Microsoft only edged past estimates for quarterly revenue in its crucial cloud-computing business and ramped up spending on artificial intelligence, disappointing investors looking for better returns amid intense competition.
Public companies are quietly expanding their Bitcoin treasuries in early 2026, with new disclosures this week showing continued accumulation despite largely flat prices Nasdaq-listed American Bitcoin Corporation said that its Bitcoin holdings rose to 5,843 BTC, an increase of 416 Bitcoin from prior levels.
The S&P 500 notched a record closing high and its fifth straight day of gains with a mixed reception to the latest earnings reports and a steep selloff in health insurers countering optimism ahead of megacap reports.
The euro strengthened to $1.20 for the first time since mid-2021 on Tuesday, driven by an investor retreat from the U.S. dollar that has gathered pace since the start of this year.
The U.S. dollar is coming under fire again in the first few turbulent weeks of 2026 as a growing range of factors — including Washington’s desire for a weaker currency — prompts a rethink of investors’ optimistic assumptions for a period of stability for the greenback.
Gold prices marched to record levels above $5,100 to start the week, as investors sought a safe haven amid international political tension, and silver and platinum also scaled all-time highs.
