Govt abstract:
- U.S. fairness indices closed decrease in February
- Progress/stagflation worries with softer financial readings and warmer inflation indicators
- 10 of 11 Massive-cap sectors see optimistic earnings development – most in 3 years
- Developments out of Washington proceed to dominate headlines
Index efficiency for February:

All the main U.S. fairness indices declined in February. The S&P 500 remained optimistic for the yr whereas the equal-weighted index outperformed the official index. Underperforming sectors included Tech, Client Discretionary, Communications and Industrials, whereas Client Staples, Actual Property, Power and Utilities carried out properly. Treasuries noticed decrease yields, the Greenback Index dropped barely, gold rose modestly, and oil had its first month-to-month loss since November 2024.
The chance-off sentiment dominated the market on account of a number of bearish narratives. Issues about development and stagflation arose from softer financial readings and warmer inflation measures. Uncertainty round Trump’s commerce, immigration, tax and Ukraine insurance policies added to the market’s unease. The Fed maintained a cautious stance amid a warmer CPI report and broader macro uncertainty. Commerce conflict developments performed a major position with Trump asserting tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, although these had been delayed pending negotiations. Analysts highlighted the slowing development and inflationary impacts of Trump’s insurance policies, and February shopper confidence noticed its largest decline since August 2021.
Financial information for January confirmed blended outcomes, with a warmer CPI report elevating fears of recession and stagflation. Softer nonfarm payrolls and retail gross sales reviews, together with softening housing information, added to the considerations. The ISM companies index missed expectations whereas the ISM manufacturing index was stronger. Fed Chair Powell’s Congressional testimony emphasised the necessity for extra work on inflation and acknowledged that Trump’s feedback wouldn’t influence Fed coverage choices. Regardless of the defensive tone, there have been optimistic developments together with the Home GOP passing a finances decision, January core PCE inflation assembly expectations and Treasury assist following the Fed’s signaling to gradual or pause QT mid-year. Early indicators of a Ukraine peace deal had been dashed after a tense assembly between Trump and Zelensky resulted in no settlement.
Bullet abstract:
- Danger-off sentiment prevailed on account of:
- Progress/stagflation worries with softer financial readings and warmer inflation indicators.
- Uncertainty round Trump’s commerce, immigration, tax, and Ukraine insurance policies.
- Elevated retail promoting stress and prolonged positioning.
- A cautious Fed amid a warmer CPI report and macro uncertainty.
- Early indicators of a Ukraine peace deal, although no deal was signed after a tense assembly between Trump and Zelensky.
- Commerce conflict developments:
- Trump introduced tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, however they had been delayed pending negotiations.
- Analysts flagged adverse development and inflationary impacts from Trump’s insurance policies.
- February shopper confidence noticed its largest decline since August 2021.
- Financial information:
- Hotter January CPI report raised recession/stagflation fears.
- Softer January non-farm payrolls and retail gross sales reviews.
- Housing information confirmed softening.
- January ISM companies missed expectations, whereas ISM manufacturing was stronger.
- Labor markets proceed to chill with the February 22nd Preliminary Jobless claims coming in on the highest ranges of 2025.
- January core PCE inflation was in-line with expectations.
- Fed Chair Powell’s Congressional testimony:
- Emphasised extra work wanted on inflation.
- Feedback from Trump is not going to influence Fed’s coverage choices.
- Fed officers famous the necessity to stay restrictive pending higher readability on inflation and tariffs.
Sector efficiency complete return for February:

Earnings commentary:
In line with FactSet information, the blended earnings development charge for This autumn S&P 500 EPS is eighteen.2% which is larger than the anticipated 11.9%. The blended income development charge is 5.3%. Of the 97% of S&P 500 firms which have reported, 75% have overwhelmed consensus EPS expectations, barely beneath the one-year and five-year averages. Moreover, 63% have surpassed consensus gross sales expectations, simply above the one-year common however beneath the five-year common. General, firms are reporting earnings 7.5% above expectations, higher than the one-year common optimistic shock charge however beneath the five-year common. Gross sales are 0.8% above expectations, which is beneath each the one-year and five-year optimistic shock charges.
Gross sales and earnings outcomes by S&P sector:


Broad-based earnings development for Massive Caps:

Two-day value response following earnings releases:

Fed Fund Futures are pricing in a 90+% likelihood of a maintain on the March assembly:

10-12 months Treasury Fixed Maturity Minus 2-12 months Treasury Fixed Maturity:

Gold:

Oil:

DXY:

Trying forward:
Market’s focus this week shall be on Friday’s nonfarm payrolls report for February. Economists predict the unemployment charge to stay at 4% with 160,000 new jobs added. The studying will come as new and continued jobless claims proceed to rise to start out the yr. There shall be quite a few Fed Converse headlines over the subsequent week forward of the March nineteenth FOMC assembly, most notably shall be Chair Powell’s keynote speech on the financial outlook at Chicago Sales space’s 2025 US Financial Coverage Discussion board. Word that Q1’25 triple witch will happen on March twenty first.
Financial Calendar:

The data contained herein is supplied for informational and academic functions solely, and nothing contained herein needs to be construed as funding recommendation, both on behalf of a selected safety or an general funding technique. All data contained herein is obtained by Nasdaq from sources believed by Nasdaq to be correct and dependable. Nonetheless, all data is supplied “as is” with out guarantee of any sort. ADVICE FROM A SECURITIES PROFESSIONAL IS STRONGLY ADVISED.
Govt abstract:
- U.S. fairness indices closed decrease in February
- Progress/stagflation worries with softer financial readings and warmer inflation indicators
- 10 of 11 Massive-cap sectors see optimistic earnings development – most in 3 years
- Developments out of Washington proceed to dominate headlines
Index efficiency for February:

