Alphabet reports fourth-quarter results today after the bell, an event that serves as a high-stakes health check for the global economy. As one of the world?s largest companies, Google's performance is a primary engine for both digital advertising and the ?AI capex? supercycle that is currently propping up GDP growth.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday ?he has no ?opinion on whether ?the president has ?a ?constitutional authority to fire ?a Federal Reserve ?chair or board member because ?of ?a ?monetary policy disagreement, but he considers the central ?bank an independent agency.
Financial stocks were advancing in Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF each adding 0.6%. The Philadelphia Housing Index rose 2.4%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF climbed 1.6%. Bitcoin was falling 4.1% to $72,615, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was slightly lower at 4.27%. In corporate ...
* * Precious metals bounce back after rout. * Oil edges red, focus on US-Iran tensions. By Sin?ad Carew and Amanda Cooper. MSCI's global equities gauge fell on Wednesday with technology stocks leading losses on Wall Street, while the dollar broadly rose after the latest U.S. economic data and in precious metals silver outperformed gold following a recent plunge.
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ?aa-? of MLMIC Insurance Company. The ratings reflect MLMIC?s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
Romania will target a budget ?deficit of ?around 6.2% ?of economic ?output ?this year, compared ?with 2025's ?7.7%, Prime Minister ?Ilie ?Bolojan ?said on Wednesday, adding that the ?new draft budget will be sent ?to parliament ?around February 20. Bolojan said ?inflation was expected to fall to 4% by year-end.
Employment in the US private sector increased less than projected in January, ADP reported Wednesday, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced a revised release date for last month's nonfarm payrolls report. Private jobs rose by 22,000 in January, according to the payrolls processing firm.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday said that ?the independence of the Federal ?Reserve was based on ?Americans' trust of ?the ?central bank, which it lost ?because it ?allowed inflation to get out of ?control and "ravage" ?their ?incomes.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday said that ?the independence of the Federal ?Reserve was based on ?Americans' trust ?of the ?central bank, which it lost ?because it ?allowed inflation to get out of control ?and "ravage" ?their ?incomes.
Wells Fargo Investment Institute has raised its end-2026 gold price target to $6,100-$6,300 an ounce, citing expectations of lower short-term interest rates and sustained central bank demand, it said in a note ?on Wednesday. The bank had previously projected year-end prices in a range of $4,500-$4,700.
Azerbaijan's central bank on Wednesday said its Management Board decided to lower all parameters of the interest rate corridor by 25bps, with the key refinancing rate lowered to 6.5%. The rate reduction takes effect on Thursday. The decision has been made considering the alignment of actual inflation with the forecasted target range, wrote the central bank in its policy statement.
* Gold up about 16% so far in 2026. * Silver up over 28% this year. * ADP national employment report misses expectations. By Anmol Choubey. Gold prices held steady after paring earlier gains on Wednesday, as attention remained on geopolitical developments and upcoming U.S. jobs data that could shape expectations ?for future interest rate moves.
Iceland's central bank Wednesday said its Monetary Policy Committee decided to keep its interest rates unchanged, in a unanimous decision. The CBI's key interest rate -- the rate on seven-day term deposits -- remain 7.25%. Inflation now measures 5.2% and has risen once again, noted the central bank in its policy statement.
Industry looks to AI, cost controls, supply chain re-engineering as tools to cope ABU DHABI, UAE, Feb. 4, 2026 Logistics executives are bracing for a year of volatility in trade, geopolitics and the global economy, and managing uncertainty by turning to AI, scrutinizing costs, and reconfiguring their supply chains, according to the 2026 Agility Emerging Markets Index. th annual snapshot of indu...
MKS closed its 1 billion euro private offering of 4.25% senior notes due 2034. The company also refinanced its existing $2.2 billion and 587 million euro tranche B term loans, along with its $675 million revolving credit facility, with new $914 million and 587 million euro tranche B term loans and $1 billion revolving credit facility.
The Institute for Supply Management's US services index remained at 53.8 in January, compared with expectations for a decrease to a reading of 53.5 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. The ISM's reading follows mixed results from regional Federal Reserve bank measures, which the S&P Global measure indicated mild expansion.
The U.S. services sector held steady in January, but businesses paid more for inputs, suggesting that services inflation could pick up after being on a slowing trend in recent months. The Institute for Supply Management said on Wednesday its nonmanufacturing purchasing managers index was unchanged at ?53.8 last month amid a moderation in new order growth because of a slump in exports.
Business Activity Index at 57.4%; New Orders Index at 53.1%; Employment Index at 50.3%; Supplier Deliveries Index at 54.2%; This report reflects the recently completed annual adjustments to the seasonal factors used to calculate the indexes. TEMPE, Ariz.
Poland's central bank said its Monetary Policy Council decided to hold rates on Wednesday. The analyst consensus was nearly evenly split between an unchanged rate and a 25bps cut, wrote Commerzbank in a note published earlier Wednesday.
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B, the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ?bb? and the Egypt National Scale Rating of aaa.EG of Mohandes Insurance Company. The ratings reflect Mohandes? balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management.
The downturn in Canada's services economy deepened in January as trade uncertainty contributed to declines in activity and new business, S&P Global's Canada services PMI data showed on Wednesday. The headline Business Activity Index ?fell to 45.8 last month from 46.5 in December, marking a third straight monthly decline in ?service sector output.
AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A++ and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ?aaa? to Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance Limited.
