Economic Overview - The UK unemployment rate has risen to 5.2%, the highest level in nearly five years, indicating a potential upward trend in joblessness [14] - Average weekly earnings growth has decreased to 4.2%, down from 4.6% in November, which is below market expectations [14] - The jobs market is showing signs of distress, with private sector wages not keeping pace with inflation for the first time in two and a half years [1][2] Labor Market Insights - The single month jobless rate is currently at 5.4%, with expectations that it could climb higher as redundancies are anticipated [2] - The number of payrolled employees fell by 11,000 month-to-month in January, following a drop of 6,000 in December, which was better than the consensus forecast of a 20,000 decline [15] - Youth unemployment has reached a new high of 16.1%, highlighting ongoing challenges in the labor market [3] Company Performance - Antofagasta reported a 53% increase in pre-tax profits, with earnings per share more than doubling, driven by higher copper prices and disciplined cost control [3] - The final dividend declared by Antofagasta was 48 cents, lower than the consensus estimate of 56.5 cents, while revenue of $8.6 billion was in line with forecasts [4] - InterContinental Hotels announced a 10% increase in its dividend and a $950 million share buyback following a year of record hotel openings [9] Market Reactions - The FTSE 100 opened higher, gaining 39 points, with companies previously affected by the 'AI scare trade' leading the way [7] - Miners, including Antofagasta and Fresnillo, were among the main fallers as copper and precious metals prices declined [8] - The pound has weakened by 0.5% against the dollar, influenced by rising unemployment and softer wage growth, which have increased the likelihood of a Bank of England rate cut [12]

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures showed a positive bias during the Presidents' Day holiday, with S&P 500 futures up approximately 0.4% and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbing 0.3% [1] - The tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 futures also gained 0.4%, reflecting optimism from the previous trading session [1] Economic Indicators - Headline inflation has cooled to 2.4%, with core inflation dropping to 2.5%, the lowest since early 2021, reinforcing expectations for a potential interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve as early as June [2] - The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield has stabilized near 4.07%, providing a supportive backdrop for equities [2] Major Index Performance - The S&P 500 finished at 6,836.17, up less than 0.1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 49,500.93, adding roughly 48 points [3] - The Nasdaq Composite slipped by 0.2% to 22,546.67, primarily due to a pullback in the semiconductor sector [3] - The Russell 2000 showed significant year-to-date strength, up over 6.6% as investors rotate into small-cap value plays [3] Upcoming Market Events - Palo Alto Networks is set to release its quarterly results on Tuesday, followed by Analog Devices and Booking Holdings on Wednesday [4] - Walmart will report its fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 earnings on Thursday, with analysts expecting revenue growth of 5.4% [5] - The Federal Reserve will release minutes from its recent policy meeting, along with upcoming U.S. GDP and PCE inflation data, which may signal potential rate cuts [5] Corporate News - Rivian Automotive saw a significant stock increase of over 26% due to analyst upgrades and rumors of expanded electric vehicle partnerships [6] - Coinbase Global surged 16.46% following a completed share buyback tranche and increased crypto-asset volatility [6] - Constellation Brands experienced an 8.04% decline after announcing a leadership transition [7] - Nvidia shares were down 2.2% ahead of its earnings call on February 25th [7] - AppLovin rebounded 6.4% amid discussions on the impact of artificial intelligence on SaaS business models [7]

Traders are waiting on macroeconomic factors to signal Bitcoin’s next price move as the crypto market consolidates following its biggest fall in almost four years. Over the past month, Bitcoin slid some 28%, revisiting the levels it traded at before President Donald Trump’s 2024 election win. Since then, the top cryptocurrency has ping-ponged between $74,400 to $65,000 as investors wait for the dust to settle. Ben Harvey, a researcher at crypto investment firm Keyrock, told DL News he expects the next b ...

