Market Overview - AI turbulence has significantly impacted various sectors, including software, real estate, financial services, and logistics, leading to selling pressure on stocks due to concerns over AI-related disruptions [1] - The Nasdaq Composite fell by 0.2% on Friday, concluding the week with a total loss of 2.1%, while the S&P 500 saw a minor gain of less than 0.1% but ended the week down 1.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.1% on Friday but recorded a weekly decline of 1.2% [2] Sector-Specific Insights - The market experienced sharp movements beneath the surface, with investors closely monitoring whether the disruptions caused by AI will persist in the upcoming week [3] - A notable sell-off began in early February, affecting software companies like Salesforce and ServiceNow, and has since spread to financial services and logistics sectors, with stocks declining on any indication that AI tools may disrupt their core operations [7] Upcoming Economic Data - The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, scheduled for release on Friday, will provide insights into consumer spending during December and inflation trends, following last week's Consumer Price Index (CPI) data that indicated a greater-than-expected slowdown in inflation [4] - The University of Michigan's market sentiment reading, also due on Friday, will gauge consumer attitudes against actual spending data, with the measure recently reaching its highest level since August but still lower than the previous year [5] Corporate Earnings Focus - Attention will be on Walmart's fourth-quarter earnings release on Thursday, which is expected to be a strong indicator of consumer spending and will mark the first report under new CEO John Furner [5] - Other significant earnings reports include those from DoorDash and Molson Coors, as well as energy companies like Constellation Energy, Energy Transfer, and Southern Company, which will provide insights into how AI is influencing power demand in the energy sector [6] AI Impact on Logistics - A recent press release from a karaoke machine maker about an AI-powered logistics platform that claims to increase freight volumes by 300% to 400% without a proportional rise in operational headcount led to significant stock declines for CH Robinson Worldwide and Universal Logistics, which fell by 12% and 10% respectively for the week [8]

Erewhon has emerged as the grocer of choice for celebrities from Hailey Bieber to the Kardashians. The retailer has been carefully cultivating a sense of exclusivity https://t.co/nQVTW1htqO ...

Core Viewpoint - The article raises the question of whether Walmart Inc. has reached its peak following the announcement of CEO Doug McMillon's departure and the appointment of his successor, John [1] Company Analysis - Walmart Inc. is experiencing a leadership change with CEO Doug McMillon stepping down and John taking over [1] - The article suggests a potential stagnation in Walmart's growth after decades of loyal customer support [1] Market Context - The discussion implies that the retail sector, particularly for large companies like Walmart, may be facing challenges that could affect future performance [1]

Group 1 - The core theme of the consumption promotion in Xing'an League is "Warm Spring on the Ridge, Beneficial Purchase in Xing'an," featuring enhanced policy subsidies and integration of commerce, culture, and tourism [1] - A total of 8.5 million yuan in consumption vouchers will be distributed across the region, with trade-in subsidies for automobiles and home appliances reaching up to 20,000 yuan [1] - The new trade-in policy, effective from January 1, 2026, will cover 12 categories of home appliances and digital products, offering a 15% subsidy on the selling price for energy-efficient appliances and digital products [1] Group 2 - The new spring lantern festival at the Guiliuhe Ecological Park in Keyou Qianqi will run until March 4, featuring over 40 unique lantern displays and a variety of cultural performances [3] - The second annual New Year goods festival in Xing'an League, which started on February 4, attracted over 150 merchants and showcased more than 1,000 specialty products, achieving sales of 500,000 yuan on the first day [3] - Online live-streaming sales through platforms like Douyin and JD.com are promoting local agricultural products nationwide as part of the "Xing'an Cloud New Year Goods Festival" [3]

Nothing opens its first retail store in India https://t.co/OJOJgaB035 ...

