01 Stock Market
As of Feb 21, the U.S. major indexes closed as follows:
The U.S. major indexes closed as follows: Dow Jones up 0.47% at 49,625.97; S&P 500 up 0.69% at 6,909.51; NASDAQ up 0.90% at 22,886.07. Gains were broad across large-cap tech and semiconductors alongside strength in metals-linked vehicles. Leadership from mega-cap technology helped power the advance, while selected chip names continued their momentum amid AI buildouts.
Unusual-move stocks highlighted strength in AI, chips, and precious metals-linked vehicles. NVIDIA up 1.02% at $189.82; Apple up 1.54% at $264.58; Alphabet (GOOG) up 3.74% at $314.90; Alphabet (GOOGL) up 4.01% at $314.98; Microsoft down 0.31% at $397.23; Tesla up 0.03% at $411.82. Chips: Micron up 2.59% at $428.17; Taiwan Semiconductor up 2.82% at $370.54; AMD down 1.58% at $200.15; Intel down 1.14% at $44.11; Western Digital up 0.30% at $285.52. AI, software, and crypto-adjacent: Palantir up 0.26% at $135.24; Oracle down 5.40% at $148.08; Coinbase up 3.26% at $171.35; Opendoor up 7.53% at $5.00; PDD Holdings up 2.93% at $104.94; Amazon up 2.56% at $210.11. ETFs/leveraged moves: ProShares Ultra Silver (AGQ) up 15.78% at $158.52; iShares Silver Trust (SLV) up 7.90% at $76.62; SPDR Gold (GLD) up 1.97% at $468.62; SOXL up 2.88% at $67.11; TQQQ up 2.52% at $50.06; QQQ up 0.88% at $608.81; SPY up 0.72% at $689.43; SQQQ down 2.55% at $70.37. Notable decliners included CoreWeave down 8.12% at $89.25 and Ondas down 11.94% at $10.03, while SanDisk rose 4.65% at $649.97 and Direxion Daily MU Bull 2X (MUU) gained 5.02% at $207.71.
Key takeaways: Precious-metals exposures rallied strongly, consistent with a bid for inflation hedges, while AI and chip beneficiaries remained active with mixed single-name moves. Mega-caps Alphabet and Apple advanced on product and ecosystem momentum, whereas Oracle and selected AI-infrastructure names saw profit-taking. For diversified investors, balancing growth exposures with risk hedges and selective cyclicals helps manage volatility across AI buildouts, data-center capital cycles, and macro sensitivity.
02 Other Markets
U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rose by 0.25%, latest at 4.08%. USD/CNH rose 0.00%, at 6.91; USD/HKD rose 0.0064%, at 7.81. U.S. Dollar Index fell 0.0511%, at 97.79. WTI crude futures fell 0.54%, at 66.31 USD/bbl; COMEX gold futures rose 2.28%, at 5130.00 USD/oz.
03 Top News
1. U.S. Supreme Court Rejected Broad Tariffs Imposed Under Emergency Powers. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down global duties tied to the IEEPA framework, limiting executive authority on sweeping import taxes. Economists noted potential refund exposure of about $175 billion, prompting policy pivots to other statutes.
2. President Donald Trump Ordered A Temporary 10% Global Tariff Under Section 122. Donald Trump said a 10% tariff would apply for up to 150 days, aiming to replace invalidated emergency duties. Officials indicated investigations under Sections 301 and 232 could sustain tariff revenues while legal challenges proceed.
3. President Donald Trump Said He Is Considering A Limited Military Strike On Iran. Donald Trump noted he is weighing a constrained action to pressure Iran over its nuclear program. The remarks increased geopolitical uncertainty and potential energy-market sensitivities.
4. BEA Reported Core PCE Inflation Rose Faster Than Expected. The Bureau of Economic Analysis said core PCE increased 0.4% month-on-month in December, with services components showing stickiness. The data strengthens expectations that rate cuts may not commence before mid-year.
5. BEA Said U.S. GDP Growth Slowed Sharply In The Fourth Quarter. The BEA reported annualized growth of 1.4%, citing drag from the government shutdown and moderation in consumption. Economists said AI investment could partially offset headwinds in the near term.
6. Tesla Launched A Cheaper All-Wheel-Drive Cybertruck Version. Tesla introduced an AWD configuration priced under $60,000 to boost volume after losing federal EV credits. Analysts cautioned about potential cannibalization and margin pressure across the lineup.
7. Alphabet Unveiled Gemini 3.1 Pro And Expanded Access For Developers And Enterprises. Alphabet broadened distribution via the Gemini API, Google AI Studio, and Vertex AI, focusing on improved reasoning and complex problem-solving. The move reinforces full-stack AI positioning across consumer and enterprise channels.
8. Opendoor Reported A Revenue And Adjusted EBITDA Beat, Advancing Its Turnaround. Opendoor disclosed sales ahead of consensus alongside improved profitability metrics. Investors responded positively as the company emphasized operational discipline and transformation milestones.
9. ARK Invest Bought 1.25 Million Recursion Shares After Nvidia Exited Its Stake. ARK Invest added to Recursion across ETFs following NVIDIA’s sale, altering the shareholder mix. The purchase reflects differing views on AI drug discovery exposure amid recent volatility.
10. Morgan Stanley Assigned A Hold Rating To CoreWeave, Citing Execution Risks. Morgan Stanley set a $99 price target and highlighted data center delays and capacity goals as key hurdles. Shares of CoreWeave fell as investors assessed growth targets ahead of earnings.
Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, Tiger Newspress, public market dataDisclaimer: This content is for reference only and does not constitute investment advice.
