Markets & Headlines - 2/18/25
Markets
The US market closed on Monday for Washington’s Birthday holiday. The Department of Government Efficiency continues to investigate government bodies. It has created X accounts dedicated to respective updates like @DOGE_USDA. The rest of the world continued to gain. Peace talks regarding the Russia-Ukraine frontier are underway, helping European stocks. Futures point to a higher open for US equities.
Headlines
• Delta Flight Crash-Lands in Toronto: 18 Injured
No deaths, 18 injuries, snowy runway, overturned belly-up.
• DOGE Reveals $4.7T Untraceable Treasury Payments
DOGE says filling in identification code linking payment to budget item was optional.
• Trump’s Reciprocal Tariff Plan and Presidents’ Day Celebrations
Trump: “On Trade, I have decided, for purposes of Fairness, that I will charge a RECIPROCAL Tariff meaning, whatever Countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them - No more, no less!”
• Elon Musk, Senators Demand Fort Knox Gold Audit
Last known audit of Fort Knox was 1974. There should be 4,580 tons, in theory.
• Miami Beach Shooting: Man Charged for Mistaking Israelis for Palestinians
Jewish man shoots Jewish father and son, mistaking them for a Palestinian. VIctim took it as anti-semitism and posted “Death to the Arabs” on social media.
• DOGE Announces Audit of SEC for Alleged Misconduct
DOGE made accounts for every government department.
• Airbnb Co-Founder Joins DOGE, Faces Public Boycott
• Debating HPV Vaccine: Safety, Efficacy, and Litigation
RFK Jr. critisized the safety and efficacy of the Gardasil vaccine.
• Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq push higher to start holiday-shortened trading week
• Samsung Electronics to cancel $2.11 billion worth of own shares
• Rising dollar pressures earnings as companies from Amazon to McDonald’s signal more pain ahead
• Asia stocks muted with focus on RBA; China tech rallies ahead of earnings
India currently levies up to 100% tariff on car imports. Modi and Musk may have struck a deal as India would like to avoid reciprocal tariffs. Musk formerly halted investment in India.
• India’s stock market correction to continue, eyes single-digit Nifty returns- BofA
• Samsung Electronics nominates chip execs as new board members
• Oil prices edge lower after drone attack on Russian pump station
• Honda ready to revive takeover talks if Nissan CEO Uchida leaves, FT reports