Company Developments - Kroger Co. is set to appoint Greg Foran, a former Walmart executive, as its new CEO, following a year-long search for leadership. This move aims to enhance Kroger's strategy in a competitive retail environment, particularly focusing on fresh food and store efficiency. Kroger shares rose nearly 3% in premarket trading after the news [3][7] - Eli Lilly's shares increased by 2.2% in premarket trading after Hims & Hers Health Inc. withdrew its weight-loss pill, reducing competition in the weight-loss drug market. This withdrawal follows a terminated partnership with Novo Nordisk due to concerns over marketing practices, potentially benefiting Eli Lilly's weight-loss treatments like Zepbound [4][7] Market Sentiment - The Eurozone's investor sentiment improved significantly, with the Sentix Investor Confidence index rising to 4.2 in February, surpassing the estimated 0.0 and increasing from -1.8 the previous month. This indicates growing optimism among investors regarding the Eurozone's economic outlook [5][7] Political and Economic Context - The British Pound and UK Gilts are under pressure due to a leadership crisis involving Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which has increased political risk premiums in the currency and bond markets. The resignation of Starmer's adviser amid controversy has heightened uncertainty, potentially affecting public debt sustainability [6][8] - Fitch Ratings upgraded China Vanke's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating to 'CC', indicating a very high level of default risk. Despite the upgrade, the company faces significant financial challenges, including a profit warning projecting a net loss for 2025 [9]

Washington, D.C., Feb. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As preparations continue for America’s 250th anniversary, a recent video presentation by former CIA, Pentagon, and White House advisor Jim Rickards draws attention to a little-known federal statute and a series of policy actions that could influence the country’s economic framework in 2026. The presentation outlines how executive authority, industrial planning, and changes in monetary leadership may converge during a pivotal national milestone. Rickards’ a ...

I am pretty sure no crypto trader who experienced Oct. 10 ever imagined they would have to endure so many brutal sell-offs afterward. Fast-forward to today, and the crypto market resembles the landscape after a hurricane. Battered, scattered, and struggling to come back to normal. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index has plunged into single digits, flashing "Extreme Fear" at the score of 9. Bitcoin is down nearly 47% from its October peak and is changing hands around $66,900 at press time. And if there’s any ...

Domestic equity markets traded largely subdued through most of the session before staging a late recovery, supported by selective buying in FMCG and private banking stocks.Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/ReutersKey PointsBSE Sensex advanced 266.47 pointsNSE Nifty climbed 50.90 pointsITC jumped the most by 5.09 per centStock markets closed higher on Friday after the Reserve Bank of India kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged as expected and proposed allowing banks to lend to Real Estate Investment Trusts (R ...

European Central Bank Governing Council member Yannis Stournaras discusses the outlook for the euro, inflation and monetary policy. He speaks on Bloomberg Television after Thursday's decision by the ECB to keep rates unchanged at 2%. ...

Despite earlier policy easing, several domestic and international challenges are limiting the scope for fresh rate cuts.Why RBI may keep rates unchangedThe SBI report said government bond yields have remained firm even after earlier rate cuts, showing that monetary policy measures have not fully transmitted to the market.It added that the impact of Open Market Operations (OMOs) may depend on the type of securities selected, which could reduce the effectiveness of liquidity support. Because of this, the RBI ...

Bitcoin has already tumbled far from its all-time high of $126,000 in October, but history suggests the rout could deepen before momentum shifts, according to analysts at Stifel. In a note, analysts at the 136-year-old financial services firm predicted that Bitcoin could fall as low as $38,000 in the coming months. With Bitcoin recently changing hands at $65,433, per CoinGecko, that would represent a 42% decrease from Thursday’s prices. The analysts cited the extent to which Bitcoin has fallen from its all ...

European Central Bank (:) Update / briefing February 05, 2026 08:45 AM ET Company ParticipantsAlex Weber - ReporterAnnette Weisbach - ReporterAude Kersulec - JournalistChelsey Dulaney - ReporterChristine Lagarde - PresidentFrancesco Canepa - Senior European Economics CorrespondentOlaf Storbeck - Frankfurt Bureau ChiefStefan Reccius - ECB WatcherWolfgang Proissl - Director General CommunicationsWolfgang ProisslGood afternoon, and welcome to our press conference with President Lagarde and Vice President de Gu ...

As the EUR/USD tests the 1.1850–1.2000 resistance zone, all eyes are on today’s ECB meeting. Traders are looking for clarity in a situation defined by cooling eurozone inflation and a surge in Euro strength. Read our previous article Can Lagarde Push the EUR/USD Higher? (Part 1) to get insights into the eurozone inflation and growth dynamics. The EUR/USD Dynamics: Geopolitics, Fed Uncertainty, and the Path to 1.20 The Dollar’s Turbulent January After having gained around 13.50% in 2025, the EUR/USD cu ...

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India is likely to maintain a status quo on the repo rate in its policy announcement scheduled for Friday, amid continued global economic uncertainty, pressure on government bond yields and volatility in the domestic currency, according to a report by State Bank of India.The report stated that, despite earlier policy-rate easing, the central bank will hold rates this time, as several macroeconomic and global factors continue to pose challenges. It n ...