Markets Pause Near Record Highs as Investors Await Critical Economic Data

New York, Tuesday, 10 February 2026.
US equity markets halted their recent rally on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of a significant backlog of economic data. While the Dow Jones and S&P 500 hovered near record highs, the release of weaker-than-expected December retail sales—showing a stall in consumer spending—prompted a decline in bond yields to 4.14%, reinforcing expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Conversely, the cryptocurrency sector faced renewed volatility, with Bitcoin tumbling below the $70,000 mark. The market’s attention now pivots to Wednesday’s delayed nonfarm payrolls report and Friday’s inflation data, which are critical for gauging the economy’s health following the recent government shutdown. This incoming “data deluge” is creating a complex trading environment characterized by a rotation out of volatile tech stocks into defensive sectors, as traders seek clarity on the monetary policy trajectory.