Dow crash today: The The S&P 500 fell to 6,855.04 (-0.78%), while the Nasdaq Composite slid to 22,654.80 (-0.98%), extending its monthly decline to roughly 2.5%. Investors reacted immediately after the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) data showed inflation running hotter than forecasts. At the same time, oil futures jumped nearly 3% after US-Iran nuclear talks collapsed in Geneva, intensifying geopolitical risk. This Dow Jones crash is not about one headline. It reflects a collision of inflation pressure, ...

Feb 27 - Everything Mike Dolan and the ROI team are excited to read, watch and listen to over the weekend. From the Editor Sign up here. Hello Morning Bid readers! Speaking of energy, one would have needed a lot of it to stay up though all of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday, which clocked in at a record one hour and 47 minutes. It offered little in the way of new ideas for addressing Americans' affordability concerns, with the exception of a plan to boost Americans' retirement ...

Core Insights - The article highlights the top-performing leveraged and inverse ETFs for the week, showcasing significant returns driven by various market factors, including geopolitical tensions and sector-specific booms [1] Group 1: Top Performing Leveraged ETFs - ProShares Ultra Silver (AGQ) led with a return of 19.04%, attributed to rising silver prices amid trade volatility and geopolitical risks, including a proposed 15% global tariff [1] - Direxion MSCI Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares (KORU) achieved a return of 17.22%, benefiting from a decoupling from declining US markets and a surge in AI-driven semiconductor and defense stocks [1] - GraniteShares 2x Long AMZN Daily ETF (AMZZ) returned 11.54%, as Amazon's stock gained due to reassessment of its AI and cloud profitability [1] - Direxion Daily AMZN Bull 2X Shares (AMZU) also performed well, with a return of 11.41%, reflecting similar trends in Amazon's stock [1] - Defiance Daily Target 2X Long SMCI ETF (SMCX) returned 11.19%, driven by strong quarterly results and high demand for AI servers from Super Micro Computer [1] Group 2: Other Notable ETFs - ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil (UCO) saw a return of 10.57%, influenced by rising oil prices due to U.S.-Iran tensions and the proposed global tariff [1] - MAX Auto Industry -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN (CARD) returned 9.50%, reflecting volatility in the U.S. auto industry amid tariff pressures and high interest rates [1] - KraneShares 2x Long PDD Daily ETF (KPDD) achieved a return of 9.26%, driven by a Supreme Court ruling that impacted tariffs and institutional buying [1] - GraniteShares 2x Long COIN Daily ETF (CONL) returned 8.35%, supported by strong performance data from Coinbase and shareholder-friendly initiatives [1] - Direxion Daily Junior Gold Miners Index Bull 2x Shares (JNUG) returned 8.33%, as gold prices surged due to fears of a prolonged trade war following legal setbacks for the White House's trade agenda [1]

As Prices Dip, Strike While the Iron (and Gold) Is Hot | ETF TrendsDespite falling below $5,000 recently, it could be an opportune time to strike and purchase the dip in gold prices. Fundamental demand drivers could continue to push the precious metal higher through the rest of the year.As noted by a [Sprott Precious Metals report], prices hit an apex in January before pulling back by month's end due to a technical sell-off. Nonetheless, geopolitical fragmentation and global de-dollarization could keep pric ...

Key TakeawaysIndonesia’s January budget deficit reached 0.21% of GDP, totaling 54.6 trillion rupiah, as the Finance Ministry targets 809 trillion rupiah in total Q1 spending.JP Morgan adjusted its outlook on European industrials, cutting the price target for Airbus (AIR) to €225 while raising Vinci (DG) to €140.The Singapore Dollar strengthened slightly as markets reacted to U.S. President Trump’s decision to raise global tariffs to 15%.Jamieson Wellness (JWEL) received a price target upgrade to C$45 from t ...

Baltimore, MD, Feb. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paradigm Press has recognized economist and author Jim Rickards as a leading financial forecaster following a series of high-profile political and macroeconomic developments that unfolded in line with projections he outlined in advance. The recognition from Paradigm Press highlights Rickards’ long-standing work analyzing structural changes across policy, global finance, and national strategy—research that continues to shape Paradigm Press’ editorial direction ...

