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U.S. Business Activity Growth Slows Significantly in February, Signals Economic Softening

New data from S&P Global shows that U.S. business activity expanded at the slowest pace in nearly a year in February, reflecting reduced manufacturing orders and slower services growth. While the economy remains in expansion territory, the slowdown could weigh on sentiment and corporate investment plans if the trend persists, particularly in cyclical sectors tied to industrial production and hiring.

European Stocks Draw Record Inflows as Investors Seek Diversification Amid U.S. Market Concerns

Global investors are allocating unprecedented capital into European equities as valuations in the U.S. market remain elevated and concerns about a potential bubble in AI-linked stocks persist. The record inflows reflect a growing appetite for diversification and exposure to traditional sectors such as banking, natural resources, and defense, which have lagged behind U.S. tech in recent years but now present attractive valuations.

U.S. Fourth-Quarter GDP Slumps to 1.4%, Core PCE Inflation Climbs to 3% in Stagflation-Lite Warning

The U.S. economy expanded at a meager annualized rate of 1.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, sharply missing consensus expectations of 2.8% to 3%, while the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, core PCE, accelerated to 3.0% — a combination that has investors bracing for a prolonged pause in rate cuts and reigniting fears of a stagflationary environment heading into 2026.

Gold Surges Past $5,044 as U.S. Military Strikes on Iran Seen as Imminent, Oil Markets on Edge

Gold prices surged to $5,044 per ounce on Friday as reports circulated that U.S. national security officials have briefed President Trump that the military is prepared for potential strikes on Iran, sending safe-haven assets sharply higher and pushing silver above $80 per ounce, while defense stocks and energy equities rallied on the prospect of broader Middle East conflict.

Nvidia's February 25 Earnings Report Looms as the AI Economy's Defining Moment — Analysts Divided on Path Forward

With Nvidia set to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on February 25, Wall Street is fixated on whether the chipmaker's Blackwell GPU ramp, forward guidance, and commentary on the AI investment super-cycle can justify the stock's elevated valuation — as multiple major banks reiterate buy ratings even as the broader Nasdaq struggles and AI disruption fears weigh on software peers.

Fed Minutes Signal Higher-for-Longer Resolve as Officials Demand Sustained Disinflation Before Any Rate Cut

Minutes from the Federal Reserve's January FOMC meeting, released Wednesday, revealed a sharply hawkish tilt among policymakers, with most officials signaling that sustained progress on inflation — not merely a single favorable data print — would be required before resuming rate cuts, pushing market expectations for the first 2026 reduction firmly to July and pressuring rate-sensitive equities, financials, and growth stocks.

Walmart Beats Q4 Estimates but Soft Full-Year Guidance Rattles Investors

Walmart delivered better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and revenue on Thursday, fueled by robust e-commerce growth and expanding advertising revenue, but its full-year earnings outlook of $2.75 to $2.85 per share fell short of Wall Street's consensus of $2.96, sending shares modestly lower in premarket trading and raising questions about the pace of margin expansion under its new chief executive.

Fed Minutes Reveal Deep Divide on Rate Path as Powell Succession Looms

Minutes from the Federal Reserve's January policy meeting, released Wednesday, showed officials broadly endorsing a pause in rate cuts but sharply divided on what comes next, with some members open to resuming easing if inflation continues to cool and others arguing for an extended hold — a split that is amplifying market uncertainty ahead of Friday's critical GDP and PCE data release.

Gold Hovers Near $5,000 as Safe-Haven Demand, Central Bank Buying, and Rate Uncertainty Converge

Gold remained firmly anchored near the $4,990 per ounce level on Thursday as a confluence of persistent geopolitical tensions, continued central bank accumulation led by China's People's Bank, and growing expectations for additional Federal Reserve rate cuts kept bullion elevated after its historic surge of more than 60% in 2025 — with major banks targeting prices well above $5,000 by year-end.