Market Summary: What Happened Yesterday and What Awaits Us Today (February 11):

Dow Jones records its third record close, and gold declines amid anticipation of today's data

The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted its third consecutive record close on Tuesday, standing out as the only major U.S. index to finish higher while broader markets saw some profit-taking. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 0.6%, while the S&P 500 declined 0.3%, ending a brief two-session rally.

The Dow edged up about 0.1% and also touched a fresh intraday record. Falling bond yields provided some support, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield dropping below 4.15% from around 4.21% the previous session. This move followed weaker-than-expected retail sales data, which showed flat December spending compared with forecasts for modest growth — a signal that consumer momentum may be softening.

Stock-specific moves were notable. Spotify surged 15% after earnings, while Credo Technology Group rose roughly 9%. Hasbro, ON Semiconductor, and AstraZeneca also posted gains. On the downside, Upwork tumbled 19%, while Coca-Cola and CVS Health slipped modestly.

Financial stocks faced pressure amid growing discussion around the impact of artificial intelligence on traditional wealth management and financial services models. Meanwhile, some technology leaders showed mixed performance: Oracle continued to gain, but Microsoft and Nvidia edged lower after recent strong runs.

Bitcoin traded near $69,000 after pulling back from overnight highs, while the U.S. dollar index remained largely steady. Commodities weakened slightly, with gold, silver, and crude oil all posting modest declines.

Looking ahead, markets are expected to remain cautiously volatile as investors watch upcoming economic data for clues on Federal Reserve policy. Sector divergence could persist — declining bond yields may support the Dow, while high valuations and evolving AI developments could keep pressure on certain technology and financial stocks. Precious metals may hold relatively steady unless economic data or currency movements trigger fresh volatility.