January's jobs report, Ford earnings, Epstein fallout and more in Morning Squawk

Good morning and welcome to this week's financial briefing. As we dive into the latest market developments, today brings a mixture of anticipation and concern for investors. Today marks the delayed release of January’s nonfarm payrolls report, now scheduled for 8:30 AM ET due to earlier government shutdowns. Economists anticipate a lackluster growth figure, setting a cautious tone for the day. In corporate news, Ford Motor Company has reported its most significant earnings miss in four years, with adjusted earnings per share of just 13 cents for the fourth quarter, falling short by 32% of Wall Street’s expectations of 19 cents. The automaker attributes this shortfall to unexpected tariff costs nearing $900 million and disruptions caused by a fire at a supplier’s aluminum plant. Despite these setbacks, Ford remains optimistic about the future and expects a rebound by 2026, projecting improved earnings before interest and taxes, free cash flow, and increased capital expenditures compared to last year. Meanwhile, shares of Moderna have plummeted over 10% in pre-market trading following the announcement that the FDA has declined to review its application for a new experimental flu vaccine. This decision highlights increasing scrutiny in vaccine regulation. Moderna contends that the FDA's refusal contradicts previous guidance and that no specific safety or efficacy issues were cited, yet concerns were raised regarding the study design. In political news, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has faced backlash after revealing his 2012 visit to Jeffrey Epstein's island during a family vacation. This admission has intensified calls for his resignation amidst allegations of a more extensive relationship with Epstein than previously acknowledged. Lutnick insisted that he had minimal interaction with Epstein. Finally, Estée Lauder has taken legal action against Walmart, accusing the retailer of selling counterfeit beauty products through its online platform. The lawsuit claims that Estée Lauder purchased items featuring its trademarks from Walmart.com, which were later identified as fakes. The cosmetics giant is holding Walmart accountable for facilitating these sales in what they describe as "despicable and harmful" conduct. In a lighter note, the prediction market Kalshi had an impressive Super Bowl weekend, with CEO Tarek Mansour reporting over $100 million in betting volume on Bad Bunny's first song alone. As the week unfolds, these stories and more will shape the financial landscape, keeping investors on their toes.