Today: 7 February 2026
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Shan Ahmed Khan

As a journalist focused on finance and the stock market, he delivers fast, reliable, and easy-to-understand coverage of market news.

Pfizer stock slips into MLK Day break as FDA fast-track fears and key dates loom

Pfizer stock slips into MLK Day break as FDA fast-track fears and key dates loom

Pfizer shares fell 0.93% to $25.65 Friday amid industry concerns over a White House-backed fast FDA review program, Reuters reported. The company reaffirmed its 2026 revenue forecast and set its next dividend at $0.43 per share, with an ex-dividend date of Jan. 23. U.S. markets will close Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Pfizer’s quarterly results are due Feb. 3.
18 January 2026
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LIC breakup back on the table? IIM Kozhikode report pitches demerger, PSU sell-down to hit “Insurance for All by 2047”

LIC breakup back on the table? IIM Kozhikode report pitches demerger, PSU sell-down to hit “Insurance for All by 2047”

An IIM Kozhikode panel has recommended breaking up LIC and fully privatizing three state-run general insurers, according to a report submitted to regulators. LIC warned that a split could destabilize confidence among its 270 million policyholders. The proposals aim for 60% insurance coverage by 2030 and raise the penetration target to 4.5%. The report cites LIC’s 57% share of life insurance premiums in 2023–24.
18 January 2026
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Hunting passive income? These ASX dividend stocks just got fresh buy calls — and a warning about traps

Hunting passive income? These ASX dividend stocks just got fresh buy calls — and a warning about traps

Motley Fool Australia on Jan. 18 recommended L1 Long Short Fund and Washington H. Soul Pattinson as dividend picks amid renewed interest in ASX income stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 closed Friday at its highest since October 2025. Morningstar’s Shaun Ler said the average ASX 200 yield is near 3.3%, raising questions about dividend sustainability. Rask Media warned high yields can signal underlying financial strain.
18 January 2026
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Micron stock jumps into a holiday-shortened week after $1.8 billion Taiwan fab move

Micron stock jumps into a holiday-shortened week after $1.8 billion Taiwan fab move

Micron shares jumped 7.8% to $362.75 Friday after the company agreed to buy PSMC’s Tongluo site in Taiwan for $1.8 billion in cash. RBC initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and a $425 price target, citing tight memory supply. Director Teyin M. Liu bought 23,200 shares earlier in the week, according to a regulatory filing.
18 January 2026
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MARA stock jumps with bitcoin miners as crypto bill stall and AI data-center deals shape week ahead

MARA stock jumps with bitcoin miners as crypto bill stall and AI data-center deals shape week ahead

MARA Holdings rose 6.6% Friday, closing near $11.36 as bitcoin hovered around $95,000. U.S. markets are closed Monday for the holiday, with traders watching Tuesday’s reopen. Debate over crypto regulation intensified after the Senate Banking Committee paused the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. Riot Platforms announced a major data center deal with AMD, highlighting AI’s growing role in the sector.
18 January 2026
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IREN stock jumps 11% on AI tailwinds; traders brace for MLK Day break and next catalyst

IREN stock jumps 11% on AI tailwinds; traders brace for MLK Day break and next catalyst

IREN shares jumped 11.43% Friday to $57.82, their biggest single-day gain in weeks. The rally followed TSMC’s announcement of higher 2026 capital spending, which lifted AI-related stocks. U.S. markets were closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and reopen Tuesday. Investors await IREN’s earnings report on Feb. 11.
18 January 2026
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Palantir stock slides into MLK break — what to watch before PLTR earnings

Palantir stock slides into MLK break — what to watch before PLTR earnings

Palantir shares fell 3.4% to $170.96 Friday, underperforming a flat U.S. market ahead of the long weekend. About 59.5 million shares changed hands as traders braced for volatility after January options expired. The next key event is Palantir’s fourth-quarter earnings, set for release after markets close on Feb. 2. U.S. equity markets will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
18 January 2026
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Tesla stock heads into holiday week as regulators extend Full Self-Driving probe deadline

Tesla stock heads into holiday week as regulators extend Full Self-Driving probe deadline

