Michael Burry flagged wording and methodology updates in Alphabet's latest 10K filing. He noted changes in risk factors and equipment descriptions. Burry highlighted new references to "expected technology developments," suggesting a shift in how the company assesses asset lifespans and risk, signalling a potentially proactive stance on future tech costs.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has called the The Washington Post's decision to lay off his son Ishaan and over 300 other journalists and staff "a perverse act of self-immolation". In the now-deleted post, Tharoor said, "The bizarre thing about this so-called 'business decision' by The Washington Post is that Ishaan's column flourished on the Internet, where he had 500,000...individual subscribers."

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Senator Elizabeth Warren it is up to President Trump whether to sue Fed Chair nominee Kevin Warsh for not cutting rates. Warren pressed Bessent on whether Warsh would face DOJ action if he defied Trump's rate wishes. Bessent's response raises concerns about Federal Reserve independence.

Novo Nordisk threatened legal and regulatory action against Hims & Hers for selling a $49 compounded copy of Wegovy. Novo accused Hims of duping the public with knock-off products. While NVO shares dropped 7%, HIMS pared earlier gains, trading just 1% higher as the legal battle looms.

Hims & Hers stock surged 10% after launching a compounded weight-loss pill for $49 per month, significantly undercutting Novo Nordisk's Wegovy. The generic version uses the same active ingredient but offers better absorption. The news pressured NVO shares down nearly 6% as cheaper competition enters the market.

Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki, warned that over $600 billion in AI infrastructure spending will trigger intense hardware battles among tech leaders. He predicted fierce competition in the next three years, with companies like Alphabet and Microsoft fighting for scale. Gerber said that winners will eventually build unbeatable competitive moats within five years.

Barrick stock fell pre-market despite beating Q4 earnings and revenue expectations. The miner reported a net income of $2.41 billion but forecast lower gold and copper production for 2026. Management also received approval for an IPO of its North American assets subsidiary.

Fashion commerce startup ZILO raised $15.3 million in Series A led by Peak XV Partners to expand 60-minute delivery beyond Mumbai. Founded by Padmakumar Pal and Bhavik Jhaveri, the company will invest in tech, supply chain and ties to scale operations, strengthen fashion discovery and grow presence across Indian cities as investor confidence builds in commerce markets.

Tead stock surged 25% pre-market after announcing a partnership with Google TV to expand connected TV advertising. The deal gives brands premium access to HomeScreen inventory, allowing ads to appear as the first image users see. This boosts access to Google TV's vast library of 400,000 shows and films.

US layoffs surged to the highest level since 2009, with employers announcing 108,435 job cuts in January according to the latest report by consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. It noted the total reflects low optimism for 2026. Simultaneously, hiring plans hit a record low of just 5,306, marking a sharp contraction in the labour market.