By William Collins, consultant in stock markets – Eurasia Business News, January 27, 2026. Article no 2010
UnitedHealth’s sharp drop on January 27, pulled the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower, which fell 527 points, or 1.3 percent, while health‑insurance shares broadly sold off at the same time gold remained above 5,100 dollars per ounce.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) tumbled roughly 15–20% as investors reacted to weaker‑than‑expected Medicare Advantage payment assumptions and guidance pointing to slower revenue growth in 2026. Because UnitedHealth is a heavyweight component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, this decline acted as a major drag on the index, causing the Dow to lag other benchmarks that day.
S&P 500: rose around 0.5% and finished at a record closing high (often cited near 6,988 on broad “US500” benchmarks), supported by strength in large technology stocks and other growth names.
Nasdaq Composite gained roughly 0.9% and closed around 23,817, also at or near a record, led by big tech and chipmakers.
Health‑insurance stocks slide
The pressure was not limited to UnitedHealth. Other large managed‑care names such as Humana and CVS Health also fell sharply after proposals for near‑flat Medicare Advantage reimbursement raised concerns about future margins across the sector. Markets viewed these policy signals as a sector‑specific shock, which is why health‑insurance stocks underperformed even as parts of the broader market, especially technology, held up better.
Gold above $ 5,000
On the same date, gold futures continued to trade above 5,000 dollars per troy ounce, extending a powerful multi‑month rally. Recent quotes and analysis show spot and futures prices fluctuating around the 5,050–5,100 range, with intraday highs above 5,100 as investors sought safety amid political tensions, tariff threats, and worries about U.S. fiscal policy.
Silver above $110
Silver spot and futures closed between roughly $111.50 and $112.80 per troy ounce, up sharply—around 3–8%—from the prior day’s levels near $109–$110. Intraday trading saw highs above $113 and even touched toward record territory near $117 earlier in the week, with volatility evident in a session range from about $103 to $113.50.
Why these moves matter
The combination of a sector‑specific hit to health insurers and record‑high gold underscores a market split between risk assets and perceived havens. For a diversified investor, this episode illustrates how index performance can be heavily influenced by a few large constituents like UnitedHealth, while commodities such as gold can rally on macro and policy anxiety even when parts of the equity market remain resilient.
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© Copyright 2026 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 2010
Eurasia Business News 