Economy, business, innovation

February 2026

Market Talk – February 5, 2026

ASIA: The major Asian stock markets had a mixed day today: • NIKKEI 225 decreased 475.32 points or -0.88% to 53,818.04 • Shanghai decreased 26.285 points or -0.64% to 4,075.917 • Hang Seng increased 37.92 points or 0.14% to 26,885.24 • ASX 200 decreased 38.60 points or -0.43% to 8,889.20 • SENSEX decreased 503.76 points […]

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Private Payrolls Miss Expectations

Private payroll processor ADP reported that U.S. private employers added just 22,000 jobs in January, far below the consensus expectation of roughly 45,000–46,000 and softer than December’s revised figures. This weak headline comes just as official government jobs data has been delayed, yet again, due to ongoing political dysfunction in Washington, leaving markets increasingly dependent

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Could Europe Defend Itself Without America?

Could Europe defend itself without America? In January 2026, NATO launched Operation Steadfast to answer that question. The operation is the largest exercise of the year, deploying around 10,000 troops from 11 member states across Central Europe. The plan involves the Allied Reaction Force, a rapid response element designed to test trans-Atlantic coordination in simulated

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Washington Launches $12B Rare Earth Minerals Reserve

The Trump administration is moving to create what is being described as a strategic stockpile for rare earths and other critical minerals, branded “Project Vault,” with reported financing of around $12 billion, involving a major loan structure and private participation from large industrial users. This is a defensive move akin to a petroleum stockpile and

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Portuguese Conservatives Turn on Nationalist Candidate

In Portugal, self-described conservatives have openly backed a left-wing candidate, António José Seguro, not because they agree with his policies, but explicitly to prevent a nationalist candidate from winning the presidency. The target of this is André Ventura, leader of Chega, whose rise reflects the same voter revolt seen across Europe. “They are not fighting

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