Companies like Roblox and News Corp reported revenue growth, while others such as Coty, Peloton, Maersk, and Volvo Car faced losses or lower outlooks, reflecting a mixed earnings season with Cardinal Health, Rockwell Automation, Sony Group, Tapestry, Cigna, Danske Bank, BBVA, and BNP Paribas showing positive results or improved guidance.

• Roblox Guides for Higher Revenue in 2026 — Wall Street Journal -
• News Corp Revenue Rises on Growth at Dow Jones, Real-Estate Divisions — Wall Street Journal -
• Coty Swings to Second-Quarter Loss, Withdraws Fiscal-Year Guidance — Wall Street Journal -

• Affirm Sales Jump Driven by Higher Gross Merchandise Volume — Wall Street Journal -
• Reddit Logs Higher Fourth-Quarter Profit as Ad Revenue Jumps — Wall Street Journal -
• Cardinal Health Shares Jump After Lifting Outlook on Pharma Momentum — Wall Street Journal -
• ConocoPhillips Posts Weaker Profit on Lower Prices — Wall Street Journal -
• Peloton Revenue Falls on Declining Subscriptions as CFO Leaves — Wall Street Journal -
• Vestas Shares Slide After Mixed Earnings Report — Wall Street Journal -
• Hershey Expects Higher Prices to Boost 2026 Profit — Wall Street Journal -
• Rockwell Automation Lifts Guidance as Profit Jumps — Wall Street Journal -
• Sony Group Raises Guidance on Gains From Peanuts Gang — Wall Street Journal -
• Canada Goose Profit Slips on Higher Costs — Wall Street Journal -
• Tapestry Boosts Outlook as Coach Sales Surge — Wall Street Journal -
• Estee Lauder Lifts Outlook, Warns of Tariff Impact — Wall Street Journal -
• Cigna Revenue Lifted by Growth in its Evernorth Unit — Wall Street Journal -
• Maersk fears first loss in a decade after rise in container shipping capacity — Financial Times -
• BT stems customer losses as broadband competition abates — Financial Times -
• Rheinmetall Shares Under Pressure as Forecasts Miss Expectations — Wall Street Journal -
• Vodafone Shares Fall After Revenue Disappoints, Dragged by Turkey Weakness — Wall Street Journal -
• Shell Keeps $3.5 Billion Buyback Despite Slide in Earnings — Wall Street Journal -
• Maersk Shares Slide on Lower Earnings Outlook — Wall Street Journal -
• Volvo Car Shares Slump as Automaker Warns of Another Tough Year — Wall Street Journal -
• Anglo American Cuts 2027 Copper Guidance as Production Declines — Wall Street Journal -
• Steelmaker ArcelorMittal Eyes Boost From Europe’s Protections — Wall Street Journal -
• Siemens Healthineers Core Businesses Offset Currency, Tariff Challenges — Wall Street Journal -
• Danske Bank Launches New $712 Million Buyback After Ending 2025 on High Note — Wall Street Journal -
• Spain’s BBVA Profit Rises on Loan Growth — Wall Street Journal -
• BNP Paribas Lifts Midterm Targets — Wall Street Journal -
• BNP Paribas lifts outlook for shareholder returns — Financial Times -

The tech sector is heavily investing in AI, with Amazon and Google planning massive spending increases despite initial share drops, while the broader market saw Big Tech shares slide amid concerns over AI's impact on private capital giants and job cuts, yet new AI ventures like Fundamental secured significant deals.

• Amazon Shares Sink as Company Boosts AI Spending by Nearly 60% — Wall Street Journal -
• Amazon shares sink as it prepares $200bn AI spending blitz — Financial Times -
• Shares of private capital giants sink on worries AI risks hitting growth — Financial Times -

• Big Tech shares slide for third day with AI stocks under pressure — Financial Times -
• AI agents are prompting human boom scrolling — Financial Times -
• AI venture Fundamental secures $1.2bn valuation and Amazon deal — Financial Times -
• Meet the Non-Tech Firms Betting Big on the AI Boom — Wall Street Journal -
• Google set to double AI spending to $185bn after strong earnings — Financial Times -
• Top Republican senator criticises probe into Jay Powell — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Tech stocks hit by AI concerns — Financial Times -
• Startup Pitches X-Rays and AI to Catch Fraudulent Returns — Wall Street Journal -
• Where is AI showing up in the productivity data? — Financial Times -
• Kevin Warsh channels Alan Greenspan in AI productivity bet — Financial Times -
• Google Plans to Double Spending Amid A.I. Race — The New York Times Business -

New Epstein files continued to reveal famous names and Silicon Valley connections, leading to Brad Karp's resignation from Paul Weiss and apologies from UK Prime Minister Starmer amidst Mandelson's involvement and calls for accountability across various institutions.

