Key Events Around the Globe: Feb 10

UK Retailers Report Strong Start to 2026

British retailers reported a bright start to 2026, marked by strong food sales and more in-store activity in January, the British Retail Consortium trade body said on Tuesday. Total food sales rose by 2.7% in annual terms last month, the strongest increase since August. In-store sales rose at fastest pace in six months. Like-for-like sales, which take into account openings and closures of physical stores, rose by 2.3%- again, the strongest year-on-year reading since August.

Australia Consumer Sentiment Falls Sharply in Feb After RBA Rate Hike- Westpac

Australia’s consumer sentiment weakened for a third straight month in February, a private survey showed on Tuesday, with the latest drop coming after an interest rate hike by the Reserve Bank. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index fell 2.6% to 90.5 in early-February, following a 1.7% drop in the prior month. The index also fell below 100 points, indicating pessimists largely outnumbered optimists.

White House Sets Lower Job Growth Expectations; Fed Grapples with Same Issue

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said on Monday that U.S. job gains could be lower in the coming months due to slower labor force growth and higher productivity, weighing into a debate that is also underway at the Federal Reserve and promises to shape the central bank’s coming policy decisions.

Monthly payroll employment grew by an average 53,000 positions in November and December, compared to an average gain of 183,000 jobs per month in the 10 years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and far more than that during an employment boom in the later years of the Biden administration.

Euro Zone Investor Morale Rises Sharply in February

The Sentix index measuring investor morale in the euro zone rose unexpectedly in February, its third consecutive monthly gain and its highest level since July 2025, a survey showed on Monday. The index rose to 4.2 points in February from-1.8 the month before, beating forecasts by analysts polled by Reuters for a reading of 0.0. “The recession in the euro zone appears to have come to an end and an upturn  seems to havebegun,”said Sentix in a press release.

Taiwan January Exports Surge at Fastest Pace in 16 Years on AI Demand

Taiwan’s exports rose much more than expected in January, hitting the fastest monthly clip in 16 years amid continued demand for the island’s chips and technology that are powering AI applications.

Exports showed a 69.9% increase year-on-year to $65.77 billion, versus 51.9% in a Reuters poll and 43.4% in December, reaching a monthly record high by value, the finance ministry said on Monday. The export performance continued a streak of 27 consecutive monthly year-on-year gains

Source: HSL Prime Daily, 10 Feb 2026