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Stocks with MACD golden cross, MA5>MA10, RSI<60, price<20

Trump Tariff Tensions Ease: Can Stocks Sustain Their Sizzling Rebound?

Which of the Magnificent Seven Has Proven Most Resilient Since the February 21 Index Adjustment?

What is Nvidia's ability in terms of technological innovation?

Can Tesla's Stock Price Stabilize Amid Musk's Political Controversies and Slumping Global Sales?

<video src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X-Ew57Gh19I" poster="https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/CandPBitcoin60K_0a3ecd721770918818362.jpg" data="{&quot;videoUrl&quot;:&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/X-Ew57Gh19I&quot;,&quot;coverUrl&quot;:&quot;https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/CandPBitcoin60K_0a3ecd721770918818362.jpg&quot;}"></video>The January <a href="https://www.forex.com/en-us/news-and-analysis/us-cpi-preview-sticky-inflation-to-keep-the-fed-on-hold-until-the-summer/" target='__blank'>Consumer Price Index report</a> will be released Friday at 8:30 a.m. ET (13:30 GMT), and it arrives at a sensitive moment for financial markets. With equities already under heavy selling pressure and Treasury yields firm following a stronger-than-expected January jobs report, this inflation print carries added weight. Economists expect headline CPI to rise 0.3% month-over-month and 2.5% year-over-year, with core CPI (excluding food and energy) also projected at 0.3% month-over-month and 2.5% year-over-year. If those forecasts hold, it would mark modest cooling from December’s 2.7% headline and 2.6% core annual readings, though the monthly pace would remain sticky.This January release also marks a normalization point. After last year’s government shutdown caused distortions in seasonal adjustments and delayed releases, the Bureau of Labor Statistics data cycle is now fully caught up. Several economists have noted that January often produces outsized or distorted readings due to seasonal reweighting and annual price resets. That seasonal risk, combined with market fragility and a strong labor backdrop, makes this report more consequential than it might otherwise appear.Markets are particularly sensitive because expectations for Federal Reserve easing have already been pushed back. Following the robust January nonfarm payrolls report, traders have reduced the probability of near-term rate cuts, with odds of a March or April move falling sharply. The <a href="https://investinglive.com/news/us-january-cpi-report-to-offer-a-cleaner-read-on-inflation-developments-20260212/" target='__blank'>consensus view</a> now centers on the Fed staying on hold until mid-year, likely July. A hotter-than-expected CPI print could further push rate-cut expectations into late 2026, especially given that inflation has remained stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% target for nearly five years. <a href="https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/economy/cpi-report-january-2026-what-to-expect" target='__blank'>Sell-side economists</a> are divided on the short-term direction of price pressures, but most agree that underlying inflation remains sticky. At Wells Fargo, Senior Economist Sarah House expects core CPI to rise 0.33% month-over-month, roughly 10 basis points stronger than its 2025 average pace. She attributes this to delayed tariff pass-through effects and beginning-of-year price resets, particularly in core goods and services. Wells Fargo also warns that pandemic-era distortions continue to influence seasonal patterns, complicating interpretation of the January data.RBC takes a slightly different tack, forecasting headline CPI to slow due to a 3% seasonally adjusted decline in gasoline prices but expecting core inflation to remain elevated around 2.6% year-over-year. RBC notes that while tariff pass-through has been limited so far, producer prices remain elevated and business surveys signal pipeline pressures. Shelter inflation, still above 3% year-over-year, remains another area of concern, particularly as prior methodological quirks from the shutdown unwind.Goldman Sachs expects a 0.33% increase in core CPI, slightly above the 0.3% consensus, translating to a 2.52% annual rate. Goldman projects headline CPI rising 0.24% month-over-month, reflecting lower energy prices but firmer food inflation. Goldman also outlines five specific component trends to monitor: upward pressure from communications and transportation categories due to seasonal distortions; medical care commodity resets; tariff-exposed goods; firm travel services inflation; and softer autos inflation driven by declining used car prices.Barclays echoes the January seasonality risk. Economist Pooja Sriram forecasts core CPI rising 0.39% month-over-month and 2.6% year-over-year, cautioning that 10 of the past 11 January CPI reports have surprised to the upside. Barclays expects tariff pass-through and annual repricing to drive firmer readings, particularly in core goods categories.Sticky inflation remains the central theme. Shelter, services ex-shelter, and labor-intensive categories continue to show resilience. Net revenue retention in the services economy, tight labor markets, and stable consumer demand have limited the pace of disinflation. Core goods prices, which had previously provided relief, may begin to show incremental firmness if tariff impacts continue to filter through supply chains. Business surveys, particularly PMI price components, have ticked higher in recent months, hinting that the path toward 2% may not be smooth.From a macro perspective, the Fed focuses more closely on core PCE inflation, but CPI matters because it arrives earlier and shapes immediate market reaction. If headline and core CPI come in at or below 0.3% month-over-month, markets may stabilize, and rate-cut expectations could remain anchored for summer. However, any print at or above 0.4% month-over-month in core would likely push yields higher and pressure equities further, especially given the market’s already fragile tone.Currency markets are also in focus. Analysts at Capital.com suggest USD/JPY may react cleanly to the inflation print, with the pair’s path of least resistance skewed higher if inflation meets or exceeds expectations. A softer-than-expected number could break key support levels and alter the pair’s longer-term uptrend.Investors should pay close attention to several key areas within the report: core goods prices for tariff effects; shelter inflation for signs of sustained moderation; travel and transportation services; medical care; and used vehicle pricing. Shelter remains the single largest weight in the basket, and any surprise there will disproportionately affect the headline.Ultimately, this CPI report may set the tone for the next phase of monetary policy expectations. With equities under pressure and the labor market still firm, inflation data now takes center stage. A benign print could steady nerves and reinforce the view that disinflation continues gradually. A hot reading, however, would challenge the narrative of imminent rate cuts and potentially amplify the current risk-off move across asset classes.