• The Famous Names in the Latest Release of Epstein Files — Wall Street Journal -
• Starmer apologises to victims of Epstein — Financial Times -
• Former prince advocated for Epstein during Queen Elizabeth’s visit to UAE — Financial Times -

• A Revolt Inside Paul Weiss Over the Epstein Files Took Down Brad Karp — Wall Street Journal -
• Files Reveal Epstein’s Money Mingled with Silicon Valley’s Tech Start-Ups — The New York Times Business -
• Brad Karp’s Fall Shows Growing Fallout From Epstein Files — The New York Times Business -
• Brad Karp Resigns as Paul Weiss Chairman Amid Epstein Fallout — The New York Times Business -
• Mandelson sought help from Epstein on setting up advisory firm — Financial Times -
• Mandelson and the money that never sleeps — Financial Times -
• Sterling hit as pressure mounts on Starmer — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Tech stocks hit by AI concerns — Financial Times -
• Leader of Paul Weiss Resigns Over Epstein Ties — Wall Street Journal -

The Trump administration is actively shaping policy, from funding Maga-aligned think-tanks and launching TrumpRx to endorsing Japan's Sanae Takaichi and pushing for a new nuclear treaty with Russia, while the US labor market saw job cuts surge in January, prompting debate on the economy's strength.

• US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe — Financial Times -
• White House to launch TrumpRx as drug companies warn of sales hit — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Donald Trump endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi ahead of election — Financial Times -

• Trump calls for new nuclear treaty with Russia as New Start expires — Financial Times -
• Trump rows back his criticism of UK’s Chagos Islands deal — Financial Times -
• US job cuts surge to highest January total since 2009 — Financial Times -
• Trump endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi ahead of general election — Financial Times -
• TrumpRx Is Set to Go Live on Thursday — The New York Times Business -
• Senators Accuse Equifax of ‘Price-Gouging’ Medicaid Programs — The New York Times Business -
• Are US markets and the economy as strong as Trump claims? You asked, we answered — Financial Times -
• US labour demand cools faster than expected in December — Financial Times -
• Catch Up on Trump’s Breakneck Critical-Minerals Drive — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump is Europe’s best enemy yet — Financial Times -
• Kevin Warsh will struggle to shrink Fed’s balance sheet — Financial Times -
• The truth about the ‘blue-collar boom’ — Financial Times -

Prime Minister Starmer is under intense pressure and facing leadership speculation following the Mandelson scandal and backtracking on related papers, while planned physics project funding cuts, salary sacrifice changes, and Westminster refit costs signal significant challenges for UK public finances and policy.

• Starmer on borrowed time as MPs weigh up how to mount leadership challenge — Financial Times -
• UK to scrap more than £250mn in planned physics project funding — Financial Times -
• UK think-tank close to Labour paid firm to identify source of leaks to media — Financial Times -

• Millions more UK workers to be hit by Reeves’ salary sacrifice changes — Financial Times -
• Westminster refit could hit £40bn if MPs do not relocate — Financial Times -
• Sterling hit by Starmer leadership speculation and BoE decision — Financial Times -
• Starmer engulfed in leadership speculation as he backtracks over Mandelson papers — Financial Times -
• Every doomed prime minister has a moment — this is Starmer’s — Financial Times -
• Nearly 70 English councils say they face insolvency over special needs debt — Financial Times -
• Companies House should probe origins of £200,000 gift to Reform, senior MP says — Financial Times -
• Rushing Brexit reset deal risks costing British farmers, Starmer told — Financial Times -

Central banks are maintaining cautious stances, with the Bank of England and ECB holding interest rates amid waning inflation and signs of stronger Eurozone growth, though Eurozone retail sales declined and Chinese provinces set lower growth targets, reflecting a nuanced global economic outlook.

• Inflation and interest rates tracker: see how your country compares — Financial Times -
• Bank of England holds rates at 3.75% in knife-edge vote — Financial Times -
• ECB holds interest rates at 2% — Financial Times -

• ECB holds rates and confirms inflation on track — Financial Times -
• Bank of England holds rate but sets up earlier cut — Financial Times -
• Eurozone Retail Sales Sank at End of 2025 — Wall Street Journal -
• Who are you calling PIGS now? — Financial Times -
• Chinese provinces set lower growth targets for 2026 — Financial Times -
• There are good reasons to be cheerful about global trade — Financial Times -

Geopolitical tensions persist, with US and Russian military talks resuming despite the Ukraine freeze, while Cuba is open to US talks amid an energy squeeze, Venezuela's oil sector faces challenges, and Russia-linked hackers targeted the Winter Olympics, alongside discussions on EU 'Buy European' rules and German trade partnerships.

• Cuba ready for US talks ‘with no preconditions’ as energy squeeze bites — Financial Times -
• US and Russian militaries to resume high-level talks — Financial Times -
• Venezuelan business looks to post-Maduro opportunities — Financial Times -

• Kyiv’s great freeze — Financial Times -
• Israel charges troops with smuggling iPhones and cigarettes into Gaza — Financial Times -
• Russia-linked hackers target Winter Olympics in Italy — Financial Times -
• Argentina’s homegrown companies lead oil and gas boom — Financial Times -
• Bringing euros to a weaponised currency fight — Financial Times -
• Syria courts energy majors as it takes control of oilfields — Financial Times -
• Merz tours the Gulf as Germany seeks new trading partners — Financial Times -
• Can Thailand’s establishment keep defying voters? — Financial Times -
• The controversial plan to set ‘Buy European’ rules — Financial Times -
• Inside the Russian Monopoly money network moving billions over borders — Financial Times -
• Can diplomacy avert a US-Iran war? — Financial Times -
• The $100 Billion Bet on Venezuelan Oil Relies on a Broken State Company — Wall Street Journal -

Various sectors are seeing significant activity, including KKR's acquisition of sports investor Arctos, Barrick's plans for a gold asset IPO, Volkswagen's wage hike agreement with the UAW, Pandora's shift to platinum jewelry, and Amazon's antitrust fine in Germany, alongside Washington Post layoffs and Spotify's venture into physical books.

