No longer the Apple of their eye

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets

Morning Bid Europe Morning Bid Europe A look at the day ahead in European and global markets By Stella Qiu, Markets Correspondent   Data refreshes every time you open this email. For more European market news, click here. Please send any feedback to morningbid@thomsonreuters.com. The tech selloff has returned with a vengeance. The latest slump was sparked by Cisco, whose margins were squeezed by the soaring costs of memory chips, spooking investors priced for booming profits. Today's Market News Trump's upheaval of the Atlantic alliance to loom over Munich security forum Loss of Fed independence could push up inflation all around the world, Bundesbank warns Start-of-year price increases seen lifting monthly US consumer inflation in January Trump revokes basis of US climate regulation, ends vehicle emission standards GE Aerospace turns to robots and 'Lean' methods to tackle jet engine repair crunch When machines take our jobs An Apple logo appears in this illustration taken August 25, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Fears are also mounting that AI's disruption to jobs is just getting started. Logistics and trucking companies were sold hard overnight, not so long after software stocks dived as Anthropic's release of Claude Cowork fuelled job worries. Not even Apple (AAPL.O), was spared. The iPhone maker lost 5% and shed a stunning $200 billion in market value, its worst day since President Donald Trump's sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs unsettled markets last April. To be fair, with stocks still hovering near record levels, this dip could just be another buying opportunity for the retail investors. Then again, maybe the machines really are coming for us. Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman told the FT he expects most white-collar tasks to be fully automated in the next 12-18 months. In Asia, most markets were in the red, with MSCI's regional index off 0.8%, though it is still boasting a more-than-decent gain of 3.9% for the week. Japan's Nikkei (.N225), skidded 0.9%, but was still up 5.3% for the week. Inflation test Amid the risk-off pummelling, defensive stocks found buyers and Treasuries benefited from safe-haven bids. Gold and silver attempted a recovery after heavy losses while oil was headed for a second straight week of losses. Where equities are headed next now depends on U.S. inflation data due later in the day. Forecasts are centred on a monthly rise of 0.3% in the core measure for January, which is enough to see the annual rate slow to 2.5% from 2.7% previously.  A number like that or even better could be what is needed for Wall Street to recover and test all-time highs, but a hot report may see traders give up bets for a rate cut in June, sending yields soaring again.   Graphics are produced by Reuters. Key developments that could influence markets on Friday: U.S. CPI data for January Euro Zone GDP flash estimate for Q4   Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.   Sponsors are not involved in the creation of newsletters or other Reuters news content. Advertise in this newsletter or on Reuters' website   Morning Bid is sent every weekday morning. Think your friend or colleague should know about us? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here. Want to stop receiving this email? Unsubscribe here. To manage which newsletters you're signed up for, click here. This email includes limited tracking for Reuters to understand whether you’ve engaged with its contents. For more information on how we process your personal information and your rights, please see our Privacy Statement. Terms & Conditions   © 2026 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036