us_middle_importance

Stock

NorthAmerica

CPI Showdown at 8:30: Hot Inflation Print Could Crush Rate-Cut Hopes and Deepen the Market Selloff

<video src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X-Ew57Gh19I" poster="https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/CandPBitcoin60K_56a6d2271770915505444.jpg" data="{&quot;videoUrl&quot;:&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/X-Ew57Gh19I&quot;,&quot;coverUrl&quot;:&quot;https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/CandPBitcoin60K_56a6d2271770915505444.jpg&quot;}"></video>HubSpot sits in the “front office” software stack: it sells a customer platform that bundles marketing automation, CRM, sales engagement, customer service, content management, and operations tooling into one system designed for scaling businesses. The pitch is straightforward: consolidate point solutions, keep customer data in one place, and make it easier to acquire leads, convert them, and retain them. Over the past couple of years, HubSpot has pushed harder upmarket (larger customers, more complex deployments) while layering in AI features that aim to turn the platform from a workflow system into an “agentic” system that can actually do work (support resolution, prospecting, data enrichment) rather than just track it.The <a href="https://ir.hubspot.com/news-releases/news-release-details/hubspot-reports-strong-q4-and-full-year-2025-results" target='__blank'>latest quarter</a> landed at a time when software multiples are compressing and “AI disruption” has become the all-purpose excuse for selling anything with a subscription model. That’s why today’s price action is notable: HUBS is up roughly 6% intraday even as the broader market sells off, suggesting investors found something tangible to buy rather than just a good story. <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hubspot-earnings-beat-buyback-raise-231257880.html" target='__blank'>On the numbers</a> , HubSpot reported Q4 (Dec) non-GAAP EPS of $3.09, beating consensus by $0.10, with revenue of $846.75 million topping expectations by about $16 million and growing 20% year over year (18% constant currency). Subscription revenue was $829 million (+21%), professional services was $17.8 million (+12%), and the company capped the year with total 2025 revenue of $3.13 billion (+19%).Profitability was a second pillar of the print. GAAP operating margin improved to 5.7% (from -1.5% a year ago), while non-GAAP operating margin expanded to 22.6% (from 18.9%). Non-GAAP operating income rose to $191 million from $133 million. Cash generation also improved meaningfully: Q4 operating cash flow was $247 million and non-GAAP free cash flow was $209 million, roughly 25% of revenue for the quarter, while full-year non-GAAP free cash flow reached about $595 million. In an environment where investors are demanding “real margins” rather than “future margins,” this matters.The company also delivered key operating indicators that push back on the bear narrative. Customers ended the year at 288,706 (+16% year over year), while average subscription revenue per customer rose 3% to $11,683, indicating continued expansion rather than a purely volume-driven story. Billings were a standout: calculated billings of $971 million grew 27% as reported (20% constant currency), suggesting forward demand remained healthy into year-end. Net revenue retention (NRR) ticked up sequentially to 105% in Q4 (103.5% for the full year), with management attributing improvement to seat expansion, higher upgrade rates across seats, and some benefit from pricing actions.Guidance was the third leg of the stool and likely the biggest reason the market rewarded the stock. For Q1 2026, HubSpot guided revenue of $862–$863 million, above consensus, with non-GAAP