Updated: 02-February-2026

The Week on Wall Street

It was a choppy week for stocks as investors juggled a packed agenda: fourth-quarter earnings season, a closely watched Federal Reserve meeting, and a steady stream of economic data. By the closing bell Friday, performance was mixed. The S&P 500 closed out a 0.34% gain, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.17%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fared worse, falling 0.42%. Overseas markets told a brighter story: the MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed international markets, climbed 1.22%.¹²

S&P 500 Flirts With 7,000

U.S. stocks got off to a solid start early in the week as optimism built ahead of the Fed’s policy decision and earnings reports from several heavyweight companies. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both pushed higher, with the S&P briefly touching the psychologically important 7,000 level.³⁴

Midweek, the Federal Reserve delivered exactly what markets expected, no change in interest rates. The announcement barely moved markets, and all three major indexes finished Wednesday largely unchanged. That calm didn’t last long. After the close, disappointing results from a megacap technology firm rattled investor confidence, sending the Nasdaq lower on Thursday.⁵⁶

Friday brought fresh headwinds. Stocks opened lower following the White House’s nomination of Fed veteran Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair. A warmer-than-expected wholesale inflation report for December, combined with renewed concerns about a potential government shutdown, kept pressure on equities into the weekend.⁷

The Fed Hits Pause

At its January meeting, the Federal Reserve held the federal funds rate steady in a 3.5%–3.75% target range. The move followed three straight rate cuts and marked the Fed’s first pause since July. Policymakers are scheduled to meet again in mid-March.⁸

During his post-meeting press conference, Chair Powell declined to address questions related to the Justice Department’s investigation.

This Week: Key Economic Data to Watch

• Monday: Auto Sales; ISM Manufacturing Index

  Tuesday: ISM Services Index; Job Openings (December)

  Wednesday: ADP Employment Report

  Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims; Remarks from Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic

  Friday: Jobs Report; Consumer Sentiment; Consumer Credit

Source: Investor’s Business Daily / Econoday economic calendar, January 30, 2026.

This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings

• Monday: Palantir (PLTR), Walt Disney (DIS)

  Tuesday: AMD, Merck, PepsiCo, Amgen, Pfizer, Chubb

  Wednesday: Alphabet, Eli Lilly, AbbVie, Uber, Qualcomm, Boston Scientific, CME Group, McKesson

  Thursday: Amazon, ConocoPhillips, Bristol Myers Squibb, KKR

  Friday: Philip Morris International

Source: Zacks, January 30, 2026.