February Flinch: Why the Bull Market is Due for a Breather

Group 1: Market Overview - U.S. equity markets had a strong start to 2026, but short-term warning signs are emerging [1] - The current market is influenced by AI stocks, which are facing pressure following Microsoft’s earnings report [1][7] - Silver's bull market is showing signs of a classic blow-off top, indicating potential danger for the broader market [2][8] Group 2: Company-Specific Insights - Microsoft reported a significant increase in CAPEX spending, totaling $37.5 billion last quarter, a 66% year-over-year rise [1] - Concerns regarding Microsoft include a slowdown in its cloud business and reliance on OpenAI for revenue [1] Group 3: Seasonal Trends and Sentiment - February is historically a weak month for markets, with corrections common in mid-term election years [3] - The AAII Sentiment survey indicates that individual investors are overwhelmingly bullish, which is often a contrarian signal [6][7]