EPS of $2.46–$2.48 and non-GAAP operating margin around 17%. For full-year 2026, management guided revenue of $3.69–$3.70 billion and non-GAAP EPS of $12.38–$12.46, both above the Street, with operating profit of $736–$740 million (about a 20% operating margin). They also reiterated that Q1 should be the low point for growth and that growth should accelerate throughout the year—an important framing given investor anxiety about software demand rolling over.So what did the market like? First, the report was “clean”: beat-and-raise dynamics on revenue and earnings, improving retention, and expanding margins—all while the category is being priced like a melting ice cube. Second, the billings strength and six-quarter pattern of net-new ARR growth outpacing revenue growth (24% net-new ARR growth cited by analysts versus 18% constant-currency revenue growth) supports the argument that reported revenue can reaccelerate later in 2026 even if the initial guide starts conservatively. Third, upmarket traction appears real: management highlighted that deals over $5,000 in monthly recurring revenue grew 33% and deals over $10,000 grew 41%, while multi-hub adoption is increasing (a key signal that customers are consolidating more functions onto HubSpot rather than churning to a larger suite).AI is the other feature investors are trying to handicap. Management emphasized adoption of “Breeze” agents: the customer agent (support automation) saw more than 8,000 customers activate with mid-60s resolution rates, prospecting agent had over 10,000 activations, and the data agent had more than 2,500 activations. The framing here is important: HubSpot is trying to sell outcomes (tickets resolved, leads generated, data enriched) rather than “we added a chatbot.” They also discussed a credits-based model where higher-frequency usage can be metered and monetized, with customer agent currently representing a large portion of credits consumed. In a market that’s punishing vague AI promises, “usage + monetization pathway” tends to get a better reception.There were still enough caveats to keep the analyst community from throwing a parade. Several firms cut price targets sharply even while maintaining positive ratings, largely due to valuation compression across SaaS and lingering skepticism that 16% constant-currency growth in the initial FY26 guide implies immediate acceleration. There’s also a known headwind from the legacy Clearbit business (management cited a ~40bp drag in 2026). And, of course, the big existential question remains: can AI-native tools “vibe code” their way around traditional CRM and marketing stacks? HubSpot’s answer is that context, workflow integration, data governance, and measurable outcomes are the moat—not just UI.What to watch next is fairly crisp. Keep an eye on NRR (does it hold above 105% and expand 1–2 points as management expects), billings growth (does it stay ahead of revenue, confirming forward demand), and upmarket mix (continued growth in larger deal cohorts and multi-hub penetration). On AI, track whether credits consumption becomes a durable monetization lever without hurting customer satisfaction, and whether AI features drive seat upgrades rather than cannibalize them. Finally, watch margin discipline: HubSpot just showed it can expand profitability while growing 18–20%; sustaining that balance is how you earn a multiple in a market that’s charging rent on every basis point of operating margin.Net-net: HubSpot didn’t just “beat”; it delivered enough fundamental proof points—billings, retention, upmarket traction, margins, and confident guidance—to make the stock act well on a bad tape. Sometimes the market will still sell you for being a software company. Today, it bought HubSpot for being a software company with receipts.

