New York, Feb 10, 2026, 10:40 EST — Regular session
- Wall Street saw mixed action as retail sales fell short of expectations, holding the S&P 500 and Nasdaq back while the Dow hit another record high.
- Alphabet dropped following a $20 billion bond sale, while Spotify and Datadog surged after reporting earnings; S&P Global slipped due to a cautious 2026 outlook.
- Investors are turning their attention to the postponed January jobs report set for Feb. 11, followed by inflation data on Feb. 13. Nvidia’s earnings report arrives later, on Feb. 25.
Wall Street showed a mixed picture Tuesday as a flat U.S. retail sales report stalled gains for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, even while the Dow pushed past 50,000 again. By 9:47 a.m. ET, the Dow climbed 207.51 points, or 0.40%, to 50,338.83. The S&P 500 edged down 0.04% to 6,961.93, and the Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.30% to 23,169.04. Alphabet shares fell 2.8% after a $20 billion bond offering, whereas Spotify surged 15% and Datadog climbed 13% following strong earnings. “It’s really the retail sales data that’s come out below expectations that’s driving some of the weakness,” said Charlie Ripley, vice president of portfolio management at Allianz Investment Management. (Reuters)
Markets are searching for stability following last week’s AI-fueled selloff and Monday’s rebound in tech and software stocks. “You’ve got a market that’s sharply oversold—so even a bit of good news can move things significantly,” said Keith Lerner, chief investment officer at Truist Advisory Services. Traders continue to factor in the first Fed rate cut of the year, expected in June. (Reuters)
The next major hurdles arrive fast: the delayed January employment report drops Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 8:30 a.m. ET, with the consumer price index (CPI) inflation data for January hitting Friday, Feb. 13 at 8:30 a.m. ET, according to the Labor Department’s schedule. Missing expectations on either report could shift rate forecasts, directly impacting stock valuations. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Retail sales held steady in December, following a 0.6% jump in November, missing economists’ forecast of a 0.4% increase, according to Commerce Department figures. Core retail sales—which exclude autos, gas, building materials, and food services—dropped 0.1%, potentially weighing on fourth-quarter GDP projections. The Atlanta Fed is currently estimating 4.2% growth, with the government’s delayed advance GDP report expected next week. (Reuters)
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett warned that upcoming payroll figures might appear weak due to slowing labor-force growth paired with rising productivity—a mix that can still support strong GDP growth. A Reuters poll projects nonfarm payrolls—the government’s main monthly jobs figure—will increase by 70,000 in January, following a 50,000 gain in December. Unemployment is expected to hold steady at 4.4%. (Reuters)
Alphabet’s $20 billion bond sale—including a rare 100-year sterling tranche—highlights how Big Tech is leaning on debt to bankroll AI infrastructure. “Today it comes with a 100-year debt issuance out of Google,” said Jason Granet, chief investment officer at BNY, emphasizing the massive capital outlays. Reuters reports that Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta plan to spend at least $630 billion on capital expenditures this year. (Reuters)
S&P Global rattled data and software stocks after projecting its 2026 adjusted profit between $19.40 and $19.65 per share, falling short of analysts’ $19.94 estimate, according to LSEG data. The stock tumbled 18% in premarket trading and is down 15% year to date, Reuters reported. (Reuters)
Nvidia is set to release its fourth-quarter results on Feb. 25, followed by a conference call at 5 p.m. ET, the company announced. Investors will be watching closely for signs of demand for its premium chips and whether the surge in AI spending is translating into sustained earnings growth. (NVIDIA Newsroom)
After the bell, watch for stock-specific moves from Ford Motor and Robinhood Markets, both set to release earnings following Tuesday’s close. Treasury yields pulled back after the retail sales numbers came in, per Investopedia. (Investopedia)
That said, the market hasn’t dismissed the downside risks: hotter inflation numbers or a disappointing jobs report could reignite fears that the Fed will hold rates higher for longer—usually bad news for expensive tech stocks. Conversely, a sudden growth scare might drag cyclicals lower and cast doubt on the Dow’s record-breaking rally.
Wall Street’s attention is tight for the moment. The jobs report dropping Wednesday and Friday’s CPI figures will steer expectations on rate cuts. Meanwhile, Nvidia’s Feb. 25 earnings call hangs over the AI-driven sectors of the S&P 500.
