Economic Data - Inflationary pressures in the U.S. showed signs of moderation, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising by 0.2% month-over-month, below the estimated 0.3%, leading to an annual rate decrease to 2.4% from 2.7% in December, marking the lowest annual inflation rate since May 2025 [2][10] - The Core CPI, excluding food and energy prices, rose 0.3% month-over-month, with the annual rate easing slightly to 2.5% from 2.6% [3] - Real average weekly earnings increased by 1.9% year-over-year, up from 1.1%, indicating wage growth is outpacing inflation and enhancing purchasing power [4][10] European Geopolitics and Defense - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the need for a stronger, self-reliant Europe, stating that NATO is not being disregarded but rather a strong European pillar is being built [5] - Merz acknowledged a "gap" between Europe and the U.S., calling for a new transatlantic partnership to rebuild trust, while Germany strengthens its defense capabilities [6] Corporate News - Alibaba (BABA) is expected to be added to a Pentagon list of firms with alleged ties to the Chinese military, which could have significant implications for the company [7][10] - In pre-market trading, U.S. stock futures indicated a lower open, with major tech stocks like Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Amazon (AMZN) showing declines [8] - Rivian (RIVN) shares surged 20% in pre-market trading after reporting strong fourth-quarter results and guidance for increased vehicle deliveries [9] - Roku (ROKU) saw its stock jump 15% after exceeding Wall Street expectations in earnings per share and revenue [9]