Safaricom (KCL) launched Ziidi Trader, enabling M-Pesa users to buy shares directly on the Nairobi Securities Exchange without a brokerage account. The service went live on February 10, 2026, with an average 40% share of NSE trades since Monday, representing 5% of daily volume. Ziidi Trader will operate in partnership with Kestrel Capital, and initial use is limited to Kenya, with no expansion plans announced. The NSE is targeting 9 million active retail investors by year-end 2026. The move aligns with broader efforts to expand retail participation in Kenyan capital markets.

Blockchain.com (BTCC) has received Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) registration, allowing it to offer brokerage, custody, and institutional services in the UK under one of the world's strictest regulatory regimes, enhancing customer fund protection.

Founded in the UK in 2011, the company has processed over $1.2 trillion in crypto transactions and serves 90 million wallets globally. The firm plans to apply for full FCA authorization when the process opens later this year, following its MiCA license, which enables operations across the European Economic Area.

The UK's comprehensive cryptoasset regulatory regime is set to launch in 2027, positioning Blockchain.com to serve major regulated markets. The company is also reportedly considering a U.S. SPAC listing, joining a wave of crypto firms that have gone public since 2025, including Circle, Bullish, and eToro.

January 1, 2026 — Despite widespread consumer and business fears, tariff-driven inflation has not triggered a crisis and is expected to peak early in 2026 with minimal upward pressure on the broader consumer price index.

In December 2025, the annual inflation rate stood at 2.7%, with late-2025 tariff impacts adding roughly 0.7 percentage points to prices. About 20% of Trump-era tariffs passed through to consumers, cushioned by import price declines, retailer reluctance to pass costs, and carve-outs and rollbacks that now allow roughly half of U.S. imports to enter tariff-free.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell estimated in December that tariff-related inflation will peak in the first quarter of 2026, contributing "a couple tenths of a percentage point, or even less." Most economists forecast 2026 inflation to average around 2.6%–3.1%, well within the Fed’s 2% target band.

The European Union granted unconditional antitrust approval on February 10, 2026, to Alphabet’s Google for its $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity firm Wiz, its largest-ever deal. Regulators determined the merger would not raise competition concerns, strengthening Google’s position in cloud security and computing while maintaining credible alternatives for customers.

"Our assessment confirmed customers will continue to have credible alternatives and the ability to switch providers," said EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera. The Commission noted data acquired through the deal is not commercially sensitive and remains accessible to other security software companies. The decision follows months of regulatory scrutiny typical for large tech mergers aimed at enhancing market power.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) traded near $69,000 on February 10 as analysts suggest the market may be entering the early stages of bottoming after a recent sell-off. Realized losses totaled roughly $10 billion last week, the second-highest since June 2022, signaling a significant capitulation.

“These massive capitulation events typically occur in the final stages of a sell-off,” said Ed Engel of Compass Point. However, Engel notes crypto corrections rarely produce V-shaped recoveries, with bitcoin potentially retesting the $60,000 level and dipping to as low as $55,000.

Ether (ETH) fell to about $1,998, extending its year-to-date loss to roughly 30%. Bernstein analysts described the bear case as the weakest in history, with a team led by Gautam Chhugani forecasting bitcoin could reach $150,000 by year-end.

DuPont (DD.US) upgraded its 2026 fiscal outlook, beating analyst expectations. The company projects adjusted EPS of $2.25–$2.30 and net sales of $70.8B–$71.4B, both above consensus. Shares rose 2.3% on the news.

In its 2025 fiscal fourth quarter, adjusted EPS was $0.46, exceeding the $0.43 estimate. The Medical & Water Technologies segment posted 4% revenue growth to $8.21B, driven by stronger demand in medical packaging, medical devices, and industrial water treatment, offsetting a 3% decline in the Industrial Technologies segment to $8.72B, pressured by weak construction, printing, and packaging markets.

CEO remarks indicated stabilization in previously低迷 markets, with the outlook for 2026 showing no major headwinds and continued margin improvement through productivity initiatives and business simplification, including the pending spin-off of Qnity Electronics.

Seth Goldstein of Morningstar said the strong guidance reflects robust end-market demand in healthcare and water treatment, key growth drivers despite ongoing policy uncertainties.

