On the last trading day of the week, we are witnessing a sell-off in the stock market. The major U.S. stock indices are recording declines today following the release of macroeconomic data at the start of the cash session. At the time of publication, the US500 index is down 0.55% to 6,100 points, the US100 is losing 0.55% to 22,000 points, and the small-cap index is down 0.95% to 2,240 points.
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The macroeconomic data came as a surprise to investors and worsened market sentiment. First, we received preliminary PMI data, which showed a larger-than-expected decline. This time, the services sector was the main drag, while the industrial sector posted slight growth. The U.S. services sector fell to its lowest level since early 2023, signaling increasing uncertainty, a slowdown in economic activity, and rising prices. Optimism dropped from near three-year highs, with companies citing concerns over government policies, tariffs, and geopolitical risks.
The negative sentiment was further exacerbated by the later release of the University of Michigan (UoM) report, which revealed high inflation expectations among consumers. Additionally, annual GDP growth forecasts dropped to just 0.6% in February, down from over 2% last year.
This is certainly not the best combination for stock market investors, who prefer a stable environment for the growth of American businesses. And this is precisely the reaction we are seeing at the opening of todayโs cash session.
US500
The index of the largest U.S. companies is down 0.55% at the start of the cash session, trading at 6,100 points. Once again, growth on the index has been effectively halted around the 6,100-point level.
Source: xStation 5
Stock market news
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Celsius Holdings (CELH.US) jumped 26% following strong Q4 earnings and its $1.8B acquisition of Alani Nu. The deal, closing in Q2, includes $900M in debt and $375M in cash. Celsius expects immediate EPS growth and $50M in cost synergies over two years, strengthening its presence in the fast-growing energy drink market.
Nu Holdings (NU.US) fell 15.3% after missing Q4 estimates, with purchase volume declining to $31.1B from $32.6B in Q3, though up from last year. The Brazilian digital bank added 5.5M customers, reaching 99.3M users, while average revenue per customer increased to $11.4 from $10.6 in Q3.
Akamai Technologies (AKAM.US) sank 15.6% as weak 2025 guidance overshadowed strong Q4 results. Projected EPS of $6.00โ$6.40 and revenue of $4.0Bโ$4.2B missed estimates. The company also forecast an operating margin of 28%, below expectations, with Q1 revenue and EPS guidance falling short of consensus.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH.US) dropped 8.6% after reports of a DoJ fraud investigation into inflated Medicare Advantage payments. This adds to ongoing regulatory scrutiny, including a DoJ antitrust probe and a lawsuit to block its $3.3B Amedisys acquisition, raising concerns about its business practices.
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