February 9, 2026 | Finliti | Free Subscriber 😃

Software Shockwave 💥 AI jitters dinged software while blue-chip value steadied the tape; metals and crypto whipsawed on dollar moves—net result: fast rotations, fragile confidence, and selective strength into week’s end.

Highlights From Last Week:

• 🧠 AI angst hit software while chips wobbled; value names propped up the Dow
• ⛏️ Metals and energy whipsawed; silver plunged as the dollar firmed
• ₿ Crypto slid with risk assets; ETFs showed lighter support

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US Markets: Software Shock, Dow Defense

Wall Street had a case of the mood swings this week. Stocks bounced, slid, rebounded, then slid again as markets tried to catch their breath after global overnight drama. A strong start snapped a losing streak, but tech soon stole the spotlight for the wrong reasons thanks to an AI-totalitarian-death-sentence for software companies. This dragged indexes lower even as many individual stocks quietly climbed. Big names in chips and software wobbled, while a few earnings bright spots kept things interesting. Meanwhile, commodities, crypto, and bonds all swung wildly, with volatility showing up across markets. In the end, blue chip old daddy value picks saved the day and rallied to support the Dow. Never doubt the Dow!

What does it mean for you?

A few key stocks drove overall market moves, even as many individual names held steady. Tight links across stocks, bonds, commodities, and crypto show markets reacting to shared macro forces. Rapid shifts in sentiment and frequent reversals underscore the challenge of finding stability. Calm confidence is needed and diversification is a great tool when you don’t know what to do.

TSX (Canada): Metals Mood, Maple Grind

Canada’s TSX tried to shake off last week’s losses, starting Monday with a lift thanks to stabilizing manufacturing data and a bounce in gold and silver. Tuesday kept the momentum as metals continued their swings, while tech worries weighed on sentiment. Wednesday saw a modest rise, with traditional sectors helping offset pressure from software stocks and AI fears. By Thursday, the market stumbled, retreating as metals pulled back and basic materials cooled. Overall, the TSX clawed back some lost ground and ended the week on the plus side, still navigating between optimism and swings in metals, energy, with investor caution.

What does this mean for you?

Canada’s TSX showed sensitivity to metals, energy, and policy headlines this week. A rotation toward traditional sectors emerged as tech and software faced AI-driven pressures. Day-to-day swings highlighted lingering volatility, while sharp pullbacks signaled cautious sentiment.

Crypto: Safe-Haven Shaken

Bitcoin fell below US $64,000 on Thursday, extending a rough stretch for the cryptocurrency and denting its long-standing “digital gold” narrative. After peaking above US $126,000 in October, bitcoin is now down more than 45%, with losses accelerating this week. Investors are increasingly questioning its role as an inflation hedge or safe haven, as prices have moved largely in line with risky assets. Other cryptocurrencies have also sold off sharply, while gold has surged over the past year. Analysts note growing pessimism, heavy liquidations, and fading institutional support, with U.S. bitcoin ETFs becoming net sellers in 2026.

What does this mean for you?

Recent crypto moves highlight how sentiment and liquidity drive volatility, with prices closely tied to broader risk-on assets rather than acting as a true safe haven. Market swings are amplified by forced liquidations, and institutional investors now play an outsized role, making trends more dependent on capital flows than fundamentals.

Emerging Markets: Hong Kong Tech Heartburn

Chinese technology stocks listed in Hong Kong slipped into bear market territory on Thursday, giving back much of last year’s rally as tax worries and a cautious global mood unsettled investors. The Hang Seng Tech Index is now more than 20% below its October peak, pressured by fears that internet services could face a higher value added tax after a recent increase on some telecom services. Broader weakness in global tech stocks and concerns around AI disruption added to the selloff. Although officials pushed back on gaming tax rumors, uncertainty remains.

What does this mean for you?

Chinese tech stocks remain highly sensitive to policy headlines and broader global tech narratives, making sentiment quick to shift. Recent moves suggest investors are reassessing crowded trades rather than exiting entirely, while a lack of clear near-term signals leaves markets more vulnerable to speculation and short-term volatility.