Inflation Trends - The annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the US rose by approximately 2.4% in January 2026, indicating a deceleration from December and falling below many economists' forecasts [2] - Monthly consumer prices increased by 0.2%, influenced by lower energy costs and modest rises in services and food categories [3] - Core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, also exhibited restrained growth, although it remains elevated compared to long-term averages [4] Retail Sales Performance - Retail sales in January showed a steady expansion, with total sales rising by 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted monthly basis and increasing by 5.72% year-on-year, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase [5] - Core retail sales, excluding categories like restaurants, demonstrated annual strength, particularly in clothing, digital products, and health and personal care [6] - The retail data, based on anonymized credit and debit card purchases, indicates sustained consumer demand beyond the holiday peak, with overall sales remaining above year-ago levels [7] Implications for Global Retail Sector - The moderating inflation rate in the US could alleviate pricing pressures on imported goods for international retailers, potentially stabilizing input costs [8]

Core Viewpoint - The stock market experienced overall gains on Friday, with the Dow Jones showing positive performance, while the Nasdaq underperformed [1] Group 1 - The Dow Jones index saw an increase, contributing to the overall positive sentiment in the stock market [1] - The Nasdaq index lagged behind other indices, indicating a divergence in performance among major stock market segments [1]

Jim, Rob and Alice Walton are now among the world's 10 richest people as Walmart shares have climbed https://t.co/4nw0h2WILc ...

Cryptocurrency Market - Bitcoin has experienced its fourth consecutive weekly loss, down more than 20% year-to-date and nearly 50% from its October 2025 peak of $126,000, resulting in over half a trillion dollars wiped out across the crypto markets this month [1][2] Precious Metals - Gold rebounded above $5,000 per ounce after dipping below that level, while silver also recovered some ground following a steep selloff, managing to close the week with a gain [2][3] Technology Sector - The technology sector, particularly software stocks, showed signs of recovery after a significant selloff, with the IGV index rallying over 2% [4] - Analysts have expressed concerns about the overblown nature of the tech selloff, particularly regarding AI implementation strategies and the associated risks [5][6] Upcoming Earnings Reports - Palo Alto Networks is expected to report strong earnings, with estimates of $0.93 EPS on approximately $2.58 billion in sales, supported by robust demand for AI security solutions [9][10] - Walmart is also set to report earnings, with analysts expecting about $0.73 EPS on roughly $188.4 billion in revenue, which would indicate a modest year-over-year increase [8][10] Economic Data and Market Outlook - A shortened trading week is anticipated, with limited top-tier economic data releases, including updates on the housing market and import prices, as well as the FOMC minutes [12][14] - Market participants are closely watching for potential Supreme Court decisions on tariffs and the implications of the Chinese New Year on trading volumes [13][14]

Market Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) achieved record closes at the beginning of the week but faced declines towards the weekend due to limited job growth in certain sectors and concerns about interest rates [1] - The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite Index (IXIC) are also expected to end the week with losses, despite a brief uptick on Friday following soft inflation data [2] - The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) is on track for its fifth consecutive weekly gain, marking its longest winning streak since March 2020 [2] Earnings Reports - Dynatrace (DT) and ON Semiconductor (ON) experienced declines after missing quarterly earnings expectations, while Fastly (FSLY) saw a rally due to positive full-year revenue and profit forecasts [3] - Roku (ROKU) rose after exceeding earnings expectations and providing an optimistic outlook, while Applied Materials (AMAT) reached a record high driven by strong results and guidance related to AI demand [3] - Coca-Cola (KO) fell due to a revenue miss, and Mattel (MAT) faced its worst daily drop in decades following disappointing quarterly results and a weak outlook [4] - Upstart (UPST) declined despite surpassing profit and revenue expectations, influenced by a C-suite shakeup and a softer margin forecast [4] - QuantumScape (QS) dropped after reporting a wider-than-expected quarterly loss and downbeat projections [4] Corporate Developments - Kroger (KR) appointed former Walmart executive Greg Foran as its new CEO [5] - STMicroelectronics (STM) surged following a partnership announcement with Amazon's AWS, which includes a multiyear share purchase agreement [5] - Novo Nordisk (NVO) initiated a lawsuit against Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) for alleged patent infringement related to a weight-loss drug, causing significant stock movements for both companies [5] Upcoming Events - Markets will be closed on Monday, February 16, for Presidents' Day, but the following week is expected to be busy with a significant amount of economic data to analyze [6]