Companies like Papa John's and EBay announce restructuring and job cuts, while TD Bank, Krispy Kreme, Shake Shack, Hormel, LSEG, Puma, Schneider Electric, Eni, Allianz, and AXA report strong profits and positive turnarounds; however, Gildan, Stellantis, Warner Bros. Discovery, Munich Re, and the Washington Post face challenges like lower revenue, losses, or currency headwinds.

• Papa John’s International Closing Hundreds of Pizza Shops — Wall Street Journal -
• TD Bank Quarterly Earnings Lifted by Growth Across Operations — Wall Street Journal -
• EBay to Cut 800 Jobs in Strategic Restructuring — Wall Street Journal -

• Krispy Kreme Shares Jump as Turnaround Gains Traction — Wall Street Journal -
• J.M. Smucker Adds Directors in Deal With Activist Firm Elliott — Wall Street Journal -
• Shake Shack Profit Rises as Deals Draw Customers — Wall Street Journal -
• Indra Sistemas Shares Jump as Spanish Armed Forces Overhaul Drives Orders — Wall Street Journal -
• Gildan Sets Lower-Than-Expected 2026 Targets After Sluggish Quarter — Wall Street Journal -
• Stellantis Targets Return to Profit After Costly EV About-Turn — Wall Street Journal -
• Hormel Posts Higher Profit, Sales Amid Turnaround — Wall Street Journal -
• Warner Bros. Discovery Revenue Declines as Netflix, Paramount Vie for Deal — Wall Street Journal -
• LSEG Shares Rise After Forecast of Profitability Boost, $4 Billion Buybacks — Wall Street Journal -
• Puma Shares Rise as Results Top Estimates Despite Swing to Loss — Wall Street Journal -
• WPP Overhauls Structure, Slashes Dividend in Turnaround Plan — Wall Street Journal -
• Munich Re Profit Dented By Currency Headwinds — Wall Street Journal -
• Schneider Electric Posts Record Revenue, CFO to Step Down — Wall Street Journal -
• Eni Earnings Rise on Higher Production — Wall Street Journal -
• Allianz Posts Rise in Operating Profit, Issues In-Line Guidance — Wall Street Journal -
• French Insurer AXA Reports Profit Rise After Asset Manager Sale — Wall Street Journal -
• Washington Post Losses Topped $100 Million in 2025 — Wall Street Journal -

Despite Nvidia's blockbuster earnings, its shares surprisingly fell, reflecting market jitters, while Revel secured significant funding for hardware software, Baidu's profit dropped amid AI transitions, and both China and India show strong AI interest, sparking debates over AI regulation and the human element in consulting.

• Nvidia shares fall as blockbuster results fail to dazzle — Financial Times -
• Why Nvidia’s Big Profits Aren’t Lifting Markets — The New York Times Business -
• Revel, a Maker of Software for Running Hardware, Raises $150 Million — The New York Times Business -

• A.I. Dating Apps Complicate China’s Efforts to Boost Birthrate — The New York Times Business -
• ‘Piloting’ AI Tools Isn’t Cool Anymore — Wall Street Journal -
• Baidu Profit Drops as Revenue Decline Continues — Wall Street Journal -
• FirstFT: Nvidia stock downbeat despite blockbuster quarter — Financial Times -
• China’s latest chip push and AI fever in India — Financial Times -
• Tech groups turn to more chip-backed loans to fund AI arms race — Financial Times -
• Inside the $265mn war over who writes America’s AI rules — Financial Times -
• Consultancies prioritise the human touch — Financial Times -
• Nvidia Beats Back Bubble Fears With Record $68 Billion in Sales in Fourth Quarter — Wall Street Journal -
• Salesforce chief dismisses ‘SaaS-pocalypse’ fears of AI overtaking business software — Financial Times -

Major international events include Cuba's deadly shooting incident, US-Iran nuclear talks, and Gulf petrostates boosting crude exports amidst US strike fears, while US tariff policies face over 900 lawsuits and Supreme Court challenges, Europe grapples with transatlantic relations and industrial subsidies, and North Korea's military parade highlights regional tensions.

• Cuba shoots four dead on US boat — Financial Times -
• US and Iran hold nuclear talks after Rubio warning — Financial Times -
• Gulf petrostates rush to export crude amid fears of US strike on Iran — Financial Times -