Management at Rosneft’s PCK Schwedt refinery, Germany’s largest processor supplying about 90% of Berlin’s vehicles, has privately warned Berlin that U.S. sanctions are curbing operations and threatening regional fuel supply. The refinery, granted a temporary exception to late-2024 sanctions, faces expiration on April 29, with banks, insurers and suppliers pulling back due to compliance risk, prompting exploration of a sale to an energy investor or a German state buyer. The January letter urged a permanent exception to avert a disruption to Berlin’s energy security, as October sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil have already shaken supply confidence. Germany’s energy ministry is in talks to extend the U.S. license and is supporting the refinery, but buyers are hesitating amid heightened geopolitical pressure.

The European Parliament approved a major endorsement of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) with both online and offline functionality, aligning closely with the European Council's position. The ECB requires legislative approval from Parliament to issue a digital euro; with this backing, the 2029 launch timeline now hinges on final legislative ratification.

The vote reflects a shift from earlier proposals focused solely on offline payments and underscores concerns over payment fragmentation and reliance on non‑EU providers amid geopolitical tensions. MEPs approved amendments ensuring equal access to payment services and a public money instrument usable both online and offline.

Lawmakers also called for stronger oversight of crypto‑assets to prevent fragmentation and ensure inclusivity in the single market. The ECB has been developing the digital euro to preserve monetary sovereignty and reduce reliance on private, non‑EU payment providers.

China’s LNG imports are expected to rebound 3-10% in 2026, reaching 70.5–75.5 million metric tons, supported by a supply wave from the U.S. and Qatar and depressed spot prices. This follows a 10% drop in 2025 as domestic gas production expanded and pipeline imports strengthened, offsetting LNG demand. While milder winter conditions and weaker industrial demand earlier in 2025 depressed imports, recent purchases suggest a recovery. Analysts note LNG will remain a supplement to cheaper domestic and pipeline gas, not expected to reach 2024 levels.

Chicago Tribune has launched a direct bid to acquire Paddock Publications' employee-owned Daily Herald, offering a 30% premium over any other offer. The Tribune's full-page ad directly addresses DailyHerald ESOP holders, inviting them to encourage management to accept the highest and best sale price.

The DailyHerald, Illinois' third-largest daily newspaper with a current circulation of 52,410, is considering a sale following a January 6 filing by Paddock Publications. The Tribune, which acquired the DailyHerald's printing at the Schaumburg plant in 2023, is not commenting publicly. Shaw Media, a family-owned regional publisher with a portfolio of smaller Illinois papers, is among potential bidders, though it has not commented.

State law, effective January 1, 2025, requires 120 days' notice to employees and local authorities before a sale, reflecting efforts to protect local journalism amid a statewide decline in print newspapers.

The CFTC’s flagship Chicago enforcement office, pivotal in handling complex enforcement actions and securing major settlements, has been effectively eliminated after its last lawyer resigned. The reductions follow leadership under Acting Chair Caroline Pham, who oversaw a 21% staff cut last year and now chairs MoonPay, a crypto company.

The CFTC has broadened its jurisdiction to include crypto and prediction markets amid a Trump administration seeking to expand its oversight. However, the staffing cuts have crippled enforcement capacity, with monetary relief securing by the CFTC plummeting from $17.1 billion in fiscal 2024 to $9.2 million in fiscal 2025—a drop exceeding 99.9%.

Senate confirmation of new Chair Mike Selig in November did not include a commitment to additional resources for crypto and prediction markets regulation, despite bipartisan support for increased funding. Former CFTC enforcement lawyers warn the agency is ill-equipped to police the thousands of sports-focused prediction markets it now seeks to regulate.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Lumber futures trade activity as of February 10, 2026, 11:30 AM CST: Price 27,500 (dollars per 1,000 bd ft); Estimated volume 421; Monday's volume 1,010; Open interest 8,983; Open interest change -38.

Microsoft’s Cyber Pulse report shows rapid AI agent adoption across Fortune 500 companies, with over 80% using low-code/no-code platforms. Yet only 47% have security controls for generative AI, leaving 29% of employees using unsanctioned agents and exposing firms to data overprovisioning, recommendation poisoning, and next-level phishing.

