For: February 3, 2026
>>Ahead Of The Bell
(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Monday to start the new month on Wall Street. Markets got a boost after Oracle announced plans to raise 50-billion-dollars to create more capacity for cloud customers. Investors also focused on earnings with more than 100 companies due to report results this week. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 515 points to 49-407. The S&P 500 added 37 points to 69-76. The Nasdaq rose 130 points to 23-592.
>>Jobs Report Delayed
(Washington, DC) -- The January jobs report will be delayed because of the partial government shutdown. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the report, originally scheduled for Friday, will be rescheduled when government funding resumes. The House is expected to vote today on a funding package to end the shutdown.
>>Disney Sees Fewer Foreign Visitors
(Burbank, CA) -- Disney says fewer foreign visitors are coming to its U.S. theme parks. In an earnings call Monday the company said that earnings at parks are still up, thanks to increased guest spending and repeat visits. Still, the company warned that fewer international visitors would tamp down growth in the first quarter of 2026. The U.S. experienced a six-percent drop in international visitation last year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Much of that was driven by a drop in Canadian visitors.
>>Musk's SpaceX Acquires xAI
(Undated) -- Elon Musk's SpaceX is acquiring xAI, an artificial intelligence startup that also owns the X social media platform. The deal is combining the two companies owned by Musk, who said in a release it was aimed at pursuing AI data centers in outer space. SpaceX's highly-anticipated initial public offering is expected later this year.
>>Popular Retailer Shuttering Stores And Filing Bankruptcy
(Bellevue, WA) -- Eddie Bauer is reportedly planning to file bankruptcy and close its North American stores. Reports indicate the company has intentions to shutter an estimated 200 stores located across the U.S. and Canada as part of the bankruptcy plans. Eddie Bauer has previously filed for bankruptcy twice in its 106-year existence.
>>Cracker Barrel Expects Employees To Eat At Cracker Barrel
(Lebanon, TN) -- Cracker Barrel employees are now expected to eat at the company's own restaurants when traveling on business, whenever practical. The company is also banning using company funds to purchase alcohol without special approval. It's part of the company's effort to tighten cost controls after a backlash over a failed rebranding attempt last year.
>>AGA: Americans To Bet Record Amount On Super Bowl
(Atlantic City, NJ) -- Americans are expected to bet a record one-point-76 billion dollars on the Super Bowl this year. That's a 27-percent increase from the American Gaming Association's prediction last year. The Seahawks will battle the New England Patriots from Santa Clara, California on February 8th.
