Wall Street Breakfast Wall Street Roundup: economic data, earnings updates
10 snips
Feb 13, 2026 They unpack recent jobs and housing data and what it means for growth. They discuss AI-driven spending, big tech earnings and funding moves. They highlight corporate winners like Caterpillar and Walmart and debate valuation questions. They preview Fed signals, inflation data and how those factors could sway markets.
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Jobs Print Masks Weak 2025 Trend
- January payrolls beat expectations but 2025 revisions show much weaker job growth than first reported.
- The labor market now looks anemic with rising layoffs and lower job openings despite the headline print.
Cooler CPI Still Above Target
- CPI cooled a bit with headline at 2.4% and core at 2.5%, but both remain above the Fed's 2% target.
- The mix of shaky jobs and sticky inflation creates a mini-stagflation backdrop for markets.
AI Capex Ripples Beyond Big Tech
- AI-driven capex from hyperscalers is shifting demand to peripheral beneficiaries like Caterpillar.
- Caterpillar's stock has surged as its power systems supply the energy needs of massive data centers.