FI Weekly Briefing: Feb 1 – Feb 7, 2026

Reporting Period: Week 06 / 2026

This Week in 90 Seconds

  • Employment: The labor market remains resilient with moderate job growth in January. [Smart Spending]
  • Interest Rates: Markets adjust to a “higher for longer” outlook as economic data stays firm. [Credit & Debt]
  • Housing: Mortgage rates hovered near 6.45%, showing no significant relief for buyers. [Real Estate]
  • Tax & Crypto: No material regulatory updates from the IRS, SEC, or CFTC this week.

Market Signals

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (Jobs Report):
    • Nonfarm payrolls increased by 165,000 in January 2026.
    • The unemployment rate was little changed at 4.2%.
    • Context: [Smart Spending] Wage growth remains positive (0.3% MoM), supporting household cash flow stability against inflation.
  • Federal Reserve (Policy Outlook):
    • No scheduled FOMC meeting this week.
    • Context: [Credit & Debt] With stable employment data, the Fed is under no immediate pressure to cut rates, keeping credit card APRs elevated.

Tax Watch

  • IRS / Congress:
    • No new official guidance or tax law changes released this week.
    • Context: [Tax Tips] Standard filing procedures for the 2025 tax year remain in effect. Ensure all 1099 forms are collected before filing.

Housing Signals

  • Freddie Mac (Primary Mortgage Market Survey):
    • The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.45% as of February 5, 2026.
    • This is effectively unchanged from the previous week (6.48%).
    • Context: [Real Estate] The housing market remains in a “lock-in” state. Inventory is tight, and borrowing costs discourage leverage. Cash positions are advantageous.

What It Means

The January Jobs Report confirms that the economy is cooling but not contracting. A stable unemployment rate of 4.2% removes the urgency for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates aggressively. For High-Net-Worth individuals and families, this reinforces the “Defense” strategy: expect borrowing costs to remain high throughout Q1. Prioritize liquidity management over speculative leverage, and focus on maximizing yields from cash reserves (e.g., T-Bills, Money Market Funds) while rates stay elevated.

Sources

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Employment Situation — January 2026 (Feb 6, 2026) — bls.gov/…
  • Freddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey (Feb 5, 2026) — freddiemac.com/…