Pre-Market Update

 

Developments since yesterday’s close, ahead of today’s market open

Key developments investors are watching before the open
Not predictions. Just what changed since the last close.

 

In Focus Before the Open

(Developments drawing the most attention ahead of the open)

 

Politics & Policy

• Donald Trump orders mass US pullout from international organisations

• Trump’s ‘beautiful’ new law means states have big decisions this year on Medicaid, SNAP and taxes

• Trump calls for US military spending to rise more than 50% to $1.5tn

• Trump says he’ll ban large investors from buying single-family homes

 

Policy direction and fiscal priorities are back in focus before the open.

 

Energy

• Chevron in talks with Trump administration for expanded Venezuela oil license

• Exxon Mobil (XOM) Flags $1.2B Q4 Profit Hit as Crude Prices Slide

Energy supply policy, pricing pressure, and long-term demand narratives intersect.

 

AI

• China to probe Meta’s acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus

• Samsung forecasts profit to triple to record high as it rides AI boom

• China moves to approve limited Nvidia H200 purchases – Bloomberg

• Nvidia seeks full upfront payment for H200 AI chips in China – report

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• AI Model Jeminai 3 Runs to Positive Ratings Expected Sales Growth, Market Cap of $3.89 trillion AI Exists Apple, Second Place

AI developments span geopolitics, earnings outlooks, and capital discipline.

Also on the Radar

(Additional developments worth noting before the open)

 

Tech

• Google and chatbot maker Character to settle lawsuit alleging chatbot pushed teen to suicide

• Musk’s OpenAI lawsuit heads to jury trial in March, US judge says

• JPMorgan Chase Reaches Deal to Take Over Apple Credit Card

• EU to decide on Google’s acquisition of Wiz on February 10

• Musk says Nvidia self-driving tech may take years to rival Tesla

• Volvo Cars recalls over 413,000 US vehicles due to rearview camera issue

• Rivian recalls over 19,000 electric vehicles due to assembly issue

 

Bio / Healthcare

• Organon & Co.: Organon Enters into a Commercialization Agreement for Daiichi Sankyo’s Nilemdo in France, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Finland and Norway

• Abbvie denies WSJ report of talks to buy biotech player Revolutions Medicine

• Aclarion Provides 2025 Update and 2026 Corporate Outlook

• MoonLake Immunotherapeutics Announces Positive Outcome from Type B Meeting with U.S. FDA and Announces Investor Day

M&A

• Computacenter announces acquisition of Business IT Source (United States)

Material

Data Centers, AI and Defense Industries Drive Copper Demand, Projected to Grow 50% by 2040

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Hyundai Selects Danieli for New U.S. Site in USD 650 Million Deal

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World

• Job Openings Fall to 14-Month Low

Crypto

• Trump family crypto company applies for banking charter

How to Read This Update

This briefing covers what changed after yesterday’s market close and before today’s open.
It provides enough context to understand today’s key market narratives —
without tracking every headline in real time.

Missing this makes it much harder to stay aligned with today’s market context.

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One-line takeaway

This is a time-based market update — designed to help you understand what matters today.

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