Tesla shares fell 0.2% to $437.50 Friday after U.S. safety regulators gave the company five more weeks to respond in the Full Self-Driving probe. CEO Elon Musk said Tesla’s AI5 chip design is nearly finished ahead of the Jan. 28 earnings report. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration extended its deadline to Feb. 23 as Tesla reviews over 8,000 records for the investigation.
18 January 2026
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Walmart stock in the spotlight after CEO shake-up — what to watch for WMT next week

Walmart stock in the spotlight after CEO shake-up — what to watch for WMT next week

Walmart shares closed up 0.4% at $119.70 after the company unveiled a new leadership team ahead of John Furner’s Feb. 1 start as CEO. Seth Dallaire was named chief growth officer, David Guggina will lead Walmart U.S., and Chris Nicholas takes over Walmart International. Kathryn McLay will step down as head of Walmart International at the end of January. Investors await the February 19 results for more details on strategy.
18 January 2026
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Riot Platforms stock jumps on AMD data-center lease — what to watch when markets reopen

Riot Platforms stock jumps on AMD data-center lease — what to watch when markets reopen

Riot Platforms shares surged nearly 16% to $19.24 Friday after announcing a 10-year, $311 million data center lease with AMD at its Rockdale, Texas site. The deal covers 25 MW of power and could reach $1 billion with extensions. Riot also bought 200 acres at Rockdale for $96 million, eliminating $130 million in lease liabilities. AMD shares rose 1.7%, while other bitcoin miners also gained.
18 January 2026
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Ford stock price: what to watch after Trump EV rollback push and China tariff talk

Ford stock price: what to watch after Trump EV rollback push and China tariff talk

Ford shares closed Friday at $13.60, down 1.52%. U.S. officials visited the Detroit Auto Show, pushing for looser emissions rules and warning Canada over Chinese EV imports. Ford vice chair John Lawler was granted 137,581 restricted stock units, set to vest by December 2026. U.S. markets will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
18 January 2026
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Stock Market Today

Lloyds share price steadies after buyback update and BoE rate jitters — what to watch next week

Lloyds share price steadies after buyback update and BoE rate jitters — what to watch next week

7 February 2026
Lloyds shares closed up 0.9% at 106.75 pence Friday after the bank announced fresh buybacks totaling 17 million shares over two days, all to be cancelled. The stock rebounded from a 5.6% drop Thursday as traders adjusted UK rate-cut bets. About 121 million Lloyds shares changed hands. Investors await the bank’s annual report on February 18 and the next Bank of England decision March 19.
Vodafone shares steady up after Q3 wobble — Germany, buyback and next results now set the tone

Vodafone shares steady up after Q3 wobble — Germany, buyback and next results now set the tone

7 February 2026
Vodafone shares rose 1.47% to 110.60p Friday, recovering part of Thursday’s 4.68% drop after a Q3 update. Group revenue climbed 6.5% to €10.5 billion, but Germany’s 0.7% service revenue growth missed some forecasts. Vodafone launched a new €500 million buyback tranche, bringing total buybacks since May to €3.5 billion. Investors remain focused on Germany’s pace and cash flow execution.
NatWest Group stock: buyback filing and Rightmove mortgage deal set up a busy week

NatWest Group stock: buyback filing and Rightmove mortgage deal set up a busy week

7 February 2026
NatWest shares closed up 1.45% at 659.4 pence Friday, buoyed by a buyback of 797,428 shares and a new digital mortgage deal with Rightmove. The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% but signaled possible cuts, with markets pricing in two reductions for 2026. NatWest plans to expand its Accelerator community to 50,000 members by 2026. Annual results are due Feb. 13.
Unilever share price holds at 5,250p as results week looms — what investors watch next

Unilever share price holds at 5,250p as results week looms — what investors watch next

7 February 2026
Unilever shares closed flat at 5,250p in London Friday, underperforming the FTSE 100’s 0.6% gain. The company issued 4.2 million new shares for employee plans, bringing total shares to over 2.18 billion. Investors await Q4 and full-year results on Feb. 12, with analyst consensus pointing to 3.9% Q4 sales growth. Unilever’s U.S. ADR rose 0.8% to $72.12.
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