Two Vanguard ETFs are back in focus as 2026 starts — VOO vs VGT debate heats up

Two Vanguard ETFs are back in focus as 2026 starts — VOO vs VGT debate heats up

U.S. equity funds saw $16.9 billion in net inflows for the week ending Dec. 31, according to LSEG Lipper. Investors favored low-cost ETFs like Vanguard’s VOO and VGT, which now holds $114.3 billion in assets with Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft making up over 44%. The S&P 500 rose more than 16% in 2025. Strategists warn 2026 returns may hinge on broader earnings growth beyond megacap tech.
Lloyds Bank closures start this month as 17 UK branches set to shut in January 2026

Lloyds Bank closures start this month as 17 UK branches set to shut in January 2026

Lloyds Bank will close 17 branches across Britain in January, starting Jan. 8 with Gillingham, Dorset. Closures span England and Wales, with Ammanford shutting Jan. 12 and Chester-le-Street Jan. 14. Halifax and Bank of Scotland, also owned by Lloyds, have published separate closure lists. Lloyds says some affected towns will get banking hubs or community banker visits.
2 January 2026
ASML stock slips in premarket after Aletheia upgrade lifts target to $1,500

ASML stock slips in premarket after Aletheia upgrade lifts target to $1,500

ASML shares slipped 0.25% to $1,069.86 in U.S. premarket trading Friday despite an analyst upgrade to Buy and a price target hike to $1,500. Investors are watching China chip-tool rules and ASML’s Jan. 28 earnings for signals on 2026 demand. TSMC rose 1.4% premarket after a U.S. license for China equipment imports. The STOXX 600 gained 0.6% early Friday as European markets reopened.
Amazon stock slips today in premarket as Brookfield cloud push keeps AI spending under scrutiny

Amazon stock slips today in premarket as Brookfield cloud push keeps AI spending under scrutiny

Amazon shares fell 0.7% to $230.82 in premarket trading Friday, as megacap tech stocks started 2026 lower. The move followed news that Brookfield is launching Radiant, a cloud business leasing chips to AI developers, intensifying competition in cloud infrastructure. Investors are watching for Amazon’s next earnings and AWS demand signals. Broader market sentiment was muted, with Nasdaq and S&P 500 ETFs also down before the open.
Ratcliffe power station revocation vote puts East Midlands Airport’s 2026 direct routes back in focus

Ratcliffe power station revocation vote puts East Midlands Airport’s 2026 direct routes back in focus

Rushcliffe Borough Council will vote Jan. 8 on revoking hazardous substances consent for the closed Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station after site owner Uniper requested the change. The consent, granted in 2008, covered storage of fuel oil and ammonia. The move is intended to support redevelopment near East Midlands Airport, which has announced new summer 2026 routes with Jet2, SunExpress, and TUI. Any revocation requires confirmation from the Secretary of State.
SoFi stock price today: SOFI slips in premarket as rate-cut bets set the tone for fintechs

SoFi stock price today: SOFI slips in premarket as rate-cut bets set the tone for fintechs

SoFi shares fell 1.4% to $26.18 in premarket trading Friday, tracking declines in other fintech lenders. S&P 500 futures rose 0.6% and Nasdaq futures gained 1% as U.S. markets opened 2026. Investors are watching next week’s U.S. jobs report and the start of earnings season for direction. SoFi’s next earnings date is tentatively set for Jan. 26.
TeraWulf stock climbs in premarket after KBW upgrade, $24 target; bitcoin near $89,000

TeraWulf stock climbs in premarket after KBW upgrade, $24 target; bitcoin near $89,000

TeraWulf Inc. shares gained 2.9% to $11.49 in premarket trading after KBW upgraded the stock and raised its price target to $24, citing underestimated growth from a shift to high-performance computing leasing. Bitcoin rose 1.8% to about $89,352. Other U.S.-listed miners traded mixed. No upcoming investor events are scheduled for TeraWulf.
Tencent stock jumps in Hong Kong on AI-fueled tech rally; buyback filing in focus

Tencent stock jumps in Hong Kong on AI-fueled tech rally; buyback filing in focus

Tencent shares rose 4.0% to HK$623.00 in Hong Kong after the company bought back 1.1 million shares for HK$635.5 million on Dec. 31. The rally followed renewed optimism in China’s AI sector and a broader tech surge. Traders are watching if U.S.-traded Tencent ADRs will mirror the move when New York trading resumes. Mainland China’s markets reopen Jan. 5.
Nifty tops 26,300 as India bank stocks hit record; Coal India jumps, ITC slides on excise hike

Nifty tops 26,300 as India bank stocks hit record; Coal India jumps, ITC slides on excise hike

India’s Sensex rose 0.6% to 85,676.59 in noon trade Friday, with the Nifty 50 above 26,300. Nifty Bank reached a record 60,118. Coal India hit a 52-week high after opening e-auctions to neighboring countries. ITC dropped over 5% after higher cigarette excise duties were announced.
Cipher Mining (CIFR) stock edges up in premarket as bitcoin climbs near $89,000

Cipher Mining (CIFR) stock edges up in premarket as bitcoin climbs near $89,000

Cipher Mining shares rose 1.1% to $14.76 in pre-market trading Friday as bitcoin climbed 1.5% to $89,038. The company recently signed a $5.5 billion, 15-year lease with Amazon Web Services for AI data center capacity, with 300 MW planned for 2026. Shares of other U.S.-listed miners were mixed before the bell. Cipher also amended a Texas lease with Fluidstack and Google for up to 207 MW of server power.

Stock Market Today

Wall Street Feels the Heat (and Thrill): Fed Cuts, Tariffs & Mega-Mergers Set NYSE Buzz

Stock Market Today 08.02.2026

8 February 2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: February 8, 2026, 12:00 AM ESTUpdated: February 8, 2026, 1:07 AM EST Wheaton Precious Metals CEO Succession and Valuation Analysis February 8, 2026, 1:01 AM EST. Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM) announced Haytham Hodaly will become CEO on March 31, 2026, with Randy Smallwood moving to non-executive Chair. The stock has surged nearly 30% in 90 days and posted a 98% one-year total return. Despite this momentum, shares trade about 22% below an analyst's fair value estimate of CA$190.41. The company boasts strong finances with CA$1 billion cash and a CA$2 billion undrawn credit facility, underpinning growth prospects.
Tower Semiconductor stock jumps again on Nvidia optics tie-up as earnings near

Tower Semiconductor stock jumps again on Nvidia optics tie-up as earnings near

8 February 2026
Tower Semiconductor shares rose 7.7% to $139.04 Friday after announcing a collaboration with Nvidia on AI data-center networking. The stock touched $141 intraday and gained another 1% after hours. Investors await Tower’s Feb. 11 earnings for details on its silicon photonics work. No financial terms or shipment timeline were disclosed.
Longsys Electronics stock heads into Monday after new guarantees; what 301308 investors watch next

Longsys Electronics stock heads into Monday after new guarantees; what 301308 investors watch next

8 February 2026
Longsys disclosed new guarantees for a 100 million yuan Hong Kong loan and a $9 million Brazil credit line, bringing its total approved guarantee quota to 11 billion yuan and outstanding guarantees to 5.81 billion yuan. The company said all guarantees are for consolidated subsidiaries and within approved limits. Shares closed at 288 yuan Friday, down 1.6%. China inflation and credit data are due this week.
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