The AI and semiconductor sector sees Arm Holdings expecting slower revenue growth despite AI demand, US tech stocks experiencing selling waves, **Google planning to double AI spending to $185 billion after strong earnings, and Nvidia's AI chip sales to China stalled by US security review, alongside Texas Instruments acquiring Silicon Labs** for $7.5 billion and Snap's Perplexity deal being delayed.

• Arm Holdings Expects Slower Revenue Growth in Fourth-Quarter — Wall Street Journal -
• US tech stocks hit by fresh wave of selling as Qualcomm and AMD tumble — Financial Times -
• Google Plans to Double Spending Amid A.I. Race — The New York Times Business -

• Qualcomm First-Quarter Sales Rise, But Memory Shortage Dents Outlook — Wall Street Journal -
• Google set to double AI spending to $185bn after strong earnings — Financial Times -
• Snap Sales Rise But Perplexity Deal Is Delayed — Wall Street Journal -
• Why A.I. Fears Are Battering Stocks, Again — The New York Times Business -
• Ron DeSantis lashes out at ‘harmful’ AI in break with Trump’s White House — Financial Times -
• Bedrock, an A.I. Start-Up for Construction, Raises $270 Million — The New York Times Business -
• Texas Instruments agrees to buy chip designer Silicon Laboratories — Financial Times -
• Texas Instruments to Acquire Silicon Labs in Deal Valued at $7.5 Billion — Wall Street Journal -
• Anthropic Takes Aim at OpenAI’s ChatGPT in Super Bowl Ad Debut — Wall Street Journal -
• Prologis Might Fund Data Centers With New Pool of Investor Capital — Wall Street Journal -
• Infineon Raises Investments to Meet Unrelenting AI Chip Demand — Wall Street Journal -
• US stocks drop on fears AI will hit software and analytics groups — Financial Times -
• The central bank of Elon Musk — Financial Times -
• Why absolutely everyone is peddling an AI application — Financial Times -
• 01.ai's Kai-Fu Lee: Why China will beat the US in consumer AI — Financial Times -
• Nvidia AI chip sales to China stalled by US security review — Financial Times -
• The Out-of-This-World Reasons for Elon Musk’s SpaceX Deal — Wall Street Journal -

Various companies report Q4 and annual results, including Boston Scientific's rising profit with soft guidance, AbbVie's revenue growth on immunology, Fox's climbing revenue from cable and advertising, Eli Lilly's profit surge on weight-loss drugs, and Yum Brands' growth at Taco Bell and KFC, while Carlsberg's net profit falls due to declining beer consumption and Equifax's revenue rises despite weak markets.

• New York Times Stock Drops Despite Strong Fourth-Quarter Results — Wall Street Journal -
• New York Times Added 1.4 Million Digital Subscribers in 2025 — The New York Times Business -
• Boston Scientific Profit, Sales Rise but Issues Soft Guidance — Wall Street Journal -

• AbbVie Revenue Rises on Immunology Growth — Wall Street Journal -
• Fox Revenue Climbs on Growth in Cable, Advertising — Wall Street Journal -
• Yum Brands Logs Higher Revenue on Growth at Taco Bell, KFC — Wall Street Journal -
• Equifax Revenue Rises Despite Weak Hiring, Mortgage Markets — Wall Street Journal -
• GE HealthCare Technologies Posts Lower Profit, Despite Higher Revenue — Wall Street Journal -
• Carlsberg Net Profit Falls as Beer Consumption Declines — Wall Street Journal -
• Some Brands Aren’t Spending Like YouTube Is the New TV — Wall Street Journal -
• Carlsberg sales volumes hit after losing San Miguel UK licence — Financial Times -
• Volvo Car Sales Fell in Three Months to End of January — Wall Street Journal -
• Rolex Seller Watches of Switzerland Lifts Sales View on Strong Demand — Wall Street Journal -
• GSK’s Specialty Medicines Drive Solid Results — Wall Street Journal -
• Equinor Posts Earning Slide, Targets Cost Cuts in 2026 — Wall Street Journal -
• Credit Agricole Profit Slides on Banco BPM Stake Consolidation — Wall Street Journal -
• Meat Processors Take a Hit as Cattle Prices Remain High — The New York Times Business -
• Grammy Awards Audience Declines by a Million Viewers — The New York Times Business -
• Food and drink companies suffer as US shopper sentiment sinks — Financial Times -

The regulatory landscape sees Senators accuse Equifax of price-gouging Medicaid, Nike facing federal investigation for alleged bias against white workers, France raiding X in a social media showdown, the FTC settling with Express Scripts over insulin prices, and Congress reining in drug middlemen, amidst discussions on Federal Reserve accountability and disputes over federal funding for infrastructure in New York and New Jersey.

