NEW YORK, February 9, 2026 — A powerful rally swept through markets Friday, signaling a potential shift in sentiment after a week of volatility, with Bitcoin surging past $68,000. The Nasdaq 100 jumped 2.1%, and the Russell 2000—the top-performing major U.S. index this year—climbed 3.6%. Crypto assets broadly benefited, as Ethereum rose about 13% and XRP gained over 20%.
Looking Ahead: A Busy Economic Week
Key economic data and earnings reports will dominate the week ahead.
- The jobs report, delayed due to the recent government shutdown, is due Wednesday.
- Several major companies, including Amazon and Nvidia, will release earnings reports.
- Tuesday will bring reports from Spotify, Coca-Cola, Ferrari, Ford, and Lyft.
- Friday’s inflation report will be closely watched for clues about the Federal Reserve’s next moves.
Because of the brief government shutdown earlier this month, last week’s jobs report was pushed to Wednesday, making it the focal point of the economic calendar. Tuesday will feature a separate report, and Friday brings the latest inflation data. Earnings season continues to roll on, with a diverse group of companies reporting their results.
What’s the outlook for inflation? The upcoming inflation report on Friday will be crucial in determining whether the Federal Reserve will continue its current monetary policy or consider adjustments.
While software stocks, tech, crypto, and precious metals have faced turbulence, other sectors are showing resilience. Energy, staples, industrials, and materials are experiencing breakouts, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a new all-time high on Friday, surpassing the 50,000 level for the first time. The DIA ETF, the most popular ETF tracking the Dow by trading volume and assets under management, is up over 4% year-to-date and offers options trading opportunities.
Options Strategies
Bullish investors might consider call options or call spreads to capitalize on potential further gains, while those with a bearish outlook could explore put options or put spreads to profit from a possible decline. For options traders, selecting contracts with sufficient time until expiration could be advantageous.
Wall Street’s Focus
Hims & Hers: Hims & Hers has decided to discontinue its copycat version of Wegovy after facing legal threats from Novo Nordisk and the FDA. This move comes amid increased scrutiny of compounded drugs and just as Hims was preparing a Super Bowl advertisement highlighting America’s “health gap.” Shares of Novo Nordisk are up approximately 5% this morning.
Amazon: Despite the broader market rally on Friday, Amazon’s stock fell about 5.5% as investors analyzed its quarterly results. While AWS performed well and overall revenue exceeded expectations, earnings per share (EPS) of $1.95 slightly missed the consensus estimate of $1.97. Management’s projected $200 billion capital expenditure (capex) for 2026 also dampened investor sentiment.
Nvidia: Despite several “Magnificent 7” companies announcing substantial increases in their capex guidance, Nvidia had been struggling to gain momentum. That changed Friday, with shares surging nearly 8%. While NVDA remains roughly flat year-to-date (down 0.6%), investors are hopeful this move signals a positive shift in momentum.
Did you know? The Dow Jones Industrial Average’s climb above 50,000 represents a significant milestone, reflecting continued economic growth and investor confidence.
Disclaimer: Due to market volatility, prices may have already changed and scenarios may have played out. Content, research, tools, and stock symbols are for educational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
