(Repeats from Friday, no changes to text. Updates chart)
** S&P 500 adds 1.2% as next batch of fiscal aid is a toss-up
** That said, the SPX may be hitting thin air , as individual investors may be practicing the art of defensive driving
** In any event, micro caps have been having their day , while the Nasdaq may be nearing a brick wall , and the Dow may be at a tipping point
** By Friday, there was pressure in the pipe , though with a late thrust, the SPX let off some steam
** Most sectors come up on the winning side: Energy and tech at the head, while consumer discretionary and utilities are the tail
** Energy jumps 4.3%. Oil and gas cos rise on OPEC+ supply cuts, vaccine rollout, and stimulus hopes
** Tech lifts 2.3%. PayPal hits record high as bitcoin surges . Chip index up 8% as sector enjoys its best week since early Nov on hopes for govt action
** Financials up 2%. BNY Mellon rises Thurs after bank launches digital assets unit, including cryptocurrencies
** Communication services up 1.3%. Best SPX performer Twitter , up 27%, on strong results
, eyes bitcoin if that's how people want to do business . Disney swings to surprise profit as streaming success offsets pandemic-hit parks
** Consumer Discretionary drops 1.3%. Bitcoin
approaches $50K mark, rallies on heels of Tesla's
$1.5 bln investment disclosure . TSLA skids 4%
** Meanwhile, cannabis stocks light up Reddit as group surges to new highs . Online dating app operator Bumble rumbles, IPOs stay hot
** And crypto stocks see big gains on bitcoin's milestone week
** SPX performance YTD:
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ SP 500 2021 YTD THROUGH FEB 12
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(Lance Tupper and Terence Gabriel are Reuters market analysts. The views expressed are their own)
((lance.tupper.tr.com@reuters.net lance.tupper@tr.com terence.gabriel.tr.com@reuters.net terence.gabriel@tr.com))