, exceeding the prediction of 4.95 billion pounds. However, profits decreased by 19% as compared to 2021.

Profit in the fourth quarter was 1.04 billion pounds, which is higher than analysts' forecasts of 833.29 million pounds, but 4% less compared to the 1.08 billion pounds published in the fourth quarter of 2021.

For the fourth quarter, profit before tax was expected to be 1.5 billion pounds, but instead, it was 1.31 billion pounds. For the entire year, earnings before tax decreased by 14% to 7 billion pounds.

In light of this, Barclays shares fell by more than 9%.

According to the article, the bank has set aside 1.2 billion pounds as a provision for loan impairment, up from 700 million pounds in 2021. It is clear that the excessive issuing of securities in the United States, which resulted in litigation costing 1.6 billion pounds in 2022, had a significant impact on the British lender, as it did on many others. The British bank announced early last year that it had sold US investment products, known as structured notes, for $15.2 billion more than it was allowed to.

Premarket

Following the company's fourth-quarter results announcement, which was above analysts' forecasts, Airbnb stock increased by 10%. More than the predicted 25 cents, the corporation recorded 48 cents in earnings per share. Revenue for Airbnb came in at $1.90 billion, exceeding the $1.86 billion estimate.

TripAdvisor. Shares of rival Airbnb, an online travel company, rose 7% after its earnings report beat Wall Street estimates. For the fourth quarter, TripAdvisor reported adjusted earnings per share of 16 cents and $354 million in revenue. Analysts anticipated a profit of 4 cents and $344 million in revenue.

Following a dismal fourth-quarter results announcement, shares of energy giant Devon Energy dropped 5%. Devon posted profits per share of $1.66, below the $1.75 consensus estimate of analysts, according to Refinitiv. Additionally, revenue fell short of Wall Street forecasts.

Regarding the S&P 500's technical outlook, the pressure on riskier assets has slightly subsided. Only if the bulls can rise again over $4,150 today will the index be able to continue its recovery. The bulls' control over $4,185, which will put an end to the bear market, will be no less of a target. After that, we can anticipate an upward movement that is more confident to support the trading instrument at $4,208. The level of $4,229 is a little higher and will be challenging to surpass. Buyers are only required to declare themselves in the area of $4,116 in the case of a downward movement against the backdrop of rising retail sales in the United States and a lack of demand. When it breaks down, the trading instrument will move quickly to $4,091 and open the way to $4,064.