Economy
Following three consecutive cuts in 2025, the FOMC held the federal funds rate at this specific range in January 2026.
What is 3.5% to 3.75%?
This pause was interpreted by market participants as a signal that the Fed is approaching what it considers a "neutral" rate, although internal consensus remains fragile, evidenced by two dissenting votes from members who preferred an immediate quarter-point cut.
Effective February 20, 2026, eBay's updated agreement blocks these tools from placing orders.
What are agentic commerce tools (or AI agents)?
Unauthorized agents present two primary risks: the erosion of the direct customer relationship and an increased potential for fraud, as transaction trust decisions are effectively outsourced to third-party systems.
This American skiier won the gold medal in the women's slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics, ending an 8-year drought.
Who is Mikaela Shiffrin?
This was her third career Olympic gold and was particularly meaningful after a challenging season dominated by injuries and disappointment for the U.S. ski team
This individual is anticipated to succeed Jerome Powell in May 2026 to become the next Federal Reserve Chair.
Who is Kevin Warsh?
Investors are closely monitoring whether a new Chair will lean more hawkishly to combat "sticky" inflation or more dovishly to stimulate a labor market that has shown signs of softening hiring demand.
This AI research company raised $30 billion in a Series G round on February 13, 2026, to expand enterprise infrastructure.
What is Anthropic?
This capital is intended to expand Anthropic’s enterprise AI research and infrastructure, supporting the growing demand for secure, high-capacity AI tools in the corporate world.
Astronomers and skywatchers are preparing for this rare celestial event on February 28, 2026, featuring six planets.
What is a "planet parade"?
A rare planetary parade will occur featuring a six-planet alignment of Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in the evening sky. Visible shortly after sunset, these planets will appear along the ecliptic in the southwestern sky, with Venus and Jupiter being the brightest, while Uranus and Neptune require binoculars.
This 2025 event caused a massive "data blackout" that distorted current inflation reports and forced the Fed into a "wait mode."
What is the government shutdown?
The inability of the BLS to produce accurate reports during the 2025 shutdown has created a "compressed macro narrative" for February 2026.
This specific energy source is the subject of recent major agreements by Meta to power its 2026 AI infrastructure.
What is nuclear power?
Meta recently finalized nuclear power agreements totaling over 6 gigawatts of capacity, a move designed to secure the massive electrical loads required by its AI data centers.
A microphone on this NASA rover recently recorded the crackle of electrical discharges known as "mini-lightning" on Mars.
What is Perseverance?
NASA's Perseverance rover recorded the sounds of "mini-lightning" electrical discharges on Mars, generated by dusty gusts in the Martian atmosphere.