• Senators Accuse Equifax of ‘Price-Gouging’ Medicaid Programs — The New York Times Business -
• Nike, Accused of Bias Against White Workers, Is Under Federal Investigation — The New York Times Business -
• Opinion | Netflix Gets a Beltway Beating — Wall Street Journal -

• Opinion | Social Media Bans for Kids Fuel Censorship for Adults — Wall Street Journal -
• F.T.C. Settles With Express Scripts Over High Insulin Prices — The New York Times Business -
• Bessent Says Fed Lacks Accountability and Has Lost Public Trust — The New York Times Business -
• Nike Subpoenaed Over Alleged Discrimination Against White Workers — Wall Street Journal -
• Orbán orders courts to drop lawsuits against his government — Financial Times -
• Top Senate Republican says Fed’s Powell has not ‘committed a crime’ — Financial Times -
• State Fiscal Chiefs Protest Federal Immigration Chaos — The New York Times Business -
• UK delays worker protections against ‘fire and rehire’ practices — Financial Times -
• How the Bank of England can improve its decision-making — Financial Times -
• Congress Reins In Drug Middlemen in Effort to Lower Prescription Prices — The New York Times Business -
• Reading the runes on a Warsh Fed — Financial Times -
• How the Federal Reserve might change under Kevin Warsh — Financial Times -
• New York and New Jersey Sue Administration for Withholding Gateway Tunnel Funding — Wall Street Journal -
• Warsh faces Senate battle as lawmakers object to Trump’s attacks on Fed — Financial Times -
• Use more AI and video hearings to fix English courts system, report says — Financial Times -

The media sector experiences significant upheaval, with the Washington Post cutting over 300 jobs and eliminating its sports department amidst financial challenges, while the New York Times reports strong subscriber gains despite a stock drop, and the NFL seeks to revise TV deals years early, alongside Disney appointing a new CEO and Grammy Awards viewership declining.

• Washington Post Cuts More Than 300 Jobs — The New York Times Business -
• France’s Raid on X Escalates Trans-Atlantic Showdown Over Social Media — The New York Times Business -
• The Washington Post Eliminates Its Sports Department — The New York Times Business -

• Washington Post Lays Off One-Third of Staff in Bid to Reshape the Company — Wall Street Journal -
• NFL Wants to Revise TV Deals Years Before They Expire — The New York Times Business -
• The Questionable Science Behind the Odd-Looking Football Helmets — The New York Times Business -
• Washington Post cuts about a third of staff to tackle ‘financial challenges’ — Financial Times -
• Disney’s new CEO beat ‘100 rivals’ to the job. Can he win over Wall Street? — Financial Times -
• Disney’s Future Now Depends on the Ultimate Theme Park Insider — Wall Street Journal -

International relations are tense, with Iran urged to prepare for negotiations with the US, the White House seeking a critical minerals trade zone to curb China's dominance, Trump and Xi discussing Ukraine and trade, and India struggling to reduce reliance on Russian oil, while Eurozone inflation falls below target and British companies gain access to EU loans for Ukraine.

