Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are shifting to post-settlement pricing and shorter-term contracts as DRAM and NAND prices surge, altering the balance of power in the memory industry. Under the new model, suppliers can recalculate and invoice price differentials after delivery, while supply agreements are moving from multi-year to single-quarter or even monthly resets. This favors suppliers by locking in price flexibility amid continued tight supply and strong price upside. The change is primarily impacting major North American tech buyers and is expected to remain prevalent through mid-2026. Micron, SK Hynix, and Samsung are also tightening customer screening and order transparency to prevent over-ordering and further market imbalance. Apple, typically locked into long-term agreements, may secure prices only through mid-2026, creating pricing flexibility for its upcoming iPhone 18 in late 2026.

South Korean crypto exchange Bithumb reported on February 7, 2026, it mistakenly distributed over $40 billion worth of Bitcoin as part of a promotional event, causing a sharp selloff on its platform. The firm recovered 99.7% of the 620,000 affected coins, valued at about $44 billion at current prices, and restricted trading and withdrawals for 695 customers within 35 minutes of the error on February 6, 2026. The incident, unrelated to hacking, stated there are no security or asset management issues. Bitcoin prices on Bithumb briefly fell 17% to 81.1 million won before recovering to 104.5 million won as of the close. Bithumb trails Upbit in the South Korean crypto space.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has signaled aggressive enforcement against unapproved compounded GLP-1 drugs, prompting a 12.6% drop in HIMS-US after-hours. The agency warned that companies marketing these drugs—often through Hims & Hers and other pharmacies—as alternatives to approved therapies violate its authority and put consumers at risk due to unverified quality, safety, and efficacy.

Hims & Hers, which launched an oral semaglutide combination pill for weight management at $49 per month, faces a regulatory headwind as the FDA clarified it cannot claim these products are equivalent to or approved by the agency. Novo Nordisk characterized the offering as “unauthorized, false, and untested counterfeit,” vowing legal and regulatory actions against “illegally large-scale compounding.”

The company maintains its platform expands personalized weight management options beyond injections, emphasizing accessibility and tailored dosing. However, the FDA’s escalated approach, including seizure and injunction tools, could limit future growth and investor confidence in the remote health segment.

Lean hog futures closed mixed on February 6, with contracts ranging 7 cents higher to 42 cents lower. February contracts ended up 12 cents for the week. USDA reported the national base hog price at $85.39, down $1.19 from the prior day. The CME Lean Hog Index was up 32 cents at $86.38 on Feb 4.

CFTC data showed managed money adding 15,051 contracts to the net long position in lean hog futures and options in the week of Tuesday, bringing the total to 128,857 contracts.

The pork carcass cutout value fell to $93.77 per cwt, led by the butt down $8.65 while ham gained. USDA estimated federally inspected hog slaughter at 2.593 million head for the week, 92,000 head above last week and 72,009 head below the same week last year.

Feb 26: $87.375, +$0.075

Apr 26: $97.950, -$0.425

May 26: $101.275, -$0.225

Cotton futures fall 40–70 points in front-month contracts Friday, with March down 211 points this week. Crude oil up 21 to $63.50/bbl; the dollar index at 97.650 (-0.141).

Speculators added 6,717 contracts to a net short of 71,746 in cotton futures and options as of Feb 3. US export commitments stood at 7.8 million bales as of Jan 29, 12% below last year, at 68% of the USDA forecast, below the 86% average.

Online sales averaged 54¢/lb on 592 bales; Cotlook A at 73.20¢/lb up 5 on Feb 5; ICE certified stocks 74,997 bales, up 27,344 from 2/5; Adjusted World Price 49.78¢/lb (-42).

Mar 26: 61.06 (-70)

May 26: 63.04 (-46)

Jul 26: 64.83 (-43)

Corn futures ended the session lower, down 4–5 cents across most contracts, with March closing at $4.30 1/4, May at $4.38 3/4, and July at $4.45 1/4. The national average Cash Corn price fell to $3.97 3/4, while the average close for December futures in February was $4.58—down from $4.70 in the same period last year.

Export commitments reached 58.735 MMT, 31% higher than the prior year and 72% of USDA's projection, ahead of the 71% average pace. StatsCanada reported ending stocks at 10.95 MMT as of December 31, down 3.3% from the previous year. The CFTC's net speculative short in corn totaled 68,786 contracts, trimmed 3,464 contracts from the week of February 3.

Data will be released Tuesday with USDA's WASDE, and traders are pricing an average US ending stocks figure of 2.215 bbu.

NAVER (072870) reported Q4 operating profit of 236.8 billion KRW, up 12.3% from 210.9 billion KRW in the same period of 2025, driven by strong performance in its search and advertising services and growth in KakaoTalk messaging.

The tech giant's total revenue for the quarter was 459.7 billion KRW, a 15.4% increase year-over-year. Adjusted net profit for Q4 reached 185.2 billion KRW, reflecting improved cost efficiency and higher advertising revenues.

Key drivers included a 12.9% rise in advertising services revenue and a 14.1% growth in KakaoTalk user base, contributing to higher engagement and transaction volumes.