Commodity Craze: Silver Slip-Up

Silver prices plunged recently, leading losses across precious metals after a brief rebound earlier in the week. March silver futures dropped more than 11%, influenced by a stronger U.S. dollar and ongoing uncertainty around Fed policy under new leadership. Analysts describe the pullback as a normalization rather than a trend reversal, noting that industrial demand for silver, solar projects, electrification, and central bank gold purchases remain factors in the market. Volatility was amplified by sentiment-driven trading, and attention is focused on the dollar ahead of European central bank meetings and the delayed U.S. nonfarm payroll report. This statistic represents 80% of the employment figure related to GDP and gives an assessment of the health of the U.S. economy.

What does this mean for you?

Precious metals remain sensitive to currency strength, interest rate expectations, and central bank signals, creating short-term volatility. Price swings are often amplified by sentiment and speculative trading, while global economic events can influence markets. Structural demand trends in industry and energy continue to shape the broader metals market over the medium term.

Meme Stock Stalkers: Reddit Rebound

​Reddit (RDDT) shares climbed late in the week after the company reported earnings that beat expectations and provided guidance for 2026. User growth and revenue exceeded forecasts, and the company announced a US $1 billion share buyback. CEO Steve Huffman highlighted AI search improvements and strong partnerships with Google (GOOG) and OpenAI, emphasizing product development and user engagement. The stock continues to attract strong retail investor interest, keeping it in the spotlight. This mix of solid business performance and enthusiastic retail attention positions Reddit as both a notable tech company and a stock that can experience meme-stock-like market buzz.

What does this mean for you?

Strong retail interest in Reddit means the stock can experience heightened short-term swings driven by sentiment and social media chatter. Its mix of tech growth, AI innovation, and community engagement creates a dynamic where market narratives and visibility play a big role, making trading patterns more reactive than usual.

Software Slump: Amazon’s AI Arms Race

​Amazon (AMZN) shares dropped more than 10% after the company reported mixed fourth-quarter results and unveiled a big 2026 spending plan of US $200 billion. Revenue and profits slightly beat expectations, and CEO Andy Jassy said the company will invest heavily in AWS, AI, robotics, and other infrastructure to keep up with growing demand. AWS revenue grew 24%, its fastest in over three years, though competitors like Google (GOOG) and Microsoft (MSFT) are expanding even faster. The company also announced layoffs of 16,000 corporate employees. Advertising continues to perform well, and overall plans show Amazon balancing growth with big long-term investments.

What does this mean for you?

Amazon’s aggressive spending highlights its focus on future growth, especially in cloud and AI, while workforce adjustments show efforts to balance costs and scaling. Strong competition from Google and Microsoft shapes market dynamics, and investor reactions reflect expectations around long-term strategy and positioning as much as current performance. Interestingly, the layoffs send a signal about an evolving economy that is vulnerable to productivity and technological advances affecting employment.

ESG: Blacklist Law Blocked

A Texas judge has thrown out Texas’s 2021 “business blacklist law,” ruling that it was unconstitutional. The law required state pension funds and agencies to cut ties with financial companies accused of “boycotting” fossil fuel businesses. It was part of a broader anti-ESG push in Republican-led states, with Texas leading the charge. The judge said the law was too vague and unclear for companies to understand what behavior was prohibited. The case was brought by the American Sustainable Business Network, which argued the law restricted free speech and due process. Supporters of the ruling say it protects investor choice and limits state overreach.

What does this mean for you?

The ruling highlights the limits of using politics to direct investment decisions and underscores how fragile policy-driven market interventions can be. It also reinforces the distinction between the ESG label and underlying risk management, suggesting that while political backlash may ebb and flow, legal and market fundamentals still shape investor behavior.

Jargon Word of the Week

The business cycle is the pattern of ups and downs that a country’s economy goes through over time. Sometimes the economy grows, more jobs are created, and people spend more money. At other times, the economy slows down, people might lose jobs, and spending decreases. These periods of growth and slowdown often repeat themselves in a cycle.

In a sentence, please!

"During the last business cycle, the company expanded rapidly during the boom years but had to cut costs sharply when the downturn hit."