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Trump Imposes 10% Global Tariff Under Section 122, Rattling Markets and Prompting EU Warning

President Donald Trump has activated a 10% blanket tariff on imports from virtually every country under the rarely invoked Section 122 of U.S. trade law, following the Supreme Court's decision to strike down his earlier reciprocal tariff regime. The European Commission responded swiftly, warning that the new levies are not conducive to fair transatlantic trade and threatening retaliatory measures, sending major U.S. equity indexes sharply lower before a partial recovery on Tuesday.

AI Disruption Fears Trigger 'SaaSpocalypse,' Battering Software and Cybersecurity Stocks

A wave of artificial intelligence disruption fears has swept through software and cybersecurity equities in February 2026, with investors fleeing companies seen as vulnerable to autonomous AI agents that can replace traditional software workflows. The selloff, dubbed the 'SaaSpocalypse' by traders, has erased hundreds of billions of dollars in market value from names including Microsoft, CrowdStrike, Salesforce, and Okta, forcing a fundamental reassessment of software valuations across Wall Street.

Nvidia Braces for Fiscal Q4 Earnings Wednesday as Wall Street Eyes $66 Billion Revenue, Blackwell Guidance

Nvidia is set to report its fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 results after Wednesday's market close, with Wall Street consensus calling for approximately $66 billion in revenue and earnings of $1.53 per share — each representing roughly 67–72% growth year over year. Investors will focus as much on the chipmaker's forward guidance for Blackwell GPU demand, gross margin trajectory, and any update on China sales as on the headline numbers themselves.

Home Depot Beats Q4 Estimates, Raises Dividend as Housing Market Recovery Gains Traction

Home Depot reported stronger-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results on Tuesday, posting earnings per share of $2.72 against the $2.54 consensus estimate and revenue of $38.2 billion that narrowly topped forecasts. The home improvement retailer also raised its quarterly dividend to $2.33 per share and reported a 0.4% increase in comparable sales, offering investors an early signal that the U.S. housing market recovery is providing a modest but real tailwind to big-ticket home improvement spending.

Trump Imposes 15% Global Tariff After Supreme Court Voids Reciprocal Trade Barriers

President Donald Trump escalated trade tensions Monday by invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose a blanket 15% tariff on all imports, one day after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that his reciprocal tariffs exceeded executive authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Major trading partners, including the European Union, warned that the new levies could jeopardize previously negotiated trade agreements, sending U.S. equity futures sharply lower and driving safe-haven assets higher.

Wall Street Braces for Pivotal Nvidia Earnings as AI Spending Scrutiny Intensifies

Nvidia is set to report fiscal fourth-quarter results after the close on Wednesday, February 25, with analysts expecting earnings of $1.53 per share on revenue of approximately $65.7 billion — representing year-over-year growth of more than 70%. The report arrives as Magnificent Seven stocks have stalled in 2026 and investors demand clarity on Blackwell chip demand, gross margin trajectories, and the potential reopening of the Chinese market.

Gilead Sciences to Acquire Arcellx for $7.8 Billion in Major CAR-T Cell Therapy Bet

Gilead Sciences announced Monday it will acquire Arcellx for $115 per share in cash plus a contingent value right of $5 per share, representing an implied equity value of $7.8 billion and an 87% premium to Arcellx's Friday closing price. The deal centers on anito-cel, an investigational BCMA-directed CAR-T therapy for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma that has already received FDA acceptance of its Biologics License Application, with a regulatory decision expected by December 23, 2026.

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.