Dow Leads S&P 500, Nasdaq Higher; Retail Sales Flat as Jobs Data Looms, Investors Eye CPI

U.S. stocks mostly rose on February 10, 2026, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) adding about 0.7% to a record close. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) gained roughly 0.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) was near flat after key tech earnings varied, with Nvidia (NVDA) and Alphabet (GOOG) turning negative. December retail sales stood virtually unchanged from November, signaling a slowdown in holiday spending. November had posted a 0.6% month-on-month increase, underscoring heightened vigilance for Wednesday’s January jobs report and Friday’s CPI reading. Corporate earnings continued to shape sentiment, with Ford (F) notable after the close. Gold (GC=F) edged back from a $5,000 peak earlier in the week, while bitcoin (BTC-USD) traded well below $69,000 amid volatility and a perceived crisis of confidence.