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve's recent rate-cutting cycle and potential future cuts are prompting income investors to seek higher yields in the equities market [4][5] - Dividend growth ETFs are becoming increasingly important for generating reliable income to combat inflation and enhance dividend portfolios [5] ETF Performance and Characteristics - Popular dividend-focused ETFs like JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI) and NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF (SPYI) have gained traction due to their high yields of 8.02% and 11.79% respectively [6] - However, these ETFs have shown limited share price growth, with JEPI trading between $50 and $63.19 and SPYI between $43.59 and $52.68 since their respective inceptions [7] - For investors seeking both dividend growth and capital appreciation, Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) are recommended as they have outperformed the S&P 500 in 2026 [8]

Group 1: Precious Metals Market Overview - Precious metals experienced a decline in trading, with gold falling 0.9% to around $5,000 an ounce, influenced by thin trading conditions due to the Lunar New Year holiday in Asia and US market closures [1][7] - The recent rise in gold prices by 2.4% was attributed to a modest increase in the US consumer price index, which alleviated concerns about inflation and supported the case for potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [1] - The market is currently in a rebalancing phase, with no clear catalysts to drive prices significantly higher, as attempts to push gold above $5,100 faced profit-taking pressures [1] Group 2: Retail Demand and Regulatory Environment - Retail demand for precious metals in China has surged, leading authorities in Shenzhen to issue warnings against illegal gold-trading activities, including leveraged trading apps and promotional live streams [3] - The silver market in China remains tight, with historic lows in inventories on the Shanghai Gold Exchange and unusual pricing dynamics in silver futures, indicating potential supply constraints [4] Group 3: Speculative Activity and Industrial Demand - There are signs that speculative intensity in the silver market is moderating, with adjustments to exchange rules aimed at limiting inventory outflows, which may alleviate domestic supply tightness [5] - The rising prices of silver have impacted its use in solar panels, a significant source of industrial demand growth, as manufacturers seek to reduce costs, making silver prices more sensitive to investor sentiment and market flows in the medium term [6]

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market is closed on February 16, 2026, for Presidents' Day, but global financial activity remains focused on the previous week's momentum and U.S. equity futures [1] - U.S. stock futures showed modest gains, with S&P 500 futures up 0.2% and Dow Jones futures also up 0.2%, indicating a cautiously optimistic start to the week [2] Economic Outlook - The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data indicates U.S. inflation cooled to 2.4% year-over-year in January, down from 2.7% in December, reviving hopes for multiple interest rate cuts in 2026 [3] - The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury remained flat at 4.052%, suggesting stabilization after previous volatility, with analysts anticipating potential interest rate cuts if economic data continues to show easing price pressures [4] Major Stock News - Apple (AAPL) is in focus after announcing a partnership to integrate Alphabet (GOOGL)'s Gemini AI models into Siri, with shares trading between $254.98 and $264.16 [5] - Alphabet reached a historic market capitalization of $3 trillion, joining Microsoft (MSFT) and Nvidia (NVDA) [5] - Nvidia (NVDA) saw a stock decline of 2.2% amid concerns over software industry disruptions from rapid AI advancements [6] - Tesla (TSLA) continues to experience high volatility as the market evaluates its shift towards autonomous driving software [6] - Coinbase (COIN) surged 16.46% due to a rally in cryptocurrency markets, while Applied Materials (AMAT) gained 8.08% following a strong earnings report [7] Global Market Performance - International markets remain active, with India's Sensex rising 650 points to close at 83,277.15, driven by banking stocks [8] - European markets showed upward trends, with the Stoxx Europe 600 climbing 0.3% [8] - Asian markets were mixed, with Japan's Nikkei 225 declining 0.2% due to disappointing GDP data, while Chinese markets were closed for the Lunar New Year [8] Upcoming Events - The earnings calendar for the week includes high-profile releases from Walmart (WMT), Home Depot (HD), Cisco Systems (CSCO), Alibaba (BABA), and Baidu (BIDU), which will provide insights into global consumer health and enterprise technology spending [9][10]

Key TakeawaysGold prices retreated to $5,020 per ounce as traders engaged in profit-taking following the release of mild US inflation figures.Nikkei 225 futures jumped 1.0% in early Monday trade, extending a historic rally for Japanese equities amid domestic political stability.US Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose just 0.2% in January, easing market fears of further aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.10-year Japanese Government Bond (JGB) futures rose 0.07 point, reflecting a slight cooling ...

