By Lucy Raitano and Amanda Cooper LONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - U.S. investors are pulling money out of their own stock market at the fastest pace in at least 16 years as Big Tech returns fade and better-performing overseas markets look more attractive. In the last six months, U.S.-domiciled investors have pulled some $75 billion from U.S. equity ‌products, with $52 billion flowing out since the start of 2026 alone, the most in the first eight weeks of the year since at least 2010, according to LSEG/Lipper ...

Core Insights - Nucor's fourth-quarter earnings showed a decline in pretax earnings across its steel mill segment, attributed to seasonal effects and lower shipment volumes, despite some pricing improvements in specific product categories [1][3] - The company reported adjusted earnings of $1.73 per share for Q4 and $7.71 for the full year, with a significant EBITDA of $918 million for the quarter and approximately $4.2 billion for the year [3][6] - Management expects a rebound in earnings in early 2026, driven by completed projects transitioning to ramp-up and a projected 5% growth in steel mill shipments for 2026 [5][14] Financial Performance - The steel mill segment generated $516 million in pretax earnings, down about 35% from the previous quarter, primarily due to an 8% drop in shipment volumes [1] - The steel products segment reported $230 million in pretax earnings, a decrease from $319 million in the third quarter, with rebar fabrication being a significant contributor to the volume decline [6] - The raw materials segment's pretax earnings fell to approximately $24 million from $43 million, mainly due to scheduled outages [7] Capital Allocation and Cash Flow - Nucor reinvested $3.4 billion into the business in 2025 and returned $1.2 billion to shareholders, representing about 70% of net earnings, while ending the year with $2.7 billion in cash [8] - The company anticipates a reduction in capital expenditures to approximately $2.5 billion in 2026, with two-thirds allocated to growth investments [9] - Nucor generated negative free cash flow in 2025 due to aggressive growth spending but expects significantly higher free cash flow in 2026 with lower capital spending and improved market conditions [10] Market Outlook - Nucor expects continued strength in several end markets, including infrastructure and energy, with domestic steel demand anticipated to be slightly higher than in 2025 [13] - The company reported historically strong backlogs entering 2026, with steel mill segment backlogs up nearly 40% year-over-year [14] - Management guided for higher consolidated earnings in Q1 2026, driven by improved shipment volumes and pricing, particularly in the steel mill segment [15] Trade Policy and Import Levels - Enforcement actions and reinstated Section 232 tariffs have reduced the import share of the U.S. finished steel market from about 25% a year ago to an estimated 14-16% [4][16] - Nucor's management expects imports to remain at or below these levels in 2026, as the market adjusts to the impact of trade policies [16] - The company is focused on preventing illegally dumped and subsidized steel from entering the U.S. market, with a supportive environment from U.S. trade authorities [17]

Equities - Global equity markets experienced continued selling, with US stock index futures down across the board, particularly the March Nasdaq down 560 points (2.2%) and the March S&P down 125 points (1.8%) [1] - European markets showed more vigorous selling, with France's CAC 40 down 1.4% in early trade [1] - The S&P 500 is showing a bearish technical pattern, indicating an intermediate-term downtrend, raising concerns about the potential impact on global investors [1] Metals - The global silver market is climbing, with Shanghai silver prices exceeding $100 for the first time, and the Cash Index for silver hitting a high of $95.50 [3] - The March futures contract for silver reached a new all-time high of $95.41, indicating characteristics of both short supply and sustained demand [3] - The Cash Index for gold climbed to a new high of $4,737.21, up $66.32 (1.4%) for the day, driven by central bank buying [3] Energies - The natural gas market saw significant gains, with the spot-month contract up 67.1 cents (21.6%) from last Friday's settlement, driven by weather forecasts predicting a winter storm [4] - The strong rally in natural gas is expected to influence funds to cover their short positions, combined with seasonal tendencies [4] - Spot-month distillates, including heating oil and diesel fuel, also posted strong rallies this week, while crude oil prices followed at a distance [4]

The “buy America” narrative had started to evolve again with the US dollar growing since the beginning of the first week of 2026, and stock indices moving higher, especially DAX (German index), which is being driven by rising military expenses and defensive stocks such as Rheinmetall, which had grown for more than 20% in 2026 alone, and for around 150% in 2025. The trend for defensive stocks will probably be dominant for the upcoming weeks and months, given the development of geopolitical trends: the US ...