us_low_importance

Software stocks 

SaaS

Hubspot

HubSpot Defies the Selloff: AI Momentum and Beat-and-Raise Spark 6% Surge

<ul><li>Microsoft’s Q4 2025 earnings smashed estimates, with Azure revenue hitting $28.4B</li><li>Options market shows 2.3M open interest on $545 calls for Feb 20 expiry, 3x higher than next strikes</li><li>RSI at 34.77 suggests oversold conditions, but 200D MA at $487.29 acts as bearish anchor</li><li>The big picture: A bullish options imbalance and AI-driven fundamentals point to a potential breakout above $414 resistance</li></ul>The Options Imbalance: A Call for OptimismIf you’ve been watching MSFT’s options chain this week, you’ve noticed the elephant in the room: 23,374 open contracts on the $545 calls expiring Feb 20. That’s not just noise—it’s a signal. Traders are betting big on a post-earnings pop, especially with Microsoft’s $50B stock buyback program and Azure AI’s $10B+ revenue milestone.But don’t ignore the puts. While the put/call ratio for open interest sits at 0.52 (calls dominate), the top puts ($390–$395) have 7,656–4,106 contracts. That’s not a bearish bet—it’s a hedge. Smart money is hedging against the antitrust lawsuit risk while still riding the AI hype train.News That Could Make or Break This TradeMicrosoft’s recent moves are textbook growth plays. The $3.2B CyberShield acquisition? That’s a direct upgrade to Azure’s security edge. Combine that with the $50B buyback and $150M MIT AI partnership, and you’ve got a company doubling down on its strengths.But here’s the catch: The 200D MA at $487.29 is a brutal wall. If MSFT can’t break above $511.88 (200D resistance), the rally might fizzle. The recent 4% post-earnings pop in after-hours trading gives hope, but the intraday price is still -0.8% today.Actionable Trade Ideas for MSFT<ol><li>Options Play: Buy MSFT20260213C420 (this Friday’s $420 call) if MSFT rebounds above $412.43 support. With RSI at 34.77, a bounce here could trigger short-term momentum. For longer-term bets, MSFT20260220C545 offers leverage if the stock breaks $438.14 (middle Bollinger Band). </li></ol><ol><li>Stock Play: Consider entries near $412.43 (30D support) with a target at $430. If the stock cracks below $382.80 (lower Bollinger Band), MSFT20260220P390 puts could cap losses while riding a potential rebound. </li></ol><ol><li>Hedge Strategy: Short-term traders might sell MSFT20260213C410 (7,227 OI) to collect premium if MSFT consolidates near $401.12. But watch that 30D MA—break below $414.31 and the bear case gets stronger. </li></ol>Volatility on the HorizonMicrosoft’s options market is pricing in a 15–20% move by Feb 20. With Azure AI on track to hit $15B in 2026 and the EU data center expansion underway, the fundamentals are tilted bullish. But don’t forget: The 200D MA isn’t just a number—it’s a psychological barrier. If MSFT can’t clear $508.87, the rally might turn into a consolidation phase.Bottom line: This is a high-conviction trade for AI believers. The options activity and news flow align for a breakout, but keep a tight stop below $382.80. In this market, momentum is everything—and Microsoft’s got the tailwinds.<img src="https://cdn.ainvest.com/aigc/hxcmp/images/compress-qwen_generated_1770912628434.jpg.png" style="max-width:100%;">

Option

Artificial Intelligence

Cloud Computing

Microsoft

MSFT Options Signal Bullish Bet on $545 Calls: Here’s How to Play the AI-Driven Rally

