Dow closes above 49,000 for first time

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  January 06, 2026 at 21:52  |  4:43  |  CNBC
Speakers
Gargi Chaudhuri — Head of iShares Investment Strategy, BlackRock
Morgan — Host

Summary

Gargi Pal Chaudhuri, BlackRock's chief investment strategist for the Americas, joins Closing Bell Overtime to discuss her 2026 outlook after the Dow closed above 49,000. She remains pro-risk, expects AI to stay a major market driver, and sees opportunities outside AI in income assets, gold, international markets, and Asian semiconductors. She also discusses geopolitical risk, Fed rate-cut potential, and portfolio diversification.

  • Dow closes above 49,000 for the first time; chip and memory stocks led.
  • Gargi Pal Chaudhuri is pro-risk for 2026 on above-trend growth, potential Fed cuts, and US productivity.
  • She expects AI to remain a major market driver but advises diversification within and away from AI.
  • She favors income via public fixed income, private credit, and dividend equities.
  • She views gold as a diversifier, especially in a geopolitical risk-off scenario.
  • She sees Asia, especially Asian semiconductors, as a way to diversify AI exposure.
  • She says geopolitical headlines usually matter only if they alter growth or inflation.
Ideas
Gargi Chaudhuri Head of iShares Investment Strategy, BlackRock 0:50
Pro-risk on growth, Fed cuts, productivity
We are pro-risk because growth is likely to remain above trend, the Fed has signaled willingness to cut rates significantly if growth slows, and potential large US productivity gains should support growth. This creates a favorable backdrop for equities and risk assets inside and outside AI.
Equities HIGH
Gargi Chaudhuri Head of iShares Investment Strategy, BlackRock 0:54
AI remains a major market driver
AI remains a big driver of markets. We are pro-risk and still think AI will lead, even as we also look for opportunities outside AI; more than 50% of clients want diversified versions of the AI story.
AI-SECTOR HIGH
Gargi Chaudhuri Head of iShares Investment Strategy, BlackRock 2:52
Seek income across public and private markets
Seeking income is a major theme for resilient portfolios. Investors should look for income in public fixed income, private credit, and dividend equities, and can blend public and private markets to achieve it.
Public fixed income BIZD SCHD HIGH
Gargi Chaudhuri Head of iShares Investment Strategy, BlackRock 3:17
Gold as geopolitical risk-off diversifier
Gold is a valuable portfolio diversifier. It worked very well in 2025 and can work well in a geopolitical risk-off scenario if one occurs.
GLD MED
Gargi Chaudhuri Head of iShares Investment Strategy, BlackRock 4:17
Asia diversifies AI exposure
International markets, especially Asia, offer a way to diversify the AI theme. Clients like the AI story but want different versions, and Asia is a differentiated AI theme that has resonated, with records already broken in Asian markets.
AAXJ HIGH
Gargi Chaudhuri Head of iShares Investment Strategy, BlackRock 4:35
Asian semis diversify AI exposure
Asian semiconductor names are a good source of diversification within the AI story, offering a different version of AI exposure as investors look beyond US AI leaders.
Asian semiconductors MED
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This CNBC video, published January 06, 2026, features Gargi Chaudhuri discussing Equities, AI-SECTOR, Public fixed income, BIZD, SCHD, GLD, AAXJ, Asian semiconductors. 6 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Gargi Chaudhuri  · Tickers: Equities, AI-SECTOR, Public fixed income, BIZD, SCHD, GLD, AAXJ, Asian semiconductors