On February 10, 2026, U.S. stock markets closed with mixed results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average set a record for the third consecutive trading session, gaining approximately 0.1%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite saw declines of 0.3% and 0.6%, respectively. Investors appeared to bristle as retail sales data released earlier indicated stagnation, signaling a potential slowdown in consumer spending.
The Dow finished at 50,188.14, while the S&P 500 closed at 6,941.81, and the Nasdaq Composite ended at 23,102.47. This uneven performance among indices highlighted concerns relating to economic data and AI-related sell-offs in the technology sector.
Recent reports indicated that U.S. retail sales for December 2025 were virtually unchanged from November, a disappointing outcome compared to prior month-on-month growth figures. The lackluster performance fell significantly short of economists' forecasts, which projected a growth rate of 0.4%. This stagnation has raised concerns about consumer sentiment and overall economic momentum just ahead of the upcoming January jobs report.
Experts from Daiwa Capital Markets noted that they anticipate modest job growth in January, while pointing to a possible uptick in the unemployment rate due to an acceleration in corporate layoffs.
Earnings season continued to influence market movements with notable companies like Coca-Cola and Spotify reporting results. Coca-Cola stock fell about 2% following an outlook that was deemed 'prudent' for 2026, indicating a cautious path ahead as international sales pressure mounts.
Meanwhile, Spotify shares surged about 15% after revealing its most substantial quarterly user growth ever, boasting of reaching 751 million monthly active users. This jump underlined confidence in the streaming giant amidst rising competitive pressure.
Financial stocks took a significant hit as fears regarding artificial intelligence disrupted wealth management firms. Shares of Charles Schwab, Raymond James Financial, and LPL Financial all experienced drops exceeding 6% amidst worries over new AI tools aiding personalized tax strategies. This incident reflected a broader trend where financial technology, particularly AI implementations, is leading to skepticism among traditional financial services.
Tomorrow's job report will be a critical indicator of the labor market's health, especially following December's stagnation in retail. With more than 75% of traders now anticipating interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve by June, the economic landscape appears volatile. As market participants digest this information, continued focus will be placed on preserving gains from the preceding week's market rallies.