New York, Feb 10, 2026, 13:32 EST — Regular session
- The Dow climbed 237.47 points, a 0.47% gain, reaching 50,373.34 by late morning trading.
- In December, U.S. retail sales stalled, falling short of expectations and reigniting questions about the strength of economic growth.
- Traders are eyeing Wednesday’s delayed jobs report and Friday’s CPI as the next potential market catalysts.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a new record on Tuesday, buoyed by gains in Goldman Sachs and Home Depot as investors digested a softer-than-expected retail sales report alongside a heavy earnings schedule. By 11:53 a.m. ET, the Dow had climbed 237.47 points, or 0.47%, reaching 50,373.34. The S&P 500 inched up 0.04%, while the Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.08%. (Reuters)
Consumer mood shifted sharply. Retail sales held steady in December, following a 0.6% gain in November, according to a Commerce Department report delayed by a 43-day government shutdown. Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management, noted that “consumer spending has finally caught up with consumer sentiment, and not in a good way.” (AP News)
Tuesday’s record came after a rocky start to the week, following last week’s AI-fueled selloff in tech and software stocks. The Dow closed Monday at 50,135.87, rising just 20.20 points, or 0.04%, while the Nasdaq edged up 0.90%. Keith Lerner, CIO at Truist Advisory Services, said the market looked “sharply oversold” and noted that “a little bit of good news can go a long way.” All eyes now turn to the delayed January nonfarm payrolls report set for Wednesday, followed by the January consumer price index on Friday. (Reuters)
Coca-Cola dragged the Dow down after falling short of Wall Street’s revenue forecasts for the fourth quarter. Incoming CEO Henrique Braun told analysts, “We need to get closer to the consumer and improve our speed to market.” The company is doubling down on zero-sugar drinks and smaller packaging to shore up demand. (Reuters)
The Dow tracks 30 major U.S. companies by price, meaning a few big shifts can outweigh overall “market breadth”—the balance of rising versus falling stocks. On Tuesday, gains came mainly from financial and retail sectors, while some consumer staples names struggled.
The divide between the Dow and the tech-heavy Nasdaq also reflected worries over Big Tech’s spending. Investors have been scrutinizing capital expenditure plans — the funds companies allocate for major, long-term projects like data centers — as recent earnings revealed just how intense the AI race is driving up budgets.
Tech jitters remain close to the surface. Strategists at JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley highlighted a steep drop in software stocks, spurred by worries that rapidly evolving AI might disrupt established business models. Morgan Stanley’s Katy Huberty noted, “the dislocation in U.S. Software valuations is sentiment-driven, not fundamental.” (Reuters)
Rate expectations factor in here as well. The retail sales miss reinforced concerns that growth might be slowing as we enter the new year, creating a scenario that could limit Treasury yields and support equity risk appetite—even while casting doubt on the economy’s staying power.
Yet the Dow, despite its record highs, isn’t without risk. Should Wednesday’s payrolls or Friday’s CPI come in hotter than anticipated, the “higher-for-longer” rate narrative could reverse sharply. This would push yields up and weigh on the very stocks driving the index’s gains.
Coming up, traders will focus on the delayed January jobs report dropping Wednesday, Feb. 11, then January CPI on Friday, Feb. 13. Earnings season remains volatile, with single-stock swings driving shifts in index leaders and laggards throughout the day.
