Every weekend, I recap “news you can use” from the week — a handful of quotes from major (and often expensive) news sources — so you can stay up to date on the news that affects your money without spending a dime and in less than a minute.
Here’s an overview of what happened this week.
Super Bowl LX is turning into AI’s coming-out party (Feb. 6, MarketWatch):
Super Bowl LX could perhaps be called the “AI Bowl” due to the significant presence of artificial intelligence in advertising and event operations.
AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are airing commercials during the big game, with Svedka vodka featuring the first fully AI-generated Super Bowl ad.
US Consumer Sentiment Unexpectedly Rises to a Six-Month High (Feb. 6, Bloomberg):
The preliminary February sentiment index increased to 57.3 from 56.4 in January, according to the University of Michigan.
While sentiment surged for those with stock holdings, confidence remained weak for those without, the report showed.
How America’s EV retreat is increasing China’s control of global markets (Feb. 6, CNBC):
The Chinese automotive industry has become the largest exporter of vehicles globally since 2023 and has been increasingly bringing electric models around the globe.
The U.S. auto industry, meanwhile, is refocusing on gas vehicles, and legacy automakers have reported billions of dollars in write-downs on their EVs.
Companies in the U.S., where autos represent about 5% of GDP, are worried about long-term implications.
U.S. Jobless Claims Rose Last Week (Feb. 5, Barron’s):
The number of people who filed for unemployment benefits rose to 231,000 in the week through Jan. 31, up from 209,000 a week earlier, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal were expecting to see 212,000 new claims.
Bitcoin drops 15%, briefly breaking below $61,000 as sell-off intensifies, doubts about crypto grow (Feb. 5, CNBC):
Digital assets, including bitcoin, have fallen deeper into the red as investors re-assess the practical utility of a token that has been championed not only as a hedge against inflation and macroeconomic uncertainties but also as an alternative to fiat currencies and traditional safe-havens such as gold.
That hasn’t panned out lately, since bitcoin peaked just north of $126,000 in early October.
Job openings sink to a post-pandemic low. The economy is barely adding any new jobs. (Feb. 5, MarketWatch):
U.S. job openings dropped by 386,000 in December to 6.5 million, the government said in a report delayed by federal shutdowns. That’s the lowest total since 2017 if the pandemic year is omitted.
The U.S. is facing an unusual paradox. The economy is growing at a surprising strong pace, but it’s hardly creating any new jobs.
Private payrolls rose by just 22,000 in January, far short of expectations, ADP says (Feb. 4, CNBC):
The total was less than the downwardly revised 37,000 increase in December and below the consensus forecast for 45,000.
The report starts 2026 off on basically the same note where 2025 ended: A lackluster job market in a low-hire, low-fire environment.
Software and Legal Services Get Crushed. AI Panic Hits the Market. (Feb. 4, Barron’s):
The introduction of Anthropic’s legal AI plug-in and other large language models like Harvey intensifies investor fears of disruption in the legal tech space.
Software companies face disruption from AI tools, threatening recurring subscription revenues and causing the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF to drop nearly 20% this year.
U.S. Manufacturing Posts Its First Expansion in Six Months ( Feb. 3, Bloomberg):
The Institute for Supply Management’s purchasing managers’ index, based on a survey of manufacturers, increased to 50.9 in January from an almost four-year low of 47.8, according to Monday’s data. While just above the 50 level that signals expansion, the monthly advance was the largest since mid-2013.
Oil prices are falling sharply. Lowered U.S.-Iran tensions and metals spillover is being blamed (Feb. 2, MarketWatch):
Oil prices fell sharply on Monday after President Donald Trump said he was hopeful over negotiations with Iran, taking some of the fear premium out of the commodity.
Worsening U.S.-Iran tensions drove Brent, the global benchmark, to its highest since last July on Thursday.
About me
I founded Money Talks News in 1991. I’m a CPA, and I have also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.