Goldman Sachs' Top Lawyer Linked to Epstein
Goldman Sachs' (GS) top lawyer Kathy Ruemmler was helped by Jeffrey Epstein to secure a senior position at Facebook (META) a few months prior to his arrest, with Epstein providing extensive coaching to Ruemmler, Joshua Frankling and Kaye Wiggins of The Financial Times reports. In return, Ruemmler advised Epstein on how to respond to press coverage of his crimes. In a statement to the Times, Ruemmler said: "I was a defence attorney when I dealt with Jeffrey Epstein. I got to know him as a lawyer and that was the foundation of my relationship with him."
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- Microsoft Downgrade: Melius Research downgraded Microsoft from buy to hold, citing that CEO Satya Nadella has lost the AI narrative and that the stock appears overpriced based on new free cash flow estimates, which may undermine investor confidence.
- Eli Lilly Acquires Orna: Eli Lilly announced the acquisition of biotech firm Orna Therapeutics for up to $2.4 billion, leading to a premarket surge in Eli Lilly and rival Novo Nordisk shares, indicating a positive market response towards biotech investments.
- Kroger's New CEO: Kroger's stock advanced nearly 7% in premarket trading after reports indicated that former Walmart executive Greg Foran will be appointed as the new CEO, having previously led Walmart's U.S. division for six years, suggesting a strategic shift for Kroger.
- Robinhood Upgrade: Wolfe Research upgraded Robinhood from hold to buy, despite the stock's recent decline amid a major cryptocurrency sell-off, as analysts believe its future potential remains strong, which could attract renewed investor interest.
- Historical Trend Analysis: The Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassed 50,000 on February 8, 2026, and historical data indicates that significant psychological milestones typically do not lead to market downturns; instead, they often propel the index higher, as seen with a 19% increase following the 30,000 mark.
- Earnings Drive: The continuous growth of corporate earnings among Dow components is a critical factor driving stock prices upward, and if this trend persists, the index is expected to keep rising, reflecting strong economic fundamentals.
- Macroeconomic Factors: While macroeconomic indicators such as inflation, interest rates, and GDP growth can impact the market, there are currently no signs of dramatic negative swings in these metrics, maintaining an optimistic market sentiment.
- Future Outlook: Despite the risks of an AI bubble burst, the Dow's composition has a low proportion of tech stocks, with major components like Goldman Sachs and Caterpillar likely to continue supporting the index, prompting investors to prepare for a potential rise to 60,000.

- Historical Trend Analysis: The Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassed 50,000 on February 8, 2026, and historical data suggests that major psychological milestones typically do not lead to market declines but rather continued growth, prompting investors to remain vigilant.
- Earnings as a Driver: The ongoing growth in corporate earnings among Dow components indicates that if this trend continues, the index is likely to keep rising, reflecting strong fundamentals and bolstering market confidence.
- Macroeconomic Environment: Current macroeconomic indicators such as inflation, interest rates, and GDP growth show no signs of dramatic negative swings, providing a stable backdrop that supports the Dow's continued ascent.
- Investor Preparedness: While there are risks associated with a potential AI bubble burst, investors should maintain diversified portfolios and cash reserves to navigate possible market fluctuations, while also being ready for further gains in the Dow.
Stock Market Trends: Stock futures were on the rise on Sunday night, indicating positive market sentiment.
Upcoming Economic Reports: Key economic reports regarding jobs and inflation are anticipated, which could impact market movements.
Government Funding Deadline: There is a looming deadline for funding parts of the federal government, adding to market uncertainty.
Investor Sentiment: The combination of economic reports and government funding issues is influencing investor sentiment as the week begins.
- Issuer Transition: In early 2026, JPMorgan Chase was selected as the new issuer of the Apple Card, taking over from Goldman Sachs, which stated that this move would help it narrow its business focus, highlighting Apple's ongoing expansion in consumer finance.
- Market Position: JPMorgan Chase is the largest credit card issuer in the U.S., managing approximately 150 million credit cards, while the Apple Card has over 12 million users; although this addition is modest, it still presents new cross-selling opportunities for the bank.
- User Demographics: Research indicates that Apple Card users are predominantly aged 20 to 40, accounting for about 70% of the user base, which allows JPMorgan Chase to effectively promote its premium credit card products, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve, thereby enhancing customer loyalty.
- Future Outlook: While the specific financial terms of JPMorgan Chase's acquisition of the Apple Card business remain unclear, this partnership is expected to bring a significant influx of new customers to the bank, potentially invigorating its stock and strengthening its competitive position in the market.
- Six-Month Partnership: Goldman Sachs has collaborated with AI startup Anthropic for six months to develop banking agents based on Claude AI, focusing on core functions like trade and client vetting, aiming to enhance automation in banking operations.
- Technological Progress: Marco Argenti, Goldman Sachs' CIO, indicated that while still in early development, the bank expects to launch this 'digital co-worker' technology soon to address complex, process-intensive roles and improve operational efficiency.
- AI Capability Enhancement: Anthropic's recent launch of Claude Opus 4.6 has improved planning, coding, and debugging capabilities, further driving Goldman Sachs' multiyear reorganization around generative AI to optimize workforce allocation.
- Employment Impact Discussion: Although Goldman employs thousands in affected areas, Argenti deemed speculation about job losses as 'premature,' acknowledging that third-party providers may face cuts as technology evolves.