Core Insights - Mohawk Industries reported fourth-quarter 2025 net sales of approximately $2.7 billion, reflecting a 2.4% increase as reported but a 3.3% decrease on a constant-currency basis, with stable commercial demand offset by weakness in U.S. housing turnover and sluggish new home construction [3][5][6] - The company generated about $620 million of free cash flow in 2025 and ended the year with $856 million in cash and $2.0 billion in gross debt, while repurchasing $149 million of stock [4][14][15] - Management expects improved sales and earnings in 2026, contingent on macroeconomic conditions and interest rate developments, with guidance for Q1 adjusted EPS of $1.75 to $1.85 [5][18] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share for Q4 were $2.00, up about 3% year over year, supported by productivity and restructuring initiatives, product mix, and lower interest expenses [3][6] - Gross margin was reported at 23%, with adjusted operating income of $152 million after $84 million of non-recurring charges [8][9] - For the full year 2025, Mohawk reported sales of approximately $10.8 billion, flat year over year, and adjusted EPS of $8.96, down about 7.5% [14] Segment Performance - Global Ceramic segment showed the strongest year-over-year sales performance, with sales just under $1.1 billion, up 6.1% as reported [11] - Flooring North America sales were $893 million, down 4.8% as reported, primarily due to weakness in residential soft surfaces [12] - Flooring Rest of the World sales were $737 million, up 6.5% as reported, but down 3.5% on a constant-currency basis, with lower residential remodeling volumes impacting performance [13] Cash Flow and Capital Allocation - The company generated approximately $620 million of free cash flow for the year and reported fourth-quarter free cash flow of $270 million [14][15] - Capital spending in 2025 was $435 million, about 30% below depreciation, with plans to invest approximately $480 million in 2026 focused on product innovation and cost reduction [15] Tariffs and Restructuring - Management addressed the impact of U.S. tariffs, which range from 15% to 50%, and emphasized efforts to offset these costs through pricing actions and supply chain optimization [16][17] - Restructuring initiatives delivered about $115 million in savings for 2025, with additional savings expected from new restructuring actions announced in Q4 [17] Leadership Changes - CFO James Brunk will retire in April, with Nick Manthey set to assume the CFO role [19]

Economic Data Summary - The U.S. economy added 130,000 jobs in January, significantly exceeding expectations of 70,000 and nearly tripling December's revised figure of 48,000 [1] - The unemployment rate fell from 4.4% to 4.3%, while wage growth accelerated by 0.4% month-over-month and 3.7% year-over-year [2] - Job growth for the entirety of 2025 was revised down to an average of 15,000 per month, totaling 181,000, marking the weakest year outside of a recession since 2003 [3] Market Reactions - Following the strong labor data, market expectations for interest rate cuts were trimmed, with the probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut in June dropping from approximately 75% to 57% [6] - The likelihood of two rate cuts by year-end also softened, with Fed futures indicating a small chance that rates remain unchanged throughout 2026 [7] Political Commentary - President Trump emphasized the positive job numbers while downplaying the significant downward revisions, advocating for lower interest rates based on the strong economic performance [4] - Trump's assertion that strong economic data justifies lower rates contrasts with traditional monetary policy views, which typically see robust labor markets as reducing the need for rate cuts [5]

US stocks wavered on Friday but were on track for weekly losses as Wall Street digested a cooler-than-expected inflation reading for a steer on the path of interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) drifted below the flatline. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) flipped between small gains and losses, coming off a day of intense selling pressure on tech stocks. Inflation cooled more than expected in January, data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor ...