Inflation Cools to 2.4% But Markets Show Muted Reaction

U.S. stocks finished Friday's session with minimal movement despite the benign inflation data released earlier in the day. The S&P 500 added just 0.05% to close at 6,836.17, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 48.95 points, or 0.10%, settling at 49,500.93. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.22% to close at 22,546.67, as technology stocks lagged.

The muted market reaction reflected growing investor caution after a volatile start to 2026. The S&P 500 notched its second consecutive losing week, declining 1.4% over the five-day period. According to market analysts, the soft CPI print reinforced expectations for one Federal Reserve rate cut this year but failed to overcome concerns about elevated valuations and persistent inflation above the Fed's target.

Trading volume was lighter than usual ahead of the Presidents Day holiday weekend, with U.S. markets scheduled to close Monday, February 16. Sector performance was mixed, with utilities and high dividend stocks outperforming while financials and mega-cap growth stocks lagged.

Precious metals prices remained elevated in mid-February despite experiencing sharp volatility in recent weeks. As of February 10, gold was trading near $5,054 per ounce, while silver reached $81.95 per ounce, both well above year-ago levels. The sustained high prices have driven increased activity at coin and jewelry exchange shops across the country.

Both metals experienced dramatic swings in late January, with gold hitting a record $5,594 per ounce on January 29 before plunging nearly 10% the following day in its sharpest decline in decades. Silver similarly surged above $100 per ounce in late January before retreating. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent characterized the extreme volatility as a "classical, speculative blowoff" driven by Chinese retail and institutional investors.

Despite the correction from late January peaks, precious metals remain attractive to investors seeking safe-haven assets amid economic uncertainty and persistent inflation concerns. Fresh U.S. inflation data released this week showed prices cooling but remaining above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, supporting continued demand for gold and silver as inflation hedges.

VerifyMe, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRME) and Open World Ltd. announced on February 12 that they have executed a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger, positioning the combined entity as a leading infrastructure provider in the digital asset and tokenization sector. The boards of both companies unanimously approved the transaction, which requires regulatory approvals and shareholder votes expected in the second quarter of 2026.

The merged company will focus on token listings, regulated digital asset infrastructure, enterprise-grade compliance frameworks, and institutional real-world asset (RWA) tokenization across multiple jurisdictions. Upon closing, the combined entity is expected to list on the Nasdaq Capital Market under a new ticker symbol, subject to customary closing conditions including shareholder approval from VerifyMe investors.

The deal represents a significant consolidation in the digital asset infrastructure space as companies seek scale and regulatory compliance capabilities. According to the companies' joint announcement, the merger aims to provide institutional clients with comprehensive tokenization services while maintaining robust compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks in the rapidly growing digital asset sector.