Stock Market Today, Feb. 18: Meta and Nvidia deal moves markets; strong economic data bolsters stocks

Market Overview - U.S. markets closed with modest gains after a strong start, driven by Meta Platforms' announcement to purchase millions of Nvidia AI chips for data center expansion [2] - Major indexes showed the following performance: Nasdaq (+0.78%), S&P 500 (+0.56%), Russell 2000 (+0.45%), and Dow (+0.26%) [2] Sector Performance - Among S&P 500 sectors, utilities (-1.7%), real estate (-1.32%), and staples (-0.15%) experienced declines, while energy (+1.89%) and technology (+1.08%) led the gains [3] Earnings Reports - Upcoming earnings reports include Booking Holdings, CRH Plc, and Carvana, with notable market caps and performance metrics provided for each [4] - Booking Holdings Inc. has a market cap of $138.03 billion and a P/E ratio of 27.83, with a price change of +3.43% [4] - CRH Plc has a market cap of $83.18 billion and a P/E ratio of 24.74, with a price change of +1.87% [4] - Carvana Co. has a market cap of $79.048 billion and a P/E ratio of 82.77, with a price change of +3.54% [4] Federal Reserve Insights - FOMC Minutes revealed a split among Fed officials regarding future rate trajectories, with some suggesting potential rate cuts if inflation declines, while others indicated possible rate increases if inflation remains problematic [5][6] - Labor data is crucial for decision-making, with the balance between the labor market and inflation being emphasized, particularly following a small decline in the unemployment rate in January [7]