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📉 TL;DR – The Week in 60 Seconds
The Dow just cracked 50,000 for the first time ever—cue the confetti cannons on Wall Street. But the broader vibe was “two steps forward, one step back”: the S&P 500 finished slightly lower on the week, and the Nasdaq 100 took the bigger hit after a sharp tech wobble.
Bitcoin did its best trampoline impression—big drop, big bounce—while gold steadied after an equally dramatic ride. This week’s market mood likely hinges on inflation and jobs data—and whether it keeps the “rate cuts soon” story alive.
Quick Levels → Last week’s change
S&P 500: 6,932.31 | ↓0.10% Nasdaq 100: 25,075.77 | ↓1.87% Dow: 50,115.68 | ↑2.50% Russell 2000: 2,670.34 | ↑2.17% | Gold/oz: $5,009 | ↑1.41% Silver/oz: $79.97 | ↓8.50% Bitcoin (BTC): $68,878 | ↓8.59% US Dollar Index (DXY): 97.63 | ↑0.50% |
🚀 Top Movers Last Week
Source: Walmart
Lumentum Holdings (LITE) ↑40.87% — Earnings beat and upbeat guidance, with data center-driven optical demand pushing backlog higher.
Oshkosh Corporation (OSK) ↑19.39% — New 2026 guidance topped expectations, hinting at better margins despite softer construction demand.
Walmart (WMT) ↑10.11% — Joined the $1T club as investors warmed to its Walmart+ success and ad growth.
Stellantis (STLA) ↓26.24% — Shares cratered after $26.5B EV write-down and dividend pause spooked investors globally; management admitted EV missteps.
Hims & Hers (HIMS) ↓15.02% — Pulled its $49 semaglutide pill after FDA pressure, sparking fears of tighter rules, and a sharp selloff.
🗺 Market Map
Jobs pulse: Wednesday’s Employment Situation brings Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP)*, unemployment, and wage growth—delayed by the partial shutdown. Thursday’s Jobless Claims checks layoffs. Surprise strength could lift rate expectations; softness could calm them.
January’s Consumer Price Index (CPI)* will be released Friday, also rescheduled. Investors will watch core inflation—prices excluding food and energy—for signs cooling is real. Sticky readings can revive “higher-for-longer” worries; easing keeps rate-cut hopes alive.
Earnings season isn’t over: Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Cisco, and T-Mobile report this week. These big bellwethers test consumer demand, restaurant traffic, corporate tech budgets, and pricing power—often moving whole sectors, not just one ticker.
Geopolitics stays a wild card: Middle East headlines pushed oil lower and kept investors jumpy. If tensions spike, energy prices can bounce fast, feeding into inflation expectations and the U.S. dollar’s next move.
Super Bowl LX was a reminder that attention isn’t cheap: 30 seconds reportedly ran about $7–$10M, before production bills.
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🏠 Wall St. to Main St.
Gas: AAA’s regular-gas national average was $2.897/gal on Feb 8; EIA’s weekly average was $2.867 (week of Feb 2).
Mortgages: Freddie Mac’s 30-year fixed averaged 6.11% (Feb 5); a $400k loan is about $2,427/month principal + interest.
Jobs: Initial claims rose to 231,000 for week ending Jan 31; job openings fell to 6.54M in Dec—lowest since 2020.
Borrowing: The Fed’s G.19 showed consumer credit grew at a 5.7% annual pace in Dec, a sign that households are still using leverage.
💡 Signal Spotlight
Two Markets, One Week: Rotation Takes the Wheel
Last week looked like investors were “auditioning” a new cast: less AI-sizzle, more steady earners. Tech-heavy names got wobbly on worries that big AI spending could pinch profits, while non-tech areas did more of the heavy lifting—and the Dow’s first close above 50,000 made that shift impossible to ignore.
If this rotation holds, it can make the rally healthier by spreading leadership. If it fades fast, it can signal investors are getting picky (and jumpy).
👀 Weekly Outlook
Last week was a tug-of-war between “steady economy” vibes and valuation nerves. Under the surface, breadth mattered more than the headline index: traditional sectors held up better than the long-duration growth trade.
This week is about confirmation. If delayed macro data lands without nasty surprises, investors may rebuild risk—selectively. If inflation runs hotter, the market can snap back into risk-off mode fast. Earnings from consumer brands and networking gear will also shape sentiment on demand and corporate guidance.
What to Watch:
Mon, Feb 9 — Treasury bill auctions: demand hints at “safe cash” appetite.
Mon, Feb 9 — Fed speakers (Waller, Bostic, Miran): tone check on how soon cuts feel realistic.
Tue, Feb 10 — Retail Sales (Dec): holiday demand reality check.
Tue, Feb 10 — Coca-Cola earnings: pricing power read for everyday spending.
Wed, Feb 11 — Employment Situation (inc. Non-farm Payrolls): paychecks vs layoffs signal the economy’s speed.
Wed, Feb 11 — McDonald’s earnings: real-world traffic and value-seeking signals.
Wed, Feb 11 — Cisco earnings: enterprise tech demand check.
Thu, Feb 12 — Jobless claims + home sales: weekly snapshot of labor-market stress and housing demand.
Fri, Feb 13 — CPI: delayed January inflation print; path decides how tight “money” feels.
📚 Decoder
CPI (Consumer Price Index): Monthly inflation gauge; hotter prints can push rates higher.
NFP (Nonfarm Payrolls): Monthly U.S. jobs report excluding farm workers; moves rate expectations.
🕔 That wraps up your 5-minute brief for the week. There’s more info out there…dive in! News is free; risk isn’t.
We’ll be back to catch you up on the market, next Monday at 7 AM ET.
Educational only—not investment advice.
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