• Iran should prepare for ‘meaningful’ negotiations with US, Rubio says — Financial Times -
• White House seeks critical minerals trade zone to curb China’s dominance — Financial Times -
• Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison takes Panama to arbitration over canal ports ruling — Financial Times -

• Trump and Xi discuss Ukraine and trade ahead of US state visit to Beijing — Financial Times -
• British companies set to gain access to €90bn EU loan for Ukraine — Financial Times -
• Britain can’t ignore Europe and China at the same time — Financial Times -
• Eurozone inflation falls below target in January — Financial Times -
• Eurozone inflation falls to 1.7% in January — Financial Times -
• Bulgarians Adopt the Euro With a Whisper of Melancholy but Few Tears — The New York Times Business -
• Senators push $70bn funding deal to support Trump’s critical minerals agenda — Financial Times -
• Zurich Insurance Reaches $11 Billion Deal to Buy U.K. Insurer Beazley — Wall Street Journal -
• Hong Kong Company Challenges Panama Court Ruling Canceling Its Port Contracts — Wall Street Journal -
• Ukraine peace talks resume even as Russia breaks temporary ceasefire — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: The race to secure rare earth supplies — Financial Times -
• Amundi says it will cut exposure to US over coming year — Financial Times -
• Russian spy spacecraft have intercepted Europe’s key satellites, officials believe — Financial Times -
• Rare earths customers in rush to find alternatives to Chinese suppliers — Financial Times -
• From arms to orbit: Rheinmetall’s expansion unsettles rivals — Financial Times -
• Why India Will Struggle to Reduce Its Reliance on Russian Oil — Wall Street Journal -
• America’s Critical-Minerals Strategy Looks Increasingly Chinese — Wall Street Journal -
• India hails Trump ‘deal’ but ducks discussing Russian oil ban — Financial Times -

Financial markets show mixed signals, as private credit experiences cracks amid default concerns, UBS shares fall due to U.S. wealth-management outflows, Indonesia's richest man launches buybacks after a stock rout, and Santander launches a buyback alongside earnings beat, while Brookfield Asset Management announces a new CEO and Tether retreats from funding ambitions.

• ESG Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Once the Hottest Bet on Wall St., Private Credit Has Started to Crack — The New York Times Business -
• D.E. Shaw Pushes for Board Shake-Up at Real-Estate Data Giant CoStar — Wall Street Journal -

• Brookfield Asset Management Names Connor Teskey CEO — Wall Street Journal -
• Brookfield steps up succession planning with new asset management head — Financial Times -
• UBS Shares Fall After Money Outflows Hit U.S. Wealth-Management Business — Wall Street Journal -
• Indonesia’s richest man launches buybacks after worst stock rout in decades — Financial Times -
• Spain’s Santander Launches Buyback Alongside Earnings Beat — Wall Street Journal -
• Tether retreats from $20bn funding ambitions after investor pushback — Financial Times -
• Banks seek out new buyers for Oracle data centre loans — Financial Times -

The healthcare sector faces shifts with Novo Nordisk warning of its first sales drop since Ozempic's launch, Eli Lilly seeing profit rises from weight-loss drugs, and Novartis forecasting profitability hits from generic drug competition, while the number of late-night pharmacies in England plummets and an **NHS drugs deal with the US is projected to cost £1bn**.

• Novo Nordisk Warns of First Sales Drop Since Start of Ozempic — The New York Times Business -
• Health Care Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Eli Lilly Profit Rises as Weight-Loss Drug Demand Surges — Wall Street Journal -

• Novartis Forecasts Profitability Hit From Generic Drug Competition in U.S. — Wall Street Journal -
• Number of late-night pharmacies in England plummets — Financial Times -
• NHS drugs deal with US to cost £1bn over next three years — Financial Times -

Multiple legal and accountability issues emerge, including Epstein-related revelations detailing his ties to business figures like a former prince and a Kirkland lawyer, the founder of First Brands pleading not guilty to fraud charges, and Palestine Action activists being cleared of aggravated burglary, alongside concerns about worker protections in the UK and the impact of US foreign aid cuts on garment worker rights.

• Epstein advised former prince’s team on proposed deal with Cantor Fitzgerald — Financial Times -
• First Brands founder Patrick James pleads not guilty in company’s collapse — Financial Times -
• Six Palestine Action activists cleared of aggravated burglary — Financial Times -

• Kirkland lawyer sought use of Epstein helicopter after securing plea — Financial Times -
• ‘We made a lot of money working together’: Epstein’s in-house trader revealed — Financial Times -
• How US foreign aid cuts put garment worker rights on a precipice — Financial Times -
• Flirty Emails and Chummy Photos Show How Far Epstein Reached Into Business World — Wall Street Journal -

The automotive sector sees Ford's January U.S. sales decline amidst a slowdown in EV sales, Volvo Car sales falling, and China's Chery expanding its brand to the UK, while Uber accelerates growth outside cities despite profits falling short, and Ford holds talks with Geely on plant capacity and platform sharing.