Key TakeawaysUS hiring has plummeted to 3.3%, a level comparable to the 2020 crisis and signaling a potential recession as labor’s share of GDP hits a record low of 53.8%.The Trump administration is considering direct military action against Iran’s Supreme Leader, while simultaneously weighing a proposal to allow "symbolic" nuclear enrichment to prevent a full-scale war.A new 10% tariff will be imposed on Washington’s partners who previously struck deals with the Trump administration, alongside fresh trade ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the rising geopolitical risks in 2026, including conflicts in Venezuela, Ukraine, Taiwan, central Africa, southeast Asia, and the Middle East, prompting investors to consider defense ETFs as a response [1] Defense ETF Overview - Defense ETFs can help investors mitigate volatility from geopolitical risks, offering a strategic investment approach rather than reacting to fluctuating energy prices [1] ARKX ETF Details - ARKX, the ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF, charges a fee of 75 basis points and focuses on companies involved in orbital and suborbital aerospace, targeting sectors like robotics, AI, and 3D printing [1] - Over the last three months, ARKX has returned 18.96%, benefiting from investments in major companies like L3Harris Technologies (LHX) [1] UFO ETF Details - UFO, the Procure Space ETF, also charges a fee of 75 basis points and tracks the S-Network Space Index, which includes satellite-based consumer products, space technology hardware, and intelligence services [1] - UFO has outperformed ARKX, returning 38.3% over the last three months and 74.8% over the past year, with significant investments in PlanetLabs PLC (PL) [1] Investment Outlook - A defense ETF allocation is suggested as a prudent investment strategy for the remainder of the year, with ARKX and UFO providing both passive and active investment perspectives [1]

Core Viewpoint - Escalating tensions between the United States and Iran have led to increased volatility in global financial markets, with major indexes experiencing declines amid uncertainty regarding potential agreements between the two nations [1][2]. Sector Impacts - Energy prices are directly impacted by the potential conflict, as Iran is a key player in global oil supply. Concerns over supply disruptions can lead to higher crude prices, benefiting major oil producers like ExxonMobil and Chevron, which saw their stock prices rise by approximately 1% [4]. - Defense and manufacturing companies often see increased investor interest during geopolitical tensions due to expectations of heightened military spending. Stocks of defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman rose significantly, by 2.57% and 1.65% respectively [5]. - Conversely, the technology sector typically suffers during geopolitical tensions due to fears of inflation and potential declines in future earnings [6]. - The airline and travel sector faces significant challenges during prolonged conflicts, as rising fuel prices can lead to increased travel costs, compounded by reduced demand for travel to certain regions. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines both saw their share prices drop over 5% [7]. Future Outlook - The outcome of negotiations between Iran and the United States remains uncertain, but markets are likely to react to both the events and expectations regarding the duration and scope of the conflict. Historically, prolonged tensions create identifiable impacts across sectors, benefiting some while harming others. If tensions are contained, equity markets may stabilize and sectors could return to typical trading behavior [8].

Group 1: Oil Market Dynamics - Oil prices rose to a six-month high, with benchmark Brent increasing by 0.5% to $72 a barrel, marking a weekly gain of over 6% [1] - The rise in oil prices is influenced by escalating tensions in Iran and the U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, which could impact oil supply from a region that produces about a third of the world's oil [5][6] Group 2: Stock Market Reactions - Asian shares dropped by 0.4%, following declines on Wall Street, while U.S. and European equity-index futures showed a slight increase of 0.3%, indicating potential stabilization in sentiment [2] - Wall Street experienced declines, particularly among alternative asset managers, after Blue Owl Capital Inc. restricted withdrawals from one of its funds [6] Group 3: Geopolitical Risks and Economic Indicators - The U.S. military's actions in the Middle East introduce new geopolitical risks, halting a tentative recovery in equities and dampening risk appetite [3] - Traders are closely monitoring upcoming U.S. economic and inflation data, especially after recent Federal Reserve meeting minutes raised concerns about price pressures [7] Group 4: Currency Movements - The U.S. dollar is on track for its best week in four months, driven by reduced expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts and increased demand for safe-haven assets due to geopolitical risks [8] - The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose by 0.9% this week, marking its largest gain since October, influenced by heightened inflation concerns and the military buildup in the Persian Gulf [9]