In November 2025, Anthropic said a state-sponsored group exploited Claude Code’s agentic capabilities in attacks on tech firms, financial institutions, and government agencies. Microsoft recommends treating AI agents under a zero-trust model with strict access, authentication, and data governance to limit risks.

Big Tech companies report record drops in 2025 federal tax bills, down from 2024, driven by new tax provisions enacted in 2024 that expand depreciation, R&D, and interest expense deductions, including a 100% expensing rule for factory investments.

Amazon's tax liability fell to $1.2B from $9B; Meta's to $2.8B from $9.6B; Alphabet's combined federal and state bill to $13.8B from $21.1B. Deferred taxes for 2025 totaled $11B (Amazon), $18B (Meta), and $8B (Alphabet), with Amazon's full-year payments expected at $2.75B.

Domestic profits rose: Amazon to $90B (+40% YoY), Alphabet to $143.6B (+32% YoY), Meta to $79.6B (+20% YoY). The companies attribute savings to AI and infrastructure investments, but the Tax Foundation estimates collectively about $50B in avoided federal taxes under the 21% statutory rate for four major companies.

Quest Diagnostics (QDIA) surged 7% in early trading on February 10, 2026, following a fourth-quarter report that showed an 11% increase in net profit to $193.8 million, driven by higher revenue and cost optimization. The company reported revenue of $2.42 billion for the quarter, up 4.2% year-over-year. CEO Dr. David J. Sorensen stated the improvement reflects strong demand for diagnostic testing and effective operational adjustments. The stock closed at $72.45, up from $67.75 at the start of the session.

Equity markets closed range-bound in early sessions on Friday, February 10, 2026, as investors await the release of the February nonfarm payrolls report at 10:00 a.m. EST. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 traded within 25 points of each other, with the Nasdaq Composite +/- 50 points. Analysts expect the report to show 200,000新增 jobs, keeping the labor market steady, and signaling potential pause in Fed policy for the spring. The jobs data is a key gauge of inflationary pressures and central bank policy decisions.

Benchmark diesel prices edged higher this week, the fourth consecutive week of gains, as the oil glut narrative begins to fade. The DOE/EIA average weekly retail diesel price rose 0.7 cents/gallon to $3.688/g on February 10, 2026, the smallest gain in a four-week climb from $3.459/g on January 12, 2026.

Meanwhile, the CME front-month ULSD contract rolled from February to March and settled at $2.4169/g on February 10, after reaching a high of $2.47/g earlier in the week. Brent crude settled at $69.04/barrel on February 10, up $8.19/b from $60.85/barrel on December 31, 2025.

Analyst Jeffrey Currie of Energy Pathways said the oil glut story has not materialized and pointed to supply constraints in data centers and AI growth as a longer-term driver of commodity prices, with production capacity expansion expected to peak in 2026.

The Nasdaq Composite, NYSE, and NYSE American each recorded record volumes on February 10, 2026. The Composite closed at 15,423.51, up 1.3%, reflecting heightened trading activity. The NYSE reported 1.24 billion shares traded, a 23% increase from the prior session, while the NYSE American saw 1.08 billion shares, up 19% from the previous day.

February 10, 2026 - Morgan Stanley warns AI-driven disruption to the software industry is spilling into U.S. credit markets, as software accounts for about 16% of the $1.5 trillion market, or $235 billion.

CONTEXT: The majority of software sector exposure is rated B- or lower—50%—with 20% at B, 26% at CCC, and only 7% at BB. Over 80% of software loans are issued by private companies and nearly 78% are sponsor-backed, limiting transparency and assessing risk.

BY THE NUMBERS: The sector has a more front-loaded maturity wall—about 30% of outstanding loans due by 2028 versus 22% for the broader market. Forty-six percent of software debt is due within the next four years, up from less than 35% in the wider market, amplifying refinancing risks if AI disruption materializes quickly.

KEY QUOTE: “We expect continued price volatility, but a near-term spike in defaults is unlikely,” the firm said.

Sutro Biopharma (SUTRO) priced an underwritten public offering of 10 million shares at $11 per share, raising $110 million. The offering closed February 10, 2026, following strong investor demand. The stock closed at $44.18, up 18% on the NASDAQ, reflecting heightened interest in the company's RNA-based therapies and pipeline advancements.