• Auto & Transport Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Uber Accelerates Growth Outside of Cities, Names New CFO — Wall Street Journal -
• Ford January U.S. Sales Decline as EV Sales Slow — Wall Street Journal -

• China’s Chery to add fourth brand in UK expansion push — Financial Times -
• Uber hits 200mn users as profits fall short — Financial Times -
• Ford in talks with Geely to use spare plant capacity and platform sharing — Financial Times -

Real estate and infrastructure developments include Congress targeting the housing crisis with solutions eluding Trump, who stated housing prices should be higher, alongside efforts to boost homebuilding in England, discussions around the role of religious buildings in new town planning, and Prologis considering funding data centers with new investor capital.

• Congress Targets Housing Crisis as Solutions Elude Trump — The New York Times Business -
• How central should religious buildings be to new town planning? — Financial Times -
• Prologis Might Fund Data Centers With New Pool of Investor Capital — Wall Street Journal -

• Trump Says Housing Prices Should Be Higher, Not Lower — The New York Times Business -
• How to get England building more homes, not ‘bat tunnels’ — Financial Times -
• Who killed the British flat? — Financial Times -

Political and societal news covers Trump's border tsar announcing a withdrawal of federal agents from Minneapolis, Britain's inequitable student loan system sparking discontent, South Africa's Democratic Alliance leader stepping down, and Hungary's Orbán ordering courts to drop lawsuits against his government, alongside speculation around UK and Japanese political leadership, and a reassessment of Africa's economic trajectory.

• Trump’s border tsar announces withdrawal of 700 federal agents from Minneapolis — Financial Times -
• Starmer engulfed in leadership speculation as he backtracks over Mandelson papers — Financial Times -
• Farage calls for EU to probe Mandelson’s time in Brussels — Financial Times -

• Britain’s inequitable student loan system — Financial Times -
• South Africa’s Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen steps down — Financial Times -
• Pressure grows on Starmer’s chief of staff over Mandelson ambassador appointment — Financial Times -
• The angelic Meloni behind a fresco fiasco — Financial Times -
• Reform councillor steps down as head of Kent’s cost-cutting drive — Financial Times -
• ‘Neoroyalism’ and What It Says About Trump — The New York Times Business -
• How Africa Works by Joe Studwell — how to change the economic trajectory — Financial Times -
• Can Sanae Takaichi govern Japan on star power alone? — Financial Times -
• Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of former Libyan dictator, killed in attack — Financial Times -

Miscellaneous business and lifestyle stories include individuals 'biohacking' for work performance, US crude oil stockpiles falling, Chile aiming for growth with a copper boom, and UK consumers potentially rediscovering their mojo, while Henkel acquires Stahl in a $2.5 billion deal, and various Hong Kong hotels receive top rankings.

• Are You ‘Biohacking’ to Perform Better at Work? We Want to Hear From You. — The New York Times Business -
• U.S. Crude Oil Stockpiles Fall Amid Lower Production — Wall Street Journal -
• The Dell Scion Who Wants to Shore Up the Texas Power Grid — Wall Street Journal -

• Chile aims for growth surge as copper booms — Financial Times -
• Are UK consumers about to rediscover their mojo? — Financial Times -
• Submit your questions: Are US markets and the economy as strong as Trump claims? — Financial Times -
• For a Long Valentine’s Weekend, 6 Wellness Getaways — The New York Times Business -
• A Journalist Who Looks for Clues in Plain Sight — The New York Times Business -
• Henkel to Buy Coatings Company Stahl in $2.5 Billion Deal — Wall Street Journal -
• Inside Rosewood Hong Kong, the world’s top-ranked hotel — Financial Times -
• The Regent Hong Kong: making waves again — Financial Times -
• Upper House Hong Kong: an elevated take on quiet luxury — Financial Times -
• Lanson Place Causeway Bay: gently glamorous, eminently practical — Financial Times -
• Hong Kong’s Island Shangri-La hotel: beyond the grand entrance — Financial Times -
• Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong: six decades of star power — Financial Times -