Week In Perspective | Roller Coaster Week Leads Dow to Milestone [09-February-26]

Updated: 09-February-2026

The Week on Wall Street

Stocks were mixed last week, with broad gains on Monday and Friday bookending midweek selling pressure as investors digested earnings results from more than 100 S&P 500 companies.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index ended the week roughly where it started, slipping 0.10 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 1.84 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.50 percent. By contrast, the MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 0.49 percent.^1,2

Dow 50,000

Stocks bounded out of the gate on Monday with the Dow leading a broad rise across all three major averages. Markets rose in anticipation of a big week for Q4 corporate reports.³

Market sentiment quickly changed on Tuesday as anxious investors appeared to rotate out of technology names and into cyclical areas of the economy more likely to rebound with an improving economy.

News on Wednesday that private-sector job growth slowed in January added to investor anxiety. Stocks fell again on Thursday, with the S&P 500 briefly going negative year-to-date.^4,5

Then things turned around.

Stocks rebounded broadly on Friday as investors appeared to “buy the dip.” The Dow led, closing above the 50,000 level for the first time. The tech-heavy Nasdaq closed back above 23,000, while the S&P gained 2 percent. The latest University of Michigan survey showed consumer sentiment rose to its highest level in six months, helping buoy investor sentiment.⁶

Fed Watch: Jobs Data

The brief government shutdown that ended last week delayed several economic reports. The federal employment report for January, originally due out on February 6, has been delayed until Wednesday, February 11.

But payroll processor ADP reported on Wednesday that private employers added 22,000 jobs in January—about half of the 45,000 expected. Then, on Thursday, outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that companies cut more than 108,000 jobs in January—the highest number of layoffs of any January since 2009.^7,8

Investors tried to reconcile the reports with the Fed’s January post-meeting statement, which read, “Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace. Job gains have remained low, and the unemployment rate has shown some signs of stabilization. Inflation remains somewhat elevated.”⁹

This Week: Key Economic Data

Monday: Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic and Fed governors Christopher Waller and Stephen Miran speak.

Tuesday: NFIB Small Business Optimism Index. Retail Sales* (Dec). Import Prices* (Dec). Employment Cost Index (Q4). Business Inventories* (Nov). Fed Presidents Beth Hammack (Cleveland) and Lorie Logan (Dallas) speak.

Wednesday: Employment Report. Federal Budget.

Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims. Existing Home Sales (Jan). Fed governor Miran speaks.

Friday: Consumer Price Index (CPI).

_{Source: Investors Business Daily - Econoday economic calendar: February 6, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.}

This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings

Tuesday: The Coca-Cola Company (KO), Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD), S&P Global Inc. (SPGI), Welltower Inc. (WELL), CVS Health Corporation (CVS), Duke Energy Corporation (DUK), Spotify Technology (SPOT)

Wednesday: Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO), McDonald’s Corporation (MCD), T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS), Shopify Inc. (SHOP), AppLovin Corporation (APP)

Thursday: Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT), Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET), Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX), Brookfield Corporation (BN)

_{Source: Zacks, February 6, 2026. Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule their earnings reports without notice.}

This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information, and provided by Twenty Over Ten. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.