Markets & Headlines - 2/20/25

Markets

Europe took a break from its rally since the beginning of the year. $SPX hit a new high, though only by a slight margin. Fierce jabs were exchanged between Trump and Zelenskyy following negotiations held in Saudi Arabia, with only Russia and the US present. Trump aims to lower oil prices by resolving wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. US equities were mixed: $TSLA rose 1.8% due to automobile tariffs, while $PLTR shed 10%.

Headlines

• Trump Labels Zelenskyy ‘Dictator’ Amid Ukraine Tensions

Trump says Zelenskyy instigated the war.

• Musk to Discuss $5,000 ‘DOGE Dividend’ with Trump

$5000 will be funded by the savings made by DOGE.

• Apple’s Custom #AppleLaunch Like Animation

• Apple debuts iPhone 16e for $599, includes Apple Intelligence, Apple’s first in-house modem

$AAPL iPhone 16e. Uses its own C1 cellular modem chip, instead of $QCOM’s

• Federal Reserve officials see risks of higher inflation ahead, support pause in rate cuts

Minutes of the FOMC released.

• Stock market today: S&P 500 pops to another record while Dow, Nasdaq rise with tariffs, Fed minutes in focus

• Microsoft reveals Majorana 1 quantum chip as quantum computing wars heat up

• Intel stock pulls back from record rally as analysts note barriers to potential deals with TSMC, Broadcom

Rising 43% since Feb 7th, fell 6%

• Hims & Hers Buys Lab to Expand Into At-Home Blood Testing

Hims & Hers is famous for providing a cheaper version of weight loss drugs. Also advertised in the Super Bowl.

• Senate Republicans to push ahead with border bill despite Trump opposition

The one being prepared in the House of Representatives includes tax cuts in the trillions.

• Oil holds near one-week high on supply concerns, sanctions on Russia eyed

• Palantir stock drops 10% after report Trump administration eyes large defense budget cuts

Also Alex karp to sell $1.2b of $PLTR stock