• Opinion | A Lament for the Washington Post — Wall Street Journal -
• Puma’s new Chinese backer will give Nike a run for its money — Financial Times -
• Tech, Media & Telecom Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -

• Energy & Utilities Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Prediction market Kalshi seeks US approval to offer margin trades — Financial Times -
• Canada to Toughen Tailpipe Emissions Standards — Wall Street Journal -
• Bob’s Discount Furniture Bets on Value as It Heads to Public Market — Wall Street Journal -
• Novo Nordisk hits out at rival Hims & Hers over cheaper weight-loss pill — Financial Times -
• Peloton CFO Coddington Leaving for Solar-Energy Company Palmetto — Wall Street Journal -
• Barrick Aims for IPO of North American Gold Assets This Year — Wall Street Journal -
• Banco De Sabadell Appoints TSB’s Marc Armengol as Next CEO — Wall Street Journal -
• Opinion | The EU’s Secret Assault on Your Free Speech — Wall Street Journal -
• Opinion | Small Companies Still Handing Out Raises — Wall Street Journal -
• Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Verizon’s Consumer Unit CEO Sowmyanarayan Sampath to Step Down — Wall Street Journal -
• The Utah Mom Who Got the World Hooked on ‘Dirty Soda’ — Wall Street Journal -
• Rio Tinto, Glencore Abandon Megadeal Talks — Wall Street Journal -
• European Commission sued over landmark lithium project in Portugal — Financial Times -
• As software sinks, US oil majors are regaining their lustre — Financial Times -
• Volkswagen, UAW Agree to 20% Wage Hike for Tennessee Plant Workers — Wall Street Journal -
• As Silver Prices Soar, Pandora Switches to Platinum — The New York Times Business -
• He Was Laid Off at The Washington Post After Working There 60 Years — The New York Times Business -
• KKR to Acquire Pro Sports Investor Arctos in $1.4 Billion Deal — Wall Street Journal -
• Amazon Fined in Germany Over Price-Filtering Tools — Wall Street Journal -
• Spotify, a Major Audiobook Provider, Will Soon Offer Physical Books — Wall Street Journal -
• Bed down in London’s finest quilt emporium — Financial Times -
• Syngenta prepares to revive plans for IPO in Hong Kong — Financial Times -
• Pandora’s New CEO Turns to Platinum Jewelry to Offset Silver Volatility — Wall Street Journal -
• The Peninsula Hong Kong: heritage minus the hush — Financial Times -
• William Shatner Pitches Raisin Bran in Super Bowl Commercial — The New York Times Business -
• Virginia Oliver, Maine’s ‘Lobster Lady’ and Folk Hero, Dies at 105 — The New York Times Business -
• KKR to buy sports investment group Arctos for $1.4bn — Financial Times -
• Why KKR is buying Arctos for $1.4bn — Financial Times -
• Canadian pension funds to exit UK’s biggest port operator in £10bn deal — Financial Times -
• China has seized Sony’s television halo — Financial Times -
• On South Africa’s ‘Wild Coast’, a former leper colony is reborn as a dreamy retreat — Financial Times -
• Greener getaway: a sustainable wine retreat in Piedmont’s Gavi hills — Financial Times -
• Once the Hottest Bet on Wall St., Private Credit Has Started to Crack — The New York Times Business -
• Behind Disney’s Search for a Lasting Successor to Bob Iger — Wall Street Journal -
• Savannah Guthrie Posts Plea for Mother’s Return — Wall Street Journal -
• The Washington Post Eliminates Its Sports Department — The New York Times Business -
• Leapmotor: China’s no-frills EV maker aiming to become the next BYD — Financial Times -
• First Brands founder Patrick James pleads not guilty in company’s collapse — Financial Times -
• SpaceX Seeks Early Index Entry as It Prepares Massive IPO — Wall Street Journal -

The cryptocurrency market experienced a notable downturn, with Bitcoin dropping to its lowest price since the 2024 election, marking crypto's worst day since 2022 and leading to a **$12 billion loss for a Bitcoin booster and Gemini Space Station announcing significant staff cuts**.

• Bitcoin Drops to Lowest Price Since Trump Was Elected as Crypto Faces Slump — The New York Times Business -
• Bitcoin Booster’s $12 Billion Loss Headlines Crypto’s Worst Day Since 2022 Crash — Wall Street Journal -
• Gemini Space Station to Cut 25% of Staff in Broad Restructuring — Wall Street Journal -