Tesla (TSLA-US) is scaling its workforce to support Elon Musk’s announced plan to make the company the largest U.S. producer of solar components, with a target of 100GW of solar manufacturing capacity by the end of 2028.

Senior leadership has publicly highlighted aggressive expansion, including a LinkedIn post by Seth Winger, Tesla’s Senior Product Engineering Manager for Solar, and statements from Ralf Gomm, Engineering Vice President, and Bonne Eggleston, Deputy President of Battery Manufacturing. The company is actively recruiting engineers and scientists to scale production and advance the U.S. renewable energy manufacturing ecosystem.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, U.S. solar module capacity is about 65GW while solar cell capacity is roughly 3.2GW, with production largely dominated by China. Analyst Jeff Osborne of TD Cowen cautioned that timelines for building a new, large-scale supply chain are typically longer than Musk’s known pace, and such goals may more accurately be viewed as long-term visions than near-term deliverables.

Bitcoin plunged nearly $15,000 in a single day on February 5, 2026, the steepest 24-hour slide since 2022. While prices later recovered to about $70,000, the crash appears tied to a Hong Kong hedge fund's levered, out-of-the-money call trade in BlackRock’s IBIT ETF, exacerbated by rising yen-carry funding costs and exposure to volatile silver, according to former equities trader Parker White of DeFi Development Corporation.

The fund’s implosion likely triggered a forced liquidation of IBIT shares, amplifying the sell-off and sending Bitcoin reeling. The episode coincided with a broader AI-driven sell-off, uncertainty over a key blockchain bill, and negative sentiment from the “Epstein files.” Regulatory filings and Polymarket wagers may take months to fully validate the theory.

Anthropic, the Claude chatbot maker, is finalizing a funding round expected to raise more than $20 billion, with the deal slated to close as early as March 4, 2026, according to a Bloomberg report citing sources. The round would more than double the initial $10 billion target, pushing the company’s valuation to $350 billion. Reuters could not verify the report, and the company has not yet commented.

The accelerated fundraising reflects strong investor interest and is likely to close within the coming week, potentially reshaping Anthropic’s capital structure and strategic priorities.

WeRide (RIDE) and Uber expand their strategic partnership to integrate WeRide's ride-hailing technology into Uber's platform, effective March 01, 2026. The integration is expected to enhance service efficiency and expand coverage in key markets. Financial terms of the expansion were not disclosed, but the move is anticipated to strengthen both companies' market positions and operational capabilities. The partnership will be implemented through a phased rollout, with initial services launching in Beijing and Shenzhen by the end of Q1 2026.

2026, Feb 7 — Alphabet (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), Meta (META), and Amazon (AMZN) are expected to collectively allocate about $700 billion in capital expenditures for AI infrastructure, a 60% year-over-year increase, according to recent industry data. The surge in AI chip purchases, data center construction, and network upgrades is accelerating free cash flow declines.

Free cash flow for the four U.S. tech companies totaled roughly $200 billion in 2025, down from $2.37 trillion in 2024. Analysts warn free cash could continue to contract as the next two years see expansion, potentially prompting increased debt or equity financing. Amazon’s 2026 capital spending is forecast to reach $200 billion, with Morgan Stanley and BofA estimating free cash flow deficits of $17 billion and $28 billion, respectively, and Amazon signaling possible bond or equity issuances.

Alphabet’s 2026 capex is expected to reach $185 billion, funding cloud infrastructure and the Gemini AI model, with free cash flowing down about 90% year-over-year to roughly $82 billion. Meta is forecasting up to $135 billion in 2026 capex, with Barclays noting free cash flow could turn negative for 2027–2028 despite maintaining a buy recommendation. Microsoft’s free cash flow is expected to decline about 28% in 2026 but is forecast to rebound in 2027.

Despite near-term pressure, the four companies collectively hold over $4.2 trillion in cash and equivalents, providing ample liquidity for long-term AI investments.

By 2048, an estimated $105 trillion is expected to transfer from one generation to the next, driven by the aging baby boomer population. This shift will reshape retirement planning, investment strategies, housing markets, and intergenerational tax strategies.

Key facts: The 2026 lifetime federal tax-free gift and estate limits are $15 million and $15 million, respectively. The annual gift exclusion is $19,000 per recipient per year. Inherited assets typically receive a step-up in basis, minimizing capital gains taxes.

Heirs, particularly millennials and Gen Z, are less prepared than previous generations, according to CFP Kevin Kautzmann. Proactive estate planning with wills, trusts, and gifting can help preserve wealth and avoid probate, while clear communication can prevent disputes. The transfer is also likely to increase housing supply as empty-nester homes are downsized or sold.

San Francisco is set to host a “March for Billionaires” on Saturday, February 14, 2026, according to its organizer Derik Kaufmann, co-founder of AI startup RunRL (YC alumni). Kaufmann confirmed the event is not a hoax orponsored by external groups and is opposed California’s proposed Billionaire’s Wealth Tax, which would levy a one-time 5% tax on net wealth exceeding $1 billion.

