From Nasdaq:

1) A poll by JPMorgan reveals that volatile markets remain the biggest challenge for investors for the second year in a row. The shifting narratives and market leadership styles are also causing difficulties, according to Piper Sandler.

2) Goldman Sachs C-Suite Conversations shed light on the fact that the share of US companies paying a dividend has remained unchanged at 66% for 30 years, while buybacks have surged in popularity from 3% of firms to 70%. META initiated its first-ever dividend last week, but several large firms, including Alphabet and Amazon, still pay none themselves.

3) BofA has stated that stock picking may outperform passive index investing due to market inefficiencies, higher valuation dispersion, and shifts in single stock flows. The company is advocating for fundamental stock selection. Additionally, Piper Sandler is advising their clients on buy side to focus on Quality at a Reasonable Price and Free Cash Flow Yield.

4) The ISM services index showed a slight expansion in January, indicating that economic data is surprising to the upside. The labor market has been able to absorb surges in job cut announcements, according to Grindstone Intelligence, with the latest Senior Loan Officer Survey showing banks slightly tightening standards on lending to firms of all sizes in the last quarter.

5) The global sustainable bond market recorded its highest January sales ever and the EU has adopted its first rules for ESG raters. In other news, China’s stocks have rebounded sharply, while German factory orders advanced at year-end.

6) The Pentagon is not planning for a long-term campaign in Iraq and Syria and the US and China are set to meet in Beijing for economy talks. Additionally, Toyota is planning to invest in TSMC’s Kumamoto plant in Japan, and New York Community Bancorp’s chief risk officer left weeks before a big loss, according to FT.

7) Saudi Arabia kept crude price to Asia unchanged in a surprise move, as revealed by Reuters, while Russian oil-refining dropped as drone attacks halted two plants. India’s twin focus on Middle East, Russian oil will soften Red Sea crisis impact, according to Platt’s report. With strong energy growth, India’s outlook will set the tone for global markets, says Modi. Oil investors are trying to get bullish as global economy improves, RTRS reports, and BP beat forecast with a $3 billion quarterly profit, boosting buybacks.



Read more: Volatility Tops Investor Concern | Nasdaq