All the main U.S. fairness indices declined in February. The S&P 500 remained optimistic for the yr whereas the equal-weighted index outperformed the official index. Underperforming sectors included Tech, Client Discretionary, Communications and Industrials, whereas Client Staples, Actual Property, Power and Utilities carried out properly. Treasuries noticed decrease yields, the Greenback Index dropped barely, gold rose modestly, and oil had its first month-to-month loss since November 2024.
The chance-off sentiment dominated the market on account of a number of bearish narratives. Issues about development and stagflation arose from softer financial readings and warmer inflation measures. Uncertainty round Trump’s commerce, immigration, tax and Ukraine insurance policies added to the market’s unease. The Fed maintained a cautious stance amid a warmer CPI report and broader macro uncertainty. Commerce conflict developments performed a major position with Trump asserting tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, although these had been delayed pending negotiations. Analysts highlighted the slowing development and inflationary impacts of Trump’s insurance policies, and February shopper confidence noticed its largest decline since August 2021.
Financial information for January confirmed blended outcomes, with a warmer CPI report elevating fears of recession and stagflation. Softer nonfarm payrolls and retail gross sales reviews, together with softening housing information, added to the considerations. The ISM companies index missed expectations whereas the ISM manufacturing index was stronger. Fed Chair Powell’s Congressional testimony emphasised the necessity for extra work on inflation and acknowledged that Trump’s feedback wouldn’t influence Fed coverage choices. Regardless of the defensive tone, there have been optimistic developments together with the Home GOP passing a finances decision, January core PCE inflation assembly expectations and Treasury assist following the Fed’s signaling to gradual or pause QT mid-year. Early indicators of a Ukraine peace deal had been dashed after a tense assembly between Trump and Zelensky resulted in no settlement.
Bullet abstract:
- Danger-off sentiment prevailed on account of:
- Progress/stagflation worries with softer financial readings and warmer inflation indicators.
- Uncertainty round Trump’s commerce, immigration, tax, and Ukraine insurance policies.
- Elevated retail promoting stress and prolonged positioning.
- A cautious Fed amid a warmer CPI report and macro uncertainty.
- Early indicators of a Ukraine peace deal, although no deal was signed after a tense assembly between Trump and Zelensky.
- Commerce conflict developments:
- Trump introduced tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, however they had been delayed pending negotiations.
- Analysts flagged adverse development and inflationary impacts from Trump’s insurance policies.
- February shopper confidence noticed its largest decline since August 2021.
- Financial information:
- Hotter January CPI report raised recession/stagflation fears.
- Softer January non-farm payrolls and retail gross sales reviews.
- Housing information confirmed softening.
- January ISM companies missed expectations, whereas ISM manufacturing was stronger.
- Labor markets proceed to chill with the February 22nd Preliminary Jobless claims coming in on the highest ranges of 2025.
- January core PCE inflation was in-line with expectations.
- Fed Chair Powell’s Congressional testimony:
- Emphasised extra work wanted on inflation.
- Feedback from Trump is not going to influence Fed’s coverage choices.
- Fed officers famous the necessity to stay restrictive pending higher readability on inflation and tariffs.
Sector efficiency complete return for February:

Earnings commentary:
In line with FactSet information, the blended earnings development charge for This autumn S&P 500 EPS is eighteen.2% which is larger than the anticipated 11.9%. The blended income development charge is 5.3%. Of the 97% of S&P 500 firms which have reported, 75% have overwhelmed consensus EPS expectations, barely beneath the one-year and five-year averages. Moreover, 63% have surpassed consensus gross sales expectations, simply above the one-year common however beneath the five-year common. General, firms are reporting earnings 7.5% above expectations, higher than the one-year common optimistic shock charge however beneath the five-year common. Gross sales are 0.8% above expectations, which is beneath each the one-year and five-year optimistic shock charges.
Gross sales and earnings outcomes by S&P sector:


Broad-based earnings development for Massive Caps:

Two-day value response following earnings releases:

Fed Fund Futures are pricing in a 90+% likelihood of a maintain on the March assembly:

10-12 months Treasury Fixed Maturity Minus 2-12 months Treasury Fixed Maturity:

Gold:

Oil:

DXY:

Trying forward:
Market’s focus this week shall be on Friday’s nonfarm payrolls report for February. Economists predict the unemployment charge to stay at 4% with 160,000 new jobs added. The studying will come as new and continued jobless claims proceed to rise to start out the yr. There shall be quite a few Fed Converse headlines over the subsequent week forward of the March nineteenth FOMC assembly, most notably shall be Chair Powell’s keynote speech on the financial outlook at Chicago Sales space’s 2025 US Financial Coverage Discussion board. Word that Q1’25 triple witch will happen on March twenty first.
Financial Calendar:

The data contained herein is supplied for informational and academic functions solely, and nothing contained herein needs to be construed as funding recommendation, both on behalf of a selected safety or an general funding technique. All data contained herein is obtained by Nasdaq from sources believed by Nasdaq to be correct and dependable. Nonetheless, all data is supplied “as is” with out guarantee of any sort. ADVICE FROM A SECURITIES PROFESSIONAL IS STRONGLY ADVISED.