Daily summary: Semiconductors, US dollar and oil put pressure on Wall Street

European indices closed a moderately positive session; the DAX and the UK’s FTSE edged slightly higher, while France’s CAC 40 gained 0.7%. In the United States, Nvidia’s record quarterly earnings report was not enough to fuel broader market optimism; the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 is down 1.4%, while the S&P 500 is retreating 0.7%. The US dollar is strengthening following solid labor market data, with EUR/USD losing more than 0.3%.
In the semiconductor sector, we are seeing broad-based declines; Nvidia shares are down more than 5.5%, while Broadcom is losing nearly 6%. Big Tech stocks are also trading lower, with the exception of Meta Platforms. In the software and IT services space, initial gains have been pared back. Shares of aerospace and defense company Heico are falling more than 10%, as investors reacted to rising debt levels and weaker profitability in the Electronic Technologies Group segment - despite 14% year-over-year revenue growth and an earnings-per-share beat.
Seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims totaled 212,000 in the week ending February 21. This marks an increase of 4,000 from the upwardly revised previous reading, but remains below the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 215,000. The four-week moving average rose by just 750 to 220,250. Continuing claims (reported with a one-week lag) declined by 31,000 to 1.833 million. The data suggest a likely extended pause in the Fed’s policy easing cycle.
Oil futures are rising amid uncertainty over the outcome of US-Iran negotiations. Iranian state media reported that authorities will not agree to the removal of enriched uranium from Iranian territory, while the United States continues to press “maximalist” demands on Tehran, calling for the suspension of operations in key sites such as Natanz and Isfahan. Earlier, Oman described the talks as constructive, although negotiations are set to resume.
According to the EIA, US natural gas inventories fell by 52 billion cubic feet, compared with a 50 bcf decline previously and a 144 bcf drop in the prior reading. US Henry Hub natural gas (NATGAS) futures are down nearly 2.4%.
Semafor, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that Stripe is not currently considering a takeover bid for PayPal (PYPL.US). The news triggered a sharp sell-off in the payments giant’s shares, which had recently used speculation about a potential acquisition as a “springboard” for a rebound following heavy losses - fueling investor hopes of a buyout at a potentially significant premium to the current market valuation.
Bitcoin is down nearly 2% to around $67,000, Ethereum is falling 2.5%, and Ripple is retreating by almost 5%. Strategy shares are edging slightly higher, holding near $130 per share. Meanwhile, shares of Circle Internet Group, associated with the USDC stablecoin, are extending yesterday’s gains and moving above $86, posting an increase of nearly 3.5% despite weaker broader market sentiment.

(Summary in progress)

Source: xStation5

Cookie name	Description
SERVERID
userBranchSymbol	Expiration date 1 day
adobe_unique_id	Expiration date 364 days
SESSID	Expiration date 1 day
__cf_bm	Expiration date 1 hour
intercom-id-iojaybix	Expiration date 270 days
intercom-session-iojaybix	Expiration date 6 days
xtbCookiesSettings	Expiration date 364 days
TS5b68a4e1027
xtbLanguageSettings	Expiration date 364 days
userPreviousBranchSymbol	Expiration date 364 days
countryIsoCode
intercom-device-id-iojaybix	Expiration date 270 days
test_cookie	Expiration date 1 hour
_cfuvid
OClmoOot	Expiration date 18262 days

Cookie name	Description
_gid	Expiration date 1 day
_gat_UA-121192761-1	Expiration date 1 hour
_gat_UA-190421227-1	Expiration date 1 hour
_ga_CBPL72L2EC	Expiration date 729 days
_ga	Expiration date 729 days
AnalyticsSyncHistory	Expiration date 29 days
__hstc	Expiration date 179 days
__hssrc
__hssc	Expiration date 1 hour
_vwo_uuid_v2	Expiration date 365 days
_gcl_au	Expiration date 89 days
_ga_TC79BEJ20L	Expiration date 729 days
_vwo_uuid	Expiration date 365 days
_vwo_ds	Expiration date 29 days
_vwo_sn	Expiration date 1 hour
_vis_opt_s	Expiration date 99 days
_vis_opt_test_cookie
af_id	Expiration date 394 days
afUserId	Expiration date 730 days
AF_SYNC	Expiration date 6 days
guest_id	Expiration date 729 days

Cookie name	Description
_omappvp	Expiration date 3998 days
_omappvs	Expiration date 1 hour
_fbp	Expiration date 89 days
fr	Expiration date 89 days
muc_ads	Expiration date 729 days
lang
_ttp	Expiration date 89 days
_tt_enable_cookie	Expiration date 89 days
hubspotutk	Expiration date 179 days
IDE	Expiration date 389 days
li_sugr	Expiration date 89 days
_uetsid	Expiration date 1 day
_uetvid	Expiration date 389 days
MUID	Expiration date 389 days
guest_id_marketing	Expiration date 729 days
guest_id_ads	Expiration date 729 days
MSPTC	Expiration date 389 days
_rdt_uuid	Expiration date 89 days

Cookie name	Description
personalization_id	Expiration date 729 days
UserMatchHistory	Expiration date 29 days
bcookie	Expiration date 364 days
lidc	Expiration date 1 day
lang
bscookie	Expiration date 364 days
li_gc	Expiration date 179 days