New York, Feb 10, 2026, 10:02 EST — Regular session
- Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up at the open as U.S. retail sales data surprised on the downside.
- Traders are bracing for delayed payrolls and inflation reports later this week.
- Coca-Cola slid after forecasting softer 2026 revenue growth.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened slightly higher on Tuesday after data showed U.S. retail sales stalled in December, adding to the market’s tug-of-war over how soon the Federal Reserve can cut rates again. 1
Why it matters now: stocks are trying to hold near record ground after a bruising AI-linked selloff in software and a sharp rebound in tech, with investors moving from headline to headline in a week packed with delayed U.S. data. 2
At the opening bell, the Dow rose 57.6 points, or 0.11%, to 50,193.49. The S&P 500 added 0.14% and the Nasdaq gained 0.14%. 1
Retail sales were unchanged in December after a 0.6% rise in November, undershooting forecasts for a 0.4% gain. So-called core retail sales, which feed more directly into GDP, fell 0.1%. 3
Bond yields eased after the report, while stock moves stayed tight as traders tried to decide whether softer spending is a warning sign or simply room for the Fed to lean more dovish. 4
The Dow ended Monday at a record 50,135.87, up 20.20 points, as tech regained its footing. “You’ve a sharply oversold market where a little bit of good news can go a long way,” said Keith Lerner, chief investment officer at Truist Advisory Services. 2
The bout of volatility that rattled software shares last week was triggered by a new legal tool from Anthropic’s Claude model that raised fresh questions about how durable some traditional software business models are in an AI-heavy market. 5
In early earnings-related moves, Coca-Cola’s shares fell after the company forecast 2026 organic revenue growth of 4% to 5% and missed fourth-quarter revenue estimates, pointing to choppy demand. Jefferies analyst Kaumil Gajrawala called the outlook “conservative.” 6
PepsiCo, a close rival in beverages and snacks, has been leaning on price cuts and portion-control messaging as consumers push back against years of increases, a theme that has crept back into the day’s trading. 6
But the downside case is straightforward: if the labor market data comes in stronger than expected, or inflation runs hot, traders could quickly reprice rate expectations and push yields back up, a combination that has hit high-growth and rate-sensitive stocks before.
What comes next is calendar-driven. The delayed January jobs report is due Wednesday and the January CPI report is scheduled for Friday, with investors watching for any shift that could change the Fed’s timing. 7