• More than 900 companies sue US over Trump’s tariff regime — Financial Times -
• How should Europe prepare for a transatlantic divorce? You asked, Ben Hall answered — Financial Times -
• It’s payback time for Trump’s tariff fiasco — Financial Times -
• Ukraine and the new economics of war — Financial Times -
• Shipping Industry Sends Strong Consumer Demand Signal For The Year — Wall Street Journal -
• Stellantis warns of higher US tariff costs as it reports €22bn loss — Financial Times -
• Supreme Court ruling on tariffs unleashes wave of legal challenges — Financial Times -
• North Korea’s Kim and daughter take centre stage at military parade — Financial Times -
• EU states clash over industrial subsidies amid competitiveness push — Financial Times -
• China targets ‘happy fat water’ soft drinks for economic sugar fix — Financial Times -
• Do America’s carmakers have a plan for survival? — Financial Times -
• The battle for the world’s most coveted elements — Financial Times -
• US arrests former air force pilot over collaborating with China — Financial Times -
• Wall Street Traders Are Pouncing on the Tariff Refund Chaos — Wall Street Journal -
• Iran to offer ‘commercial bonanza’ to US companies — Financial Times -
• The $130 Billion Race for Companies to Get Their Tariff Money Back — Wall Street Journal -

The financial landscape sees Victory Capital's competing bid for Janus Henderson, Hong Kong's emergence as a global gold trade hub and record IPO year, a Bitcoin baron's libertarian paradise ambition in Nevis, a new Fed-Treasury accord, concerns over private credit groups like Blue Owl, and PayPal being considered a takeover target.

• Victory Capital Files Competing Bid to Acquire Janus Henderson — Wall Street Journal -
• Hong Kong stakes its claim on the global gold trade — Financial Times -
• He Hopes to Turn the Island of Nevis Into a Libertarian Paradise, With Crypto — The New York Times Business -

• A new Fed-Treasury accord is already under way — Financial Times -
• Hong Kong exchange posts record profits on Chinese listings boom — Financial Times -
• HKEX Has Record Year as Hong Kong Reclaims IPO Crown — Wall Street Journal -
• Black and Blue Owl — Financial Times -
• PayPal’s plunge makes it a tempting takeover target — Financial Times -
• How Blue Owl’s battles sparked a chill for private credit — Financial Times -
• US should not be the default IPO choice — Financial Times -
• Engie to Buy UK Power Networks for $14.2 Billion From Hong Kong’s CK Group — Wall Street Journal -
• Japan is the ultimate Halo trade — Financial Times -
• BlueScope Says $11 Billion Steel Dynamics, SGH Takeover Offer Insufficient — Wall Street Journal -

Concerns over ethical conduct resurface as World Economic Forum chief Borge Brende resigned and Jeffrey Epstein associates like Joichi Ito face scrutiny over past ties, alongside Kalshi's insider trading accusations against a 'MrBeast' employee.

• How a Close Associate of Epstein’s Found Career Redemption in Japan — The New York Times Business -
• Kalshi Accuses a ‘MrBeast’ Employee of Insider Trading — The New York Times Business -
• World Economic Forum Chief Resigns Over Epstein Ties — The New York Times Business -

• World Economic Forum Chief Steps Down After Epstein Probe — Wall Street Journal -

Significant developments include the building of the world's most expensive nuclear power plant, Trump's 'drill, baby, drill' energy agenda, Europe's struggle to stockpile fast-changing drones, the UK's first commercial lithium plant opening, Morocco's energy future ambitions, and Italy's proposals to cut power prices.

• How to Build the World’s Most Expensive Nuclear Power Plant — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump touts ‘drill, baby, drill’ agenda in State of the Union — Financial Times -
• Energy & Utilities Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -

• Europe struggles to stockpile fast-changing drones — Financial Times -
• UK’s first commercial lithium plant opens in boost to domestic metals mining — Financial Times -
• The scramble for Morocco's energy future | FT Film — Financial Times -
• Italy pitches a nifty idea to cut power prices — Financial Times -

Key UK news involves a football regulator warning Premier League clubs to support rivals, a surge in UK citizenship applications, Sadiq Khan's push for Oxford Street pedestrianization, Rolls-Royce's buyback plans alongside state aid bids, a sharp cut in UK work visa numbers, and Bank of England's dovish shift hinting at a March rate cut amidst housing market dynamics.

• Premier League clubs must help weaker rivals survive, says football regulator — Financial Times -
• UK immigration officers deny stealing from migrants — Financial Times -
• Rolls-Royce boss defends state aid bid for new engine despite share buyback — Financial Times -

• UK citizenship applications surge as Reform vows settlement crackdown — Financial Times -
• Sadiq Khan pushes ahead with Oxford Street pedestrianisation — Financial Times -
• UK work visa numbers cut sharply in 2025 — Financial Times -
• Rolls-Royce Plans $12 Billion Buyback, Raises 2028 Targets — Wall Street Journal -
• UK government debt sales set to fall for first time in four years — Financial Times -
• Bank of England’s dovish shift heralds March cut — Financial Times -
• UK house prices ‘bunching’ to avoid mansion tax — Financial Times -

New ACA plans are proposed that could **increase family deductibles to $31,000**, sparking debate over healthcare affordability.

• New A.C.A. Plans Could Increase Family Deductibles to $31,000 — The New York Times Business -