Group 1 - The Australian pension industry, valued at AUD 4.1 trillion (approximately USD 2.7 trillion), expressed relief over the U.S. government's decision to cancel the proposed "retaliatory tax," which would have increased tax burdens on foreign investors' asset income [1] - The cancellation of the retaliatory tax is expected to reignite investment enthusiasm among Australian pension funds and global institutional investors in the U.S. market, particularly in U.S. equities, leading to a renewed "Buy America" trend [1] - Australian pension funds have already invested approximately USD 450 billion in the U.S., covering various asset classes including infrastructure, equities, U.S. Treasuries, and corporate bonds [1] Group 2 - The U.S. Treasury's announcement of an agreement with G7 allies, which excludes U.S. companies from certain taxes in other countries, is seen as a positive outcome for large institutional investors from countries like Australia [2] - Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers expressed concerns directly to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Behnke, highlighting the importance of resolving tax uncertainties for Australian pension funds seeking deeper investment opportunities in the U.S. [2] - The potential tax reform had previously caused Australian pension funds to reassess their investment positions in the U.S. due to rising uncertainties [2] Group 3 - The original proposal for the retaliatory tax led to caution among Australian institutional investors, with some, like Cbus Super, refraining from U.S. infrastructure transactions this year [3] - The Australian Superannuation Funds Association (ASFA) welcomed the recent developments but noted that further legislative action is required in the U.S. Congress to finalize the changes [3] - ASFA's Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer indicated that the potential legislative changes could alter the risk-return profile of U.S. investments for Australian funds, which would be detrimental to all parties involved [3]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the articles highlights a significant rebound in U.S. stock markets driven by a renewed "Buy America" sentiment following positive developments in U.S.-China trade talks, leading to a bullish outlook for global markets [1][3][4] - The S&P 500 index surged by 3.3%, marking its first close above the 200-day moving average in over 30 trading days, indicating a potential shift towards a bullish market trend [7][5] - The "Magnificent 7" tech giants, including Apple, Amazon, Nvidia, and Tesla, experienced substantial stock price increases, contributing to the overall market rally [4][5] Group 2 - The easing of U.S.-China trade tensions has provided a clearer bullish signal for global investors, with expectations that the U.S. economy can avoid stagnation and recession [3][4] - Market participants have adjusted their expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, now anticipating only two cuts by 2025 instead of four, reflecting a more optimistic economic outlook [3][9] - The recent trade consensus suggests a significant reduction in tariffs on Chinese goods, with new tariffs dropping from 145% to 30%, which could alleviate pressure on U.S. companies reliant on Chinese markets [9][10][13] Group 3 - The articles indicate a collective retreat from risk aversion, with safe-haven assets like gold and the Japanese yen experiencing declines, while the euro also saw its worst single-day performance of the year [9][12] - Despite the positive market sentiment, some investors remain cautious due to the lack of detailed agreements and the potential for renewed trade tensions between the U.S. and China [10][11] - Companies like UPS, Ford, and Mattel have retracted their 2025 earnings guidance due to uncertainties surrounding tariffs, highlighting the ongoing impact of trade policies on corporate performance [13][14]

Group 1 - The easing of US-China trade tensions has provided a clear bullish signal for global investors, indicating a shift towards a more moderate approach from the Trump administration regarding tariffs [3][11] - The S&P 500 index surged by 3.3% to close at 5844.19 points, breaking above the critical 200-day moving average for the first time in over 30 trading days [7][10] - The "Magnificent 7" tech giants, including Apple, Amazon, Nvidia, and Tesla, saw significant stock price increases following the positive trade consensus, leading the market rally [3][4] Group 2 - Market expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts have shifted, with traders now anticipating only two cuts by 2025, down from four previously expected [3][10] - The recent trade consensus is projected to reduce the effective tariff rate on Chinese goods from 145% to approximately 30%, significantly impacting US-China trade dynamics [10][11] - Major US companies, including UPS and Ford, have withdrawn their 2025 earnings guidance due to uncertainties surrounding tariffs and economic conditions [16] Group 3 - The bullish sentiment in the US stock market has led to a collective decline in safe-haven assets such as gold, yen, and Swiss franc, indicating a shift in investor sentiment [10] - The performance of the S&P 500 index historically shows positive returns after similar technical patterns, with a median increase of 4.1% over the next three months [7][9] - The market's current rally is characterized by a significant shift in sentiment, with many investors feeling the pressure of missing out on the rebound [17]