Kaufmann argues the tax would harm Silicon Valley by迫使 paper-wealth founders liquidate shares on unfavorable terms, incur capital gains, and surrender control, with disproportionate impacts on small companies. He noted no U.S. precedent for comprehensive wealth taxation and pointed to Sweden’s removal of a similar tax two decades ago as evidence of entrepreneurship benefits.

The legislation, backed by Service Employees International Union (SEIU), faces strong industry backlash and a likely veto from Governor Gavin Newsom. Kaufmann expects only a few dozen participants, and no major billionaires plan to attend.

Apple is planning to open CarPlay support for voice-controlled AI applications from third-party providers, signaling a strategic shift from its exclusive use of Siri. Under the new policy, users will be able to issue voice commands through CarPlay to platforms such as OpenAI and Alphabet’s Google once compatible versions are available. Apple will not allow users to replace the Siri voice or change wake words, requiring them to first open a third-party app to activate its voice control. The company intends to roll out this support within the next month, enabling developers to automatically activate voice mode when their apps launch.

Tech giants'财报 following this week saw combined market value erode over $1 billion as investors reassess artificial intelligence (AI) spending. Amazon (AMZN-US), Microsoft (MSFT-US), NVIDIA (NVDA-US), Meta (META-US), Alphabet (GOOGL-US), and Oracle (ORCL-US) accounted for the bulk of the decline, with Amazon leading after宣布 a 2026 capital expenditure of $200 billion, far exceeding analyst expectations, and falling over 5% on Friday.

Amazon’s shares dropped 12% this week, the worst one-week performance since 2022, with about $3 trillion in market value erased. Together, Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta spent about $120 billion on capital expenditures in Q4 2025. FT reporting, total spending by these four companies through 2026 is expected to exceed $6.6 trillion, surpassing the GDP of Singapore, the UAE, and Israel.

Paul Markham of GAM Investments said concerns over capital spending for large language models and the potential overexpansion of capacity remain acute. The shift in investor sentiment, from fearing they would be left behind to scrutinizing every aspect of the AI race, is evident. D.A. Davidson downgraded Amazon to neutral, citing expanded capex plans, waning cloud-market share advantages, and uncertainty around AI in retail.

Competition from Gemini and ChatGPT is intensifying, while Apple (AAPL-US) outperformed with a 7% rise this week on stronger-than-expected iPhone demand, despite a generally polarizing impact of AI investments on the “Magnificent Seven” as noted by Morningstar’s Michael Field.

As of December 2025, the data industry lost 6,700 jobs despite $427 billion in AI-related spending that year, per RBC. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show employment in computing infrastructure, data processing, web hosting, and related services fell to 477,700 from 484,400 in December 2024. While major tech firms expand data centers with significant new investments, including Musk’s xAI space plans, the sector is not yet generating the employment gains seen in past tech booms. The trend reflects a broader jobless profit boom as AI adoption reduces headcounts in some firms.

Bitcoin rebounded strongly Friday, February 6, 2026, closing above the $70,000 psychological level, though the broader cryptocurrency market remains volatile and a sustained bottom has not been confirmed. At press time, Bitcoin (BTC-USD) traded at $71,629, up over 11% within 24 hours.

The rally followed a sharp sell-off on Thursday that dipped below $61,000 and approached the $60,000 level. Key selling pressures included现货ETF liquidations, margin liquidations from the price plunge, and selling in software-focused stocks that spilled over into the crypto market.

Bitcoin is down over 40% from its October 2022 high of $126,000 and analysts suggest some positioning may have been snapped on the pullback. However, 10X Research and Bellwether Wealth caution that further corrections to as low as $50,000 or even $40,000–$50,000 are still possible despite the short-term rebound.

Tech stocks face heightened investor anxiety as major companies announce aggressive AI capital spending. Amazon (AMZN-US) shed 5.5% after a $2,000 billion AI investment plan; Alphabet (GOOGL-US) fell 2.5% as planned spending may more than double, and Meta Platforms (META-US) dropped 1.3%. Industry analysts warn of pressure on profitability and the long-term competitiveness of software firms as AI infrastructure is still expected to grow for 7-8 years, according to NVIDIA CEO HuangRM.

Global semiconductor sales are forecast to top $1 trillion in 2026, up 25.6% from $7,917 billion in 2025, driven by expanding AI data center investments. Bitcoin (BTC) staged a technical rebound to above $70,000 amid ongoing deleveraging and institutional outflows despite a sharp sell-off following FTX's collapse.

Macroeconomic timing also shifts toward midsize U.S. equities ahead of midterm elections, with major banks and strategists citing policy-driven cost pressures on energy, healthcare, banking, and large techs as key headwinds.

The China Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) granted an Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance to Ascentage Pharma (ASNC) for APG-3288, a potential treatment for relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies. This marks a key regulatory milestone enabling the company to initiate global clinical trials. APG-3288 is designed to target B-cell malignancies by inhibiting Bruton's tyrosine kinase, a critical signaling pathway in B-cell development. The IND approval follows preclinical studies indicating efficacy and safety in hematologic cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma.