Company Developments - Microsoft officially launched the next-generation high-performance AI inference chip Maia200 on January 26, 2026, utilizing TSMC's 3nm process, significantly enhancing performance compared to the previous generation, and has begun deployment in data centers in the central United States, with plans to expand to the western regions [1] - Microsoft received approval to build 15 new data centers in Wisconsin to support computational power expansion and AI business demands [1] Financial Performance - Microsoft released its Q2 FY2026 financial report on January 28, 2026, focusing on the growth rate of Azure cloud services, capital expenditure levels, and the impact of AI investments on profits, with LongPort analysis highlighting that the surge in capital expenditure and AI monetization progress are key factors in assessing Microsoft's long-term cost structure [2] Business Progress - Microsoft plans to preview free AI features in March 2026, including enhancements to Copilot Chat and Agent Mode for Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, allowing users to access improved AI assistant functionalities without a paid license [3]

Market Summary - The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 313.69 points, or 0.64%, closing at 49,412.4 [2] - The Nasdaq rose by 100.12 points, or 0.43%, to finish at 23,601.36 [2] - The S&P 500 gained 34.62 points, or 0.50%, ending at 6,950.23 [2] - European markets showed mixed results, with the Euro Stoxx 50 up by 9.6 points (0.16%) and the French CAC40 down by 11.9 points (-0.15%) [2] - Asian markets experienced declines, with the Nikkei 225 down by 961.62 points (-1.79%) and the Hang Seng Tech Index down by 72.02 points (-1.24%) [2] Trade Relations - President Trump announced an increase in tariffs on all goods from South Korea from 15% to 25% due to the South Korean parliament's failure to fulfill a trade agreement [4] - The South Korean government is set to hold a meeting to discuss countermeasures [4] Military Developments - The U.S. Navy's Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has been deployed to the Middle East, ready to act against Iran if necessary [4] - Iran's response indicates readiness to counter any aggression [4] Oil Production - OPEC+ is expected to maintain its current oil production policy, likely continuing to freeze output in March due to market oversupply and geopolitical tensions [4] EU Energy Policy - The European Union has approved a plan to stop importing Russian natural gas by the end of 2027, with specific deadlines for liquefied natural gas and pipeline gas [5] - Prior to the Ukraine conflict, Russia supplied over 40% of the EU's natural gas, which is projected to drop to about 13% by 2025 [5] Trade Agreements - The European Parliament has postponed a decision on resuming the approval process for the EU-U.S. trade agreement, with further discussions scheduled for February [6] AI and Technology Developments - Microsoft launched its second-generation AI chip, Maia200, aimed at enhancing service efficiency and reducing reliance on Nvidia hardware [7] - Nvidia announced a $2 billion investment in CoreWeave to support the development of AI computing infrastructure [8] - The EU has initiated a formal investigation into Musk's platform X regarding its AI chatbot's failure to prevent the generation of harmful content [8] Product Launches - Apple released an upgraded version of AirTag, featuring improved Bluetooth capabilities and enhanced tracking features [8]