The downturn in Canada's services economy deepened in January as trade uncertainty contributed to declines in activity and new business, S&P Global's Canada services PMI data showed on Wednesday. The headline Business Activity Index ?fell to 45.8 last month from 46.5 in December, marking a third straight monthly decline in ?service sector output.
* Gold up about 17% so far in 2026. * Silver up over 28% this year. * ADP national employment report misses expectations. By Anmol Choubey. Gold prices climbed on Wednesday, extending gains from the previous session after one of its steepest sell-offs ?in decades, as broader geopolitical uncertainty drove investors back to the safe-haven metal.
* Services sector PMI holds steady at 53.8 in January. * New order growth slows as exports slump. * Tariffs, uncertainty dominate commentary from businesses. * Private payrolls increase 22,000 in January, well below expectations. By Lucia Mutikani.
Rapid progress from announcement of successful launch in under two weeks signals NewGen?s expertise and commitment Launch represents fulfilment of NewGen?s goals to spearhead Real World Asset tokenization, puts Company at the forefront of digital assets innovation BANGKOK, Feb. 04, 2026 -- NewGenIVF Group Limited (NIVF), a tech-forward, diversified, multi-jurisdictional entity transforming industr...
ADP's monthly measure of private payrolls showed a 22,000 increase in January, below expectations compiled by Bloomberg for an increase of 45,000. The January gain followed a downwardly-revised 37,000 jobs increase in December.
U.S. private payrolls increased less than expected in January, the ADP's national employment report showed on Wednesday. Private employment rose by ?22,000 jobs last month after a downwardly revised 37,000 ?increase in December. The ADP report is ?jointly developed with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. The three-day shutdown ended ?on ?Tuesday.
ROSELAND, N.J., Feb. 4, 2026 Private sector employment increased by 22,000 jobs in January and pay was up 4.5 percent year-over-year according to the January ADP National Employment Report? produced by ADP Research in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab.
An Indiana bill would address some concerns that were raised around 2025's Senate Enrolled Act 1, which created questions about local government credit quality.
Gold is set for another record performance in 2026, a Reuters poll showed, as analysts ramp up their forecasts, with geopolitical uncertainty and robust central bank buying still the main drivers.
The U.S. dollar's recent recovery will be short-lived, holding steady before resuming a broader decline later in the year, a Reuters survey of currency strategists showed, as markets cling to interest rate cut expectations amid concerns about the Federal Reserve's independence.
* FTSE 100 up 1.4% and FTSE 250 up 0.6% * Energy stocks rise on higher crude amid U.S.-Iran tensions. * Software, tech stocks still under ?pressure. * Investors await BoE policy decision on Thursday.
Sterling has continued to strengthen at the start of this week ahead of Thursday's Bank of England policy meeting, said MUFG. EUR/GBP broke below support from the 200-day moving average at around 0.8650 on Monday.
Artemis Gold (ARGTF) late on Tuesday said it has closed a private placement offering of C$450 million of 5.625% senior unsecured notes due 2031. The notes were issued at par under a trust indenture and are direct senior unsecured obligations of Artemis ranking equal with all of the company's other senior unsecured debt.
* Euro zone inflation drops to lowest since September 2024. * ECB expected to keep rates unchanged despite inflation drop. * German 10-year yield down 2 bps. By Samuel Indyk.
* Tech stocks in India, Hong Kong decline. * Gold prices support South African equities. * Central bank decision awaited in Poland. * Afreximbank lines up $8 bln package for South Africa. * MSCI EM FX down 0.2%, stocks off 0.1% By Purvi Agarwal.
The last data input before Thursday's European Central Bank policy meeting is Wednesday's eurozone flash consumer price index estimate for January, said ING. Tuesday's surprise drop in French inflation left little to no mark on foreign exchange, and the bank doubts Wednesday's eurozone-wide figures have much impact potential.
Investors are ramping up bets on higher long-dated Treasury yields and a steeper yield curve as incoming Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is expected to press for interest rate cuts while shrinking the U.S. central bank's balance sheet.
Societe Generale in its early Wednesday economic news summary pointed out: -- United States yields firm ahead of APD and ISM services, 10-year resistance 4.30/4.35%. Yen slides on carry demand, AUD/JPY nears 110. -- China's RatingDog PMI services inches up to 52.3 in January from 52.0. Composite rises to 51.6 from 51.3 in December. -- Day ahead: Eurozone flash consumer price index.
Sterling rose to a fresh five-month high against the euro on Wednesday, though investors remained on hold ahead of the Bank of England's policy meeting later this week. The single currency hit its lowest since August 27 ?against the pound at 86.15 pence and was last down 0.09% at 86.21 pence.
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent developments surrounding the leadership of the US Federal Reserve have underscored the importance of institutional stability for global trade and financing conditions. For internationally active companies, predictable funding costs, stable currencies and reliable buyer behaviour are essential.
Liberty Energy said Wednesday it priced a private offering of $700 million of 0% convertible senior notes due March 1, 2031, upsized from a previously planned $500 million. Initial purchasers have an option to buy up to an additional $70 million of the notes.
Activity in Britain's services sector grew strongly in January and confidence rose, a survey showed on Wednesday, but firms also reported a jump in their prices, a potential concern for the Bank of England before its interest rate decision this week.
The euro zone economy's growth slowed for a second consecutive month in January as demand nearly stagnated and hiring came to a halt, indicating a fragile start to 2026, a survey showed. The HCOB Eurozone Composite Purchasing Managers' Index, compiled by S&P Global, fell ?to 51.3 in January from 51.5 in December, touching a four-month low.
In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.
Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.
Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.
Log In Required
Publication Date