European Markets Edge Higher Amid Swiss GDP Miss; DHS Targets Tech Giants Over ICE Critics

European Markets and Macroeconomic Data - European equity markets showed resilience with major indices moving into positive territory, including a 0.2% rise in the FTSE 100, 0.13% in the CAC 40, and 0.44% in the IBEX 35, as investors focused on regional stability despite a slight miss in Swiss economic data [2] - Switzerland's Q4 GDP growth was reported at 0.2%, missing the 0.3% forecast, but marking a recovery from a revised -0.5% contraction in Q3, indicating a fragile recovery amid global trade uncertainties and a strong franc [3][8] Corporate Winners and Losers - Plus500 led the stock gains with a 1.8% increase, followed by Hapag-Lloyd with a 0.4% rise, contributing to a modest cushion for the broader market [4] - Ratos experienced the steepest decline at 7.8%, with other notable losers including Norsk Hydro down 3.1%, HelloFresh down 3.0%, and Galderma down 1.4% [5] Tech Privacy and AI Ethics - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has requested personal data from Alphabet, Meta, Reddit, and Instagram regarding users critical of ICE, raising concerns about digital privacy and government overreach [6][8] - Anthropic is focusing on AI safety by appointing Amanda Askell to lead the ethical development of its Claude chatbot, aiming to instill a "sense of right and wrong" to ensure humane interactions [7][8] Global Logistics Disruptions - East Africa's travel and logistics faced significant disruptions due to a strike by aviation workers, causing delays at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, despite a court order intended to halt the strike [8][9]