Market Performance
| Asset / Index | Value ($) | Daily Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 76,629.0 | +1.00% |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 2,280.96 | +2.26% |
| Nasdaq (NAS100) | 25,406.1 | +0.36% |
| S&P 500 (SPX) | 6,917.82 | -0.84% |
| Russell 2000 (RUT) | 2,656.1 | +0.28% |
| U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) | 97.067 | 0.00% |
| VIX Volatility Index | 18.00 | +10.16% |
| U.S. 10-Year Yield | 4.270343338 | -0.19% |
| Brent Crude Oil (BRENT) | 67.953 | -0.69% |
| LBMA Gold (XAU) | 5,080.99 | +2.75% |
| LBMA Silver (XAG) | 89.993 | +5.86% |
“Prepared at UTC 07.54 am”
Today’s Key Events
- President Trump to Give an Interview on NBC Television
- Inflation to be Monitored in the Eurozone
- Alphabet Earnings Report
Trump Signs Funding Bill Ending Government Shutdown
U.S. President Donald Trump ended the partial government shutdown by signing the funding bill at the White House Oval Office on February 3, 2026. The bill, approved by the House of Representatives the same day, provides full funding to many federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year (September 30), while allocating only two weeks of temporary funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This arrangement buys time for ongoing negotiations due to debates and recent events surrounding DHS immigration practices.
US-Iran Tensions Escalate: Maritime Incidents
- Serious military tensions arose in Gulf waters ahead of high-level nuclear talks between the US and Iran scheduled for Friday (February 6); these incidents heightened concerns of escalation and caused oil prices to rise by 2.3%. The White House confirmed that the talks will take place towards the end of this week; the Iranian side, however, is demanding that the meeting be held in Oman instead of Turkey and that the agenda be limited to bilateral nuclear issues only. It is worth following the talks closely, as the recent maritime incidents may affect the negotiation process.
- US Shoots Down Iranian UAV : An Iranian Shahed-139 unmanned aerial vehicle, which approached the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in an “aggressive” manner, was shot down by a US F-35 fighter jet. No casualties were reported in the incident; U.S. Central Command stated that the intervention was carried out to protect the ship and its crew. This incident further heightened tensions ahead of the talks.
- Iranian Speedboats Approach US-Flagged Tanker : Six Iranian speedboats approached a US-flagged oil tanker sailing in the Strait of Hormuz and ordered it via radio to shut down its engines and prepare to be seized. The tanker proceeded safely under the escort of a US warship. This provocation heightened concerns about maritime security in the region and impacted oil markets.
Massive Air Strike Ahead of Russia-Ukraine Talks
- Russia launched one of the largest air strikes of the war on Tuesday ahead of planned new talks with Ukraine; according to the Ukrainian Air Force, 71 missiles and 450 attack drones were used. The strikes hit eight regions, including Kiev, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Odessa; in Kharkiv alone, more than 100,000 households were left without heat. Zelensky stated that they expect the US to respond to this attack.
- Russia-Ukraine Talks to Continue in Abu Dhabi: New U.S.-brokered Russia-Ukraine peace talks, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in Abu Dhabi, will begin amid tensions following Russia’s nighttime attack, despite progress in the previous round. The Kremlin said differences on some issues had narrowed but significant disagreements remained. The talks are seen as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Oil Prices Rise Amid Middle East Tensions
Brent crude futures rose 0.89% in the morning to $67.98 per barrel, approaching the $68 mark. Rakuten Securities analyst Satoru Yoshida noted that rising tensions in the Middle East are supporting prices, and that India’s agreement to limit Russian oil purchases and the Russia-Ukraine war are also having an impact. According to the analyst, WTI crude oil is expected to remain around $65 for a while longer.
Gold Prices Continue to Rise
Gold prices are maintaining their upward momentum after posting their strongest daily gain since 2008 in the previous session. Spot gold is trading at $5,081 per ounce as of this morning, up 2.70% from the previous day. The dollar’s weakness, seen by investors as a buying opportunity, is supporting this sharp rise.
AMD Quarterly Earnings Exceeded Expectations, But Future Outlook Disappointed
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) exceeded market expectations by reporting earnings per share of $1.53 and revenue of $10.27 billion for the fourth quarter of 2025. Net profit showed a significant increase compared to the same period last year, and annual revenue rose by 34%. However, the stock fell as much as 8% in after-hours trading after the company’s revenue forecast of $9.8 billion (±$300 million) for the first quarter of 2026 fell short of analysts’ expectations for AI demand.
White House Crypto Summit Ends Without Results
The meeting held at the White House, aimed at overcoming the deadlock in cryptocurrency legislation, ended without any agreement. The parties met behind closed doors to resolve long-standing disagreements between the crypto industry and major banks, but fundamental differences remained unresolved. Although the parties described the meeting as “constructive,” the future of the proposed legislation on the structure of the crypto market remains uncertain.
Durov Criticizes France: Police Raid X Office
French prosecutors raided X’s (formerly Twitter) Paris office on grounds of child abuse images and deepfake content; Elon Musk was summoned to testify on April 20. Telegram founder Pavel Durov harshly criticized France as the only country penalizing platforms that uphold user freedom. Investigations have begun in Europe due to the Grok chatbot generating thousands of sexually explicit deepfakes and sharing Holocaust denial content.
ONDO Remains Flat After a 37% Monthly Drop Despite MetaMask Integration
Ondo Finance announced its integration with MetaMask at the Ondo Global Summit on February 3, bringing over 200 tokenized US securities (such as Tesla, NVIDIA, Apple stocks, and SLV, IAU, QQQ ETFs) to the MetaMask wallet. Users can make purchases with USDC, trade via the Swaps feature on the Ethereum network, and transfers are possible 24/7. Despite the integration, the ONDO token has been trading sideways after losing 37% of its value in the last month.
Bhutan Government Transfers 184 Bitcoin
The Royal Government of Bhutan transferred 184 Bitcoin (worth approximately $14.09 million) to a new address, according to Onchain Lens tracking. This transfer is likely a deposit into a centralized exchange or preparation for an OTC (over-the-counter) transaction.
South Korea’s Virtual Asset User Protection Act Issues First Penalty
The first case under South Korea’s Virtual Asset User Protection Act has concluded; a crypto exchange CEO received a 3-year prison sentence for price manipulation. The court also imposed a fine of 500 million won and ordered the forfeiture of 846 million won, but did not continue the defendant’s detention due to his cooperation. Between July and October 2024, the CEO had generated approximately 7.1 billion won in illegal profits by inflating volume and placing fake buy orders using automated trading programs.
Bitwise Acquires Staking Provider Chorus One
According to Bloomberg, crypto asset management company Bitwise Asset Management is acquiring Chorus One, which provides staking services. The terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed, but this move will expand Bitwise’s portfolio of yield-generating crypto products.
Tianruixiang, an insurance brokerage firm traded on NASDAQ, has signed a share transfer agreement with an unnamed global digital asset investor for approximately $1.1 billion worth of 15,000 Bitcoins. The agreement also includes AI and crypto-focused strategic cooperation; a joint innovation lab will be established, and tools will be developed in areas such as Layer 2, DeFi, and NFT.
Goldman Sachs: Upward Risks for Gold Prices
Goldman Sachs maintains its $5,400/oz gold price forecast for December 2026 but notes significant upside risks. According to the bank, most of the price volatility in January stemmed from Western capital flows, with speculative movements remaining limited. In the silver market, London liquidity tightness amplified two-way fluctuations, while silver saw a sharper correction.
