Global Markets
Canadian Markets
Canada’s main stock index rose on the financial sector, which was up nearly 2 percent, reflecting improved sentiment toward banks and insurers amid stabilizing interest-rate expectations and resilient credit conditions. However, overall gains were restrained by a broad-based selloff in commodities, with energy and materials stocks under pressure as investors reacted to softer global demand signals and volatile commodity pricing.
Canada’s new federal grocery rebate is drawing increased scrutiny after the Parliamentary Budget Office estimated the program will cost approximately $3 billion this year, with an additional near-$2 billion required annually thereafter. The rising fiscal burden comes as food inflation remains elevated, highlighting ongoing cost-of-living pressures and raising questions about the sustainability and long-term effectiveness of targeted relief measures.
American Markets
U.S. markets advanced broadly, reflecting a positive start to the 2026 earnings season and sustained optimism around corporate profitability amid a relatively stable macroeconomic backdrop. Investors were encouraged by early reports of stronger-than-expected earnings in key sectors, which reinforced confidence in the resilience of corporate margins and cash flow. Technology stocks, in particular, remain in focus, with 128 S&P 500 companies scheduled to report this week, including major names such as Alphabet, Amazon, and AMD. These reports are expected to provide critical insight into revenue growth, cost management, and exposure to emerging trends like artificial intelligence and cloud adoption. Investors are also monitoring a busy calendar of economic data releases that will offer benchmarks on the health of the U.S. economy.
European Markets
European markets rose more than 1% across most major indices, as gains in defensive sectors such as consumer staples and healthcare outweighed declines in commodity-linked stocks. Investors continued to parse earnings reports for insight into corporate health amid slowing growth and margin pressure. In Germany, manufacturing showed tentative signs of stabilization, with the HCOB Germany Manufacturing PMI climbed to a three-month high of 49.1 in January from 47.0 in December. While still below the 50.0 expansion threshold for the 43rd consecutive month, the improvement suggests output has returned to growth following a brief contraction late last year. An ECB survey indicated firms are experiencing deteriorating profit conditions, reinforcing concerns about weak demand and rising costs. Data revealed French manufacturing production expanded at its fastest pace in nearly four years,.
UK markets also moved higher, with London’s FTSE 100 hitting a record high as strength in financials and defensive stocks offset losses in commodity-exposed names. UK house prices rose 1.0% year-over-year in January, signaling continued resilience in the housing market despite elevated borrowing costs and broader economic uncertainty.
Corporate Stock News
Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD): HSBC raised its price target to $335 from $300, reflecting a structural surge in server CPU demand driven by agentic AI and AMD’s stronger ability to meet supply relative to Intel.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA): Alibaba will spend 3 billion yuan to attract users to its Qwen AI app during the Lunar New Year, intensifying competition with Tencent and Baidu through consumer incentives.
Amazon.com Inc (AMZN): Saks Global is ending its “Saks on Amazon” partnership to refocus on higher-growth areas, unwinding a deal linked to Amazon’s $475 million investment.
American Express Co (AXP): JPMorgan lowered its price target to $375 from $385, citing softer fourth-quarter results and higher projected operating expenses in 2026.
Apple Inc (AAPL): India approved tax rule changes allowing foreign companies to supply machinery to contract manufacturers without tax risk, a positive development for Apple’s iPhone manufacturing strategy.
Boeing Co (BA): Boeing secured a new labor agreement with about 1,600 former Spirit AeroSystems employees, including wage increases, improved benefits, and a $6,000 ratification bonus.
Capstone Copper Corp (CS:CA): The miner resumed partial operations at its Mantoverde mine in Chile despite an ongoing strike, expecting output at 50%–75% of normal levels following a court ruling.
Eldorado Gold Corp (ELD:CA) / Foran Mining Corp (FOM:CA): Eldorado agreed to acquire Foran Mining in a C$3.8 billion deal, boosting copper exposure and adding a near-term growth project, with closing expected in Q2 2026.
Ford Motor Co (F): U.S. regulators opened a safety probe into 1.27 million F-150 trucks over unexpected transmission downshifts, while Ford denied reports of EV joint-venture talks with Xiaomi.
General Motors Co (GM): Jefferies raised its price target to $97 from $85, citing improved EBIT expectations, conservative guidance, and a stronger product mix.
Gildan Activewear Inc (GIL:CA): National Bank raised its price target to C$97 from C$92, reflecting updated estimates after the early Hanes exit and confidence in organic growth and synergies.
Nvidia Corp (NVDA): CEO Jensen Huang confirmed plans for a major investment in OpenAI, dismissing reports of internal opposition and reaffirming strategic alignment, while Nvidia shares fell after the reports undermining a key growth narrative that had supported the stock.
Oracle Corp (ORCL): Oracle plans to raise $45–$50 billion in 2026 to expand cloud infrastructure capacity to meet surging demand from major customers.
Peloton Interactive Inc (PTON): Peloton cut 11% of its workforce as part of ongoing turnaround efforts under CEO Peter Stern.
Polestar Automotive Holding UK Plc (PSNY): Polestar secured a $400 million equity investment to bolster liquidity and strengthen its balance sheet.
Tesla Inc (TSLA): Tesla won a Delaware Supreme Court ruling that reduced shareholder legal fees by more than $100 million, though January vehicle registrations in Norway fell sharply year over year.
UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH): JPMorgan cut its price target to $389 from $425 after Q4 results, noting weaker 2027 Medicare guidance but a clear path to margin recovery from 2026 onward.
Walt Disney Co (DIS): Disney beat revenue and earnings expectations, driven by strong theme-park performance, as the board reportedly nears a CEO succession decision.
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