Bitcoin is locked in a tight battle between $67,300 and $71,751, with the $69,000 level acting as immediate resistance. The price has been unable to decisively break above this zone, while dips toward the lower band still find some support. This consolidation has been accompanied by a dramatic collapse in daily volume, which has fallen to roughly $111 billion. That figure is a steep drop from the over $300 billion peak, signaling thin liquidity and making price moves more volatile on smaller flows.The immediate institutional signal is a clear break in momentum. On Wednesday, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded an outflow of <a href="https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/bitcoin-price-forecast-btc-stalls-near-67-300-resistance-as-downside-risks-linger-202602121130">$276.30 million</a>, ending three consecutive days of net inflows. This shift from inflows to outflows indicates growing investor indecision and a lack of conviction to push the price higher. <backtest-component code="BTCUSDT" id="strategy_001" range="3" market="UBAX"></backtest-component> The outflow occurred even as price was testing the upper boundary of its trading range, suggesting that institutional demand is not providing the fuel needed for a breakout.The bottom line is that Bitcoin's ability to reclaim the $69,000 resistance is now in doubt. With thin liquidity amplifying every move and institutional flows turning negative, the market lacks the momentum to break out of its current band. The setup points to a higher probability of a retest of the $67,300 support zone or even deeper lows, as the path of least resistance appears downward.<h2>Market Health: On-Chain Stress and Derivatives Deleveraging</h2><img src="https://cdn.ainvest.com/aigc/hxcmp/images/compress-qwen_generated_1770907204117.jpg.png" style="max-width:100%;"/>The underlying market structure is showing signs of stress that could fuel further downside. <visualization data='{"components":[{"show_type":"jgyNewLowcode","config":{"type":"iwcapp/stockBackTestTool","version":"0.0.3","url":"//cdn.ainvest.com/frontResources/s/foiegras/stockBackTestTool/0.0.3/stockBackTestTool@0.0.3index.js"},"data":{"columns":[{"index_name":"strategy_basic_info","key":"strategy_basic_info","type":"Object"},{"index_name":"backtest_condition","key":"backtest_condition","type":"Object"},{"index_name":"backtest_result","key":"backtest_result","type":"STR"}],"datas":[{"strategy_basic_info":{"name":"BTC-USD Bollinger Bands Long-Only Strategy","description":"Long-only strategy for BTC-USD: Entry when close &gt; upper Bollinger Band (20, 2). Exit when close &lt; 20-day SMA, or after 10 days, or take-profit +6%, or stop-loss -3%. Backtest period: past 1 year."},"backtest_condition":{"object":{"display_name":"Object","type":"ticker","ticker":["BTC-USD"]},"open_signal":{"display_name":"Open Signal","type":"criteria","criteria":"Entry when daily close &gt; upper Bollinger Band (20, 2)."},"sell_signal":{"display_name":"Close Signal","type":"criteria","criteria":"Exit when daily close &lt; 20-day SMA, or after 10 trading days, or take-profit +6%, or stop-loss -3%."},"risk_control":{"display_name":"Risk Control","parameters":{"take_profit":{"display_name":"Take-Profit","value":6,"unit":"%"},"stop_loss":{"display_name":"Stop-Loss","value":3,"unit":"%"},"max_holding_days":{"display_name":"Hold Days","value":10}}}},"backtest_result":"https://cdn.ainvest.com/backtest/agent/session/784562/1800109709/79fa4120-dc5f-40e6-bd1e-eab151b1ed84/btcusd_bbands_backtest_20250212_20260211.json"}]},"uuid":"1770907356149"}],"page":{"layout":{"layout_mode":"grid","layout_data":"[{\"uuid\": \"1770907356149\", \"show_type\": \"jgyNewLowcode\"}]"}}}'></visualization> On-chain data reveals that the share of Bitcoin in profit has