US equities posted modest gains on Thursday as investors digested a strong January jobs report, fresh corporate earnings, and new labour market data, while keeping a close watch on inflation indicators that could shape the path of interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 295 points, or about 0.6%. ...

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits declined less than expected last week, suggesting the US labor market remains resilient despite signs of cooling hiring momentum and recent weather-related disruptions. Seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims fell by 5,000 to 227,000 in the week ending February 7, the Labor Department said on Thursday. ...

Cisco stock (NASDAQ: CSCO) slumped over 7% in the pre-market trading on Thursday despite its latest quarter ticking all the right boxes on headline numbers. The networking giant posted double-digit re... ...

Core Viewpoint - AppLovin's stock price declined by over 6% in after-hours trading following the release of its financial results, despite the company maintaining a positive outlook amid concerns regarding AI disruption [1] Financial Performance - The company reported its financial results, which included key metrics that reflect its operational performance [1] - Despite the stock price retreat, AppLovin expressed confidence in its future growth and resilience against potential AI-related challenges [1]

Economic Data - US stock index futures rose modestly following a stronger-than-expected labor market report, with payroll growth of 130,000 and a decline in the unemployment rate to 4.3% from 4.4% [1][1] - The probability of the Federal Reserve holding interest rates steady increased to nearly 40% from 24.8% a day earlier, although at least one rate reduction is still anticipated in June [1][1] Corporate Earnings - Corporate earnings are a key driver of stock movements, with companies like Restaurant Brands, Birkenstock, Howmet Aerospace, and Exelon reporting results [1][1] - Software stocks faced continued pressure, with AppLovin shares dropping 5.6% and Cisco Systems falling 8% in premarket trading due to disappointing guidance [1][1] Trade Policy and Geopolitical Developments - Reports suggest that the US and China may extend their trade truce for up to a year, with a meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping expected in early April [1][1] - The US House of Representatives voted to disapprove tariffs on Canada, indicating a shift in trade policy [1][1] - Applied Materials shares slipped 1% following a $252 million settlement related to illegal exports of chipmaking equipment to China [1][1]

Core Insights - Restaurant Brands International reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings and revenue, driven by the international growth of Burger King, which helped offset weaker performance in other brands [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter ended December 31 reached 96 cents, exceeding analyst expectations of 95 cents [1] - Revenue increased to $2.47 billion, surpassing forecasts of $2.41 billion [1] - Net income attributable to shareholders fell to $113 million, or 34 cents per share, down from $259 million, or 79 cents per share, in the same quarter last year [1] - Net sales rose by 7.4%, while organic revenue grew by 6.5% after excluding currency fluctuations and planned refranchising [1] - Same-store sales increased by 3.1%, with international markets showing the strongest gains [1] International Expansion - Burger King's international same-store sales growth was 5.8%, exceeding analyst expectations of 3.7% [1] - Restaurant Brands is accelerating international expansion through a joint venture in China, with CPE acquiring about 83% ownership of Burger King China [1] - The joint venture allows for shared operational responsibilities and investment costs, emphasizing the importance of China as a growth market [1] Brand Performance - Tim Hortons reported same-store sales growth of 2.9%, below analyst expectations of 3.8%, but remained the largest revenue contributor at 46% of total revenue [1] - Burger King's overall same-store sales increased by 2.7%, exceeding analyst estimates of 2.4% [1] - Popeyes faced the weakest performance with same-store sales declining by 4.8%, compared to expectations of a 2.4% drop [1] - Restaurant Brands is taking steps to address Popeyes' slowdown, including leadership changes [1]

SoftBank Group returned to profit in the December quarter as gains tied to OpenAI lifted its Vision Fund, helping counter losses across other technology bets. The Japanese investment firm reported a s... ...

Coinbase has introduced Agentic Wallets, a new type of crypto wallet built specifically for artificial intelligence agents. The announcement was published on the company's Developer Platform blog this... ...

Core Viewpoint - Rolls-Royce's share price increased by over 1% as investors capitalized on a recent dip following the launch of its new modular gas engine power plants [1] Group 1 - The share price of Rolls-Royce rose to a high of 1,260p from the year-to-date low [1]

Group 1 - U.S. asset manager Nuveen has agreed to acquire British investment firm Schroders in a £9.9 billion takeover [1] - The acquisition will combine two long-standing financial institutions, creating one of the world's largest asset management firms [1] - This deal reflects ongoing consolidation trends in the asset management industry, as firms seek to enhance their scale and capabilities [1]