01 Stock Market
As of Feb 18, the U.S. major indexes closed as follows:
The U.S. major indexes closed as follows: Dow Jones up 0.07% at 49,533.19; S&P 500 up 0.10% at 6,843.22; NASDAQ up 0.14% at 22,578.38. The day finished slightly positive for the major averages, with modest gains concentrated in large-cap benchmarks. Investors remained focused on company-specific catalysts and positioning ahead of heavier earnings and deal headlines.
Unusual-move stocks were mixed, with strength in mega-cap platforms and weakness across select chip names. Apple up 3.17% at $263.88; Nvidia up 1.18% at $184.97; Amazon up 1.19% at $201.15; Palantir up 1.23% at $133.02; Coinbase up 1.03% at $166.02. On the downside, Tesla down 1.63% at $410.63; Advanced Micro Devices down 2.05% at $203.08; Micron Technology down 2.89% at $399.78; Microsoft down 1.11% at $396.86. Search and software were softer: Alphabet (GOOG) down 1.05% at $302.82 and Alphabet (GOOGL) down 1.21% at $302.02; Oracle down 3.85% at $153.97; Intel down 1.30% at $46.18; Meta Platforms down 0.08% at $639.29.
Semiconductor bellwether TSMC down 0.59% at $364.20 added to a cautious tone across chips, while Netflix up 0.17% at $77.00 and select AI-adjacent names posted modest gains. Precious-metals-linked ETFs slumped: SPDR Gold (GLD) down 3.12% at $448.20 and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) down 4.80% at $66.37, reflecting commodity weakness. Overall, breadth in notable movers remained balanced as investors weighed deal flow against continued rotation within technology.
02 Other Markets
U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rose by 0.00%, latest at 4.05%.USD/CNH rose 0.00%, at 6.91; USD/HKD rose 0.0013%, at 7.82.U.S. Dollar Index fell 0.0154%, at 97.11.WTI crude futures fell 0.06%, at 62.26 USD/bbl; COMEX gold futures fell 0.25%, at 4,883.80 USD/oz.
03 Top News
1. Nvidia announced a multiyear deal to sell Meta millions of AI chips, including CPUs. The agreement spans current Blackwell and forthcoming Rubin chips and includes standalone Grace and Vera processors. Shares of Nvidia and Meta rose about 1% in after-hours trading, signaling confidence in expanding AI infrastructure demand.
2. Berkshire Hathaway revealed portfolio shifts, trimming Apple and Bank of America while initiating New York Times. In a 13-F filing, Berkshire cut its Apple position by roughly 4% and reduced Bank of America by about 9%, while buying about 5 million New York Times shares. The firm added to Chevron and Chubb, and New York Times jumped nearly 4% after-hours on the news.
3. Elliott Investment Management built a stake above 10% in Norwegian Cruise Line and plans to push for changes. The activist aims to improve operations and guest experience, potentially seeking board influence. Norwegian Cruise Line shares jumped about 8%–9% in early trading, reflecting expectations for strategic shifts.
4. Hapag-Lloyd agreed to acquire ZIM Integrated Shipping in a deal valued around $4.2 billion. The transaction would consolidate capacity in global container shipping and expand Hapag-Lloyd’s footprint. ZIM surged more than 30% on the announcement, highlighting the sector’s M&A momentum.
5. Danaher was reported to be close to buying Masimo at a valuation near $9.9 billion. The move would broaden Danaher’s life sciences and medtech capabilities. Masimo rallied more than 30% in premarket indications, while Danaher shares traded lower on deal-cost considerations.
6. Warner Bros. Discovery rejected a $30-per-share bid from Paramount Skydance but granted a week for a better offer. The company is allowing the suitor to return with a “best and final” proposal, while a matching right reportedly exists for a competing party. The stance keeps strategic alternatives open without committing to current terms.
7. Jana Partners took a stake in Fiserv and is pressing for steps to lift the company’s lagging share price. The activist’s exact stake and board intentions were not disclosed. The engagement increases pressure on Fiserv to enhance capital allocation and operational performance.
8. Infosys announced a collaboration with Anthropic to develop custom AI agents for enterprise clients. The partnership is aimed at accelerating applied AI solutions across workflows and industries. Infosys shares climbed about 4%, underscoring investor interest in its AI services pipeline.
9. Starboard Value built over a 9% stake in TripAdvisor and is pushing for a significant board overhaul. The activist argues strategic and governance changes can unlock shareholder value. TripAdvisor acknowledged the outreach as investors assess potential restructuring outcomes.
10. China’s market regulator urged internet giants to avoid “involution-style” competition as AI promotions intensify. Alibaba launched a roughly $430 million Qwen chatbot campaign offering consumer perks, while ByteDance rolled out Doubao giveaways to build users. The guidance signals heightened scrutiny as the AI user-acquisition race accelerates.
Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, Tiger Newspress, public market data
Disclaimer: This content is for reference only and does not constitute investment advice.