fallen to roughly 50%. This is a critical threshold historically linked to cycle bottoms, where long-term holders are reluctant to sell and lock in losses. With half the circulating supply now underwater, the incentive to dump coins weakens, but it also means the market is in a fragile state where a break below key support could trigger a wave of forced selling from leveraged positions.This stress is mirrored in derivatives markets, where deleveraging is occurring in an orderly fashion. Bitcoin futures open interest has fallen from roughly $61 billion to about $49 billion in just one week, a decline of more than 20%. This reduction in notional exposure is symmetrical with the price drop, indicating a managed unwind rather than a disorderly liquidation shock. While the speed of the recent selloff was extreme-registering a <a href="https://www.vaneck.com/us/en/blogs/digital-assets/matthew-sigel-what-triggered-bitcoins-major-selloff-in-february-2026/">-6.05σ move</a>-the gradual reduction in leverage suggests the most violent forced selling may be behind us.At the same time, options traders are paying a premium for downside protection, signaling rising anxiety. The one-week 25-delta skew has dropped to 19%, with puts now accounting for 54% of 24-hour volume. This "panic premium" reflects a growing demand for insurance against a retest of the $67,300 support zone. The bottom line is a market in transition: deleveraging is stabilizing, but the deep profit erosion and elevated demand for puts indicate that the path of least resistance remains downward until the market finds a new equilibrium.<h2>Catalysts and Key Levels to Watch</h2><visualization data='{"components":[{"show_type":"jgyTimeChart1","config":{"render":{"t":"t","x":"x","y":"y"}},"name":"dynamicLine","title_config":{"config":{"display":true},"data":{"h1":"BTC-USD Daily Price Trend – Last 1 Year"}},"data":[{"type":"remote-url","url":"https://cdn.ainvest.com/backtest/agent/session/quant/f4e86eba-7ee3-4c94-9012-b235b3c6d081/d03f3220-3eb2-428e-8615-56ff01933582/btc_trend_20260212144102_85cab3c4.json"}],"uuid":1770907278527.6611}],"page":{"layout":{"layout_mode":"grid","layout_data":"[{"uuid": 1770907278527.6611, "show_type": "jgyTimeChart1"}]"}}}'></visualization>The immediate battle is for the $69,000 level. A decisive break above this resistance is needed to invalidate the recent bearish pattern and signal a return to the uptrend. Failure to reclaim it, however, risks a retest of the $67,300 support zone and the broader $60,000 area. This lower band is a critical technical and psychological level, as a break below it would likely trigger a wave of forced selling from leveraged positions and confirm a deeper downtrend.A sustained reversal in ETF flows is the primary catalyst for a sustained bid. The market needs to see daily inflows consistently above $100 million to provide the institutional fuel for a breakout. The recent outflow of <a href="https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/bitcoin-price-forecast-btc-stalls-near-67-300-resistance-as-downside-risks-linger-202602121130">$276.30 million</a> shows the current lack of conviction. Until that flow turns positive and persistent, the price will struggle to move decisively higher, regardless of short-term rallies.Monitoring volume and options positioning is essential for spotting the next major move. Thin liquidity, with daily volume down sharply, means any significant price swing will be amplified. Watch for a spike in volume on a break below $67,300 as a sign of capitulation, or a surge in volume on a break above $69,000 as a sign of renewed accumulation. Simultaneously, the elevated demand for puts and the 50% profit threshold indicate a market in a fragile state where the next major move is likely to be violent.

