Here’s what’s happening in the stock market today:
The stock market closed lower today amid concerns over cooling U.S. GDP growth and hotter-than-expected core PCE inflation data, reversing some recent gains. 📉📊 Major indices like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all posted declines, with investor sentiment turning cautious as traders assess economic signals ahead of potential policy shifts. 🛑
Major Indices Performance 📊
Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5% (267.50 points) to 49,395.16, with 18 of 30 components down.
S&P 500 dropped 0.3% (about 19 points) to around 6,861.89.
Nasdaq Composite declined 0.3% to 0.5% to 22,682.73, pressured by tech and software stocks.
Market Movers 🚀
Notable decliners included Blue Hat Interactive (down 72.58%), Twin Vee PowerCats (down 51.09%), and GRAIL (down 48.03%).
Broader private equity stocks sank, contributing to the day's weakness.
Over a fifth of S&P 500 stocks have moved 20%+ year-to-date, with more gainers than losers overall in 2026.
Key Events Driving the Market 🗞️
U.S. GDP growth slowed to 1.4% in the prior quarter, missing expectations and signaling economic deceleration.
Core PCE inflation rose more than forecast month-on-month, raising doubts on the pace of Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Futures edged lower premarket ahead of further data, with US-Iran tensions lifting oil but not stocks.
Investor Sentiment 👀
Traders showed subdued risk appetite amid mixed economic data, with focus on growth slowdown versus persistent inflation.
Overall mood blends resilience from 2026 highs with worries over policy impacts like tariffs.
🐂⚖️
TRADE OF THE DAY:
GNRC
Name: Generac Holdings Inc.
Symbol: GNRC
Current Price: ~$227.95
Trade
Sell to Open: 1 GNRC Mar 6, 2026 205/200 Put Vertical (Bull Put)
Total Credit Received: $110.00
Credit per Contract: $110.00 (for one contract covering 100 shares)
Direction: Bullish (expects GNRC to stay above break-even level)
Probability of Profit (PoP): 89.8% (as provided)
Potential ROI:
Max Risk (Loss): $390.00
ROI: ($110 ÷ $390) × 100 ≈ 28.2%
Trade Explained in Simple English:
You’re selling a 205 strike put and buying a 200 strike put expiring March 6, 2026, creating a bullish put vertical spread. You receive $110 upfront as credit. If GNRC stays above about $203.90 (your break-even), both puts expire worthless and you keep the credit. Your maximum loss is capped at $390 if GNRC falls below $200 at expiration.
Wall Street Highlights:
News Beyond the Numbers
Capitolis signed an agreement to acquire 20 Gates Management’s U.S. Secured Financing Platform, expanding its Capital Marketplace into U.S. secured financing and adding experienced talent to its team. Read more.
Danaher agreed to buy Masimo Corporation for $9.9 billion at $180 per share, bolstering its diagnostics portfolio with advanced sensor technology and AI monitoring capabilities. Read more.
Omnicom launched a $5 billion share repurchase program, kicking off with $2.5 billion in accelerated repurchases set for initial delivery on February 20, 2026. Read more.
AdvanSix reported Q4 revenue of $359.9 million, up 9% year-over-year driven by volume growth and pricing in its Plant Nutrients division, though adjusted EPS came in at $0.03. Read more.
Live Nation posted higher quarterly sales fueled by strong concert demand, prompting its shares to rise 3.5% in premarket trading ahead of the market open. Read more.
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