Market Movements Ahead of U.S. Mining Conference
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 04 2026
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Source: CNBC
- Mining Stocks Surge: Ahead of the upcoming U.S. mining conference, MP Materials saw a 9.3% increase, with a nearly 30% rise year-to-date in 2026, indicating heightened market interest and demand for critical minerals, which may drive future investments and expansions for the company.
- Software Sector Decline: The S&P Software and Services sector dropped nearly 4% on Tuesday, with Cognizant plummeting 10%, reflecting investor concerns over the impact of artificial intelligence, which could undermine confidence in software companies and affect their growth potential moving forward.
- Walmart Hits $1 Trillion Market Cap: Walmart crossed the $1 trillion market cap for the first time on Tuesday, with shares up 25% over the past three months, indicating a strong recovery in the retail sector under new CEO John Furner, which may attract more investor interest.
- Biotech Earnings Reports Ahead: Eli Lilly and AbbVie are set to report earnings on
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.