Altcoin Analysis

Liquidity Trends

market

crypto

Cryptocurrency

Top Performing Altcoins

DeFi

MktETF

Liquidity Evaluations

Corporate Bond ETFs

Lending Platforms

Liquidity Metrics

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Prices

Futures

Bitcoin

Bitcoin's $69k Test: ETF Flows vs. Thin Liquidity

<video src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HZI2nC2fNlI" poster="https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/Episode 22_ef028a9b1770906807216.jpg" data="{&quot;videoUrl&quot;:&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/HZI2nC2fNlI&quot;,&quot;coverUrl&quot;:&quot;https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/Episode 22_ef028a9b1770906807216.jpg&quot;}"></video>Stocks opened modestly higher Thursday as investors positioned ahead of Friday’s January consumer-price index report, even as earnings from Cisco Systems highlighted persistent cost pressures tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure.At the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 223.11 points, or 0.45%, to 50,344.5. The S&amp;P 500 gained 23.87 points, or 0.34%, to 6,965.34, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 72.49 points, or 0.31%, to 23,139.0. The Russell 2000 climbed 0.56% to 266.44.The next catalyst is Friday’s CPI release. <a href="https://www.ainvest.com/news/jan-cpi-watch-price-hikes-drive-upside-surprise-2602/" target='__blank'>According to an AInvest preview</a> citing UBS, Bank of America and Citi, markets broadly expect core CPI to rise about 0.3% month over month. UBS is more aggressive, forecasting a potential increase of as much as 0.38%, and modeling a range between 0.28% and 0.56%.Bank of America projects core goods prices will rise 0.40% month over month, reflecting what it calls typical January price resets and tariff pass-through effects. Citi expects core goods to increase 0.31%, while forecasting shelter prices up 0.23% and core services excluding housing up 0.39%. UBS projects headline CPI year over year at 2.41% and core CPI at 2.57%.Stronger-than-expected inflation, following robust January nonfarm payrolls, could complicate the Federal Reserve’s rate-cut trajectory. Citi maintains its expectation of at least 75 basis points of rate cuts this year, while Bank of America describes the inflation backdrop as “not too hot, not too cold.”Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.ainvest.com/news/cisco-crushes-revenue-ai-surge-400-memory-cost-spike-sends-shares-tumbling-critical-80-support-2602/" target='__blank'>earnings from Cisco</a> underscore the uneven economics of the AI boom. The company reported fiscal second-quarter revenue of $15.3 billion, above the $15.1 billion consensus, and adjusted earnings per share of $1.04 versus $1.02 expected, according to AInvest. Core networking revenue climbed 21% year over year to $8.3 billion, with $2.1 billion in AI infrastructure orders from hyperscalers.Yet shares fell roughly 8% in pre-market trading as non-GAAP gross margin declined to 67.5%, pressured by what management described as a roughly 400% year-over-year increase in memory pricing. CEO Chuck Robbins said Cisco is implementing pricing increases, revising contractual terms and leveraging supply-chain scale to offset costs, while guiding fiscal 2026 revenue to $61.2 billion to $61.7 billion.The margin squeeze reinforces a broader theme. Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, noted there are no signs AI is boosting profit margins for companies outside the tech sector.<img data-json="{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/021226_Chart_a4acfc221770906957633.jpg&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;children&quot;:[{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;&quot;}]}" src="https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/021226_Chart_a4acfc221770906957633.jpg" contentEditable="false" style="display: block; margin: 0 auto; maxWidth: 100%" />For now, equities are leaning on expectations that inflation will continue to moderate. Friday’s CPI report will determine whether that optimism holds.

US Tech

Cisco Systems

UBS Group

Citigroup

Bank Of America

How CPI and Cisco Margins Are Framing the Opening Bell

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu: Trump may reach good deal with Iran - Axios. Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu: I remain skeptical about deal with Iran - Axios.

U.S. covertly sent roughly 6,000 of Starlink terminals into Iran after protest crackdown - WSJ

Trump: Relations between Venezuela and the United States have been, to put it mildly, extraordinary! We are dealing very well with President Dely Rodriguez, and her representatives.

Valuation Opportunity in Navan (NAVN) Amidst Recent Pullback

Tariff-linked US customs bond funding shortfall reaches record-breaking $3.5 bln in 2025 - CNBC

Samsung Electronics jumps 3.3%, closing at KRW 173,300

Cardano Founder Wears McDonald's Uniform to Highlight Crypto Industry Challenges at Consensus Hong Kong

Democratic senators urge Trump administration to use North America Free Trade talks to crack down on Chinese vehicles

Trump administration is dramatically expanding effort to revoke US citizenship for foreign-born Americans as it works to curb immigration - NBC News

Spot silver falls over 7% to $77.80/oz

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Drew Brees and the Paradigm Shift in Athlete Longevity

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Prudential (PUK) Plummets 7%: What's Fueling the Sudden Selloff?

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