Here’s what’s happening in the stock market today:
The stock market is opening with little changed to slightly lower futures amid anticipation for big tech earnings this week and the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. 📉⏳ Gold has surged past $5,000 for the first time, driven by tariff threats and safe-haven demand, while major indexes like the S&P 500 and Dow have declined for two straight weeks. Investors remain cautious after a volatile period marked by political risks and mixed economic signals.
Major Indices Performance 📊
S&P 500 futures are little changed ahead of key events, following Friday's close up 0.03% at 6,915.61.
Dow Jones futures show modest declines around 0.1-0.6%, with recent levels near 49,119.
Nasdaq futures are inching lower by about 0.1%, reflecting tech sector jitters before earnings from Apple, Meta, and Microsoft.
Market Movers 🚀
Life360 surged 24% to $68.10 in pre-market trading.
EquipmentShare climbed over 32% to $32.56, leading gainers amid high volume.
Other notables include Movano (up 140% recently) and TeraWulf (up 9.5%), while losers like Intel dropped 17% pre-open.
Mining and metals stocks like Avino Silver & Gold gained around 19%.
Key Events Driving the Market 🗞️
The Federal Reserve meets this week, expected to hold rates steady amid sticky inflation and a cooling jobs market, with Chair Powell's comments in focus.
Big tech earnings from Microsoft, Apple, Meta, and others kick off, alongside risks of a U.S. government shutdown over budget disputes.
Tariff threats from President Trump, including on Canada and Greenland tensions, continue fueling volatility and boosting gold.
Investor Sentiment 👀
Traders are subdued, balancing optimism from AI-driven tech strength against policy uncertainties like Fed pauses and fiscal risks. 🐂⚖️ Markets eye potential de-escalation but brace for swings from earnings and geopolitics.
TRADE OF THE DAY:
LEN
Name: Lennar Corporation
Symbol: LEN
Current Price: Approximately ~$110.81
Trade
Sell to Open: 1 LEN Feb 13, 2026 101/96 Put Vertical
Total Credit Received: $63.00
Credit per Contract: $63.00 (for one contract covering 100 shares)
Direction: Bullish (expects LEN to stay above the break-even level)
Probability of Profit (PoP): 85.15%
Potential ROI:
Max Risk (Loss): $437.00
ROI: ($63 ÷ $437) × 100 ≈ 14.4%
Trade Explained in Simple English:
This trade involves selling the 101 strike put and buying the 96 strike put on LEN, both expiring February 13, 2026. You collect $63 upfront for entering the spread. The position is profitable if LEN stays above $100.37 at expiration, allowing both options to expire worthless. Your potential profit is capped at $63, while your maximum loss is limited to $437, making this a defined-risk bullish strategy.
Wall Street Highlights:
News Beyond the Numbers
Merck & Co. has ended talks to acquire biotech firm Revolution Medicines after failing to agree on a price that could have valued the deal at around $30 billion. Read more.
Capital One Financial reported Q4 2025 adjusted earnings of $3.86 per share, missing analyst estimates of $4.12, while revenues of $15.58 billion exceeded expectations. Read more.
JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs strategists observe early signs of US corporate earnings broadening beyond mega-cap tech stocks into the wider S&P 500. Read more.
Ocean First Financial and Flushing Financial agreed to an all-stock merger valued at $579 million, creating a bank with $23 billion in assets across New Jersey and New York. Read more.
SoftBank acquired DigitalBridge for $4 billion to expand its AI digital infrastructure capabilities amid surging cloud computing demand. Read more.
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