Capital Markets Insights | 17 Feb - 21 Feb

Get stock analysis and detailed markets insights to make confident investment decisions

Tzanis Koronaios

Feb 23, 2025

Hey Trader,

No time to sift through the stock market chaos? Relax—we’ve done the heavy lifting for you!

U.S. Markets

The U.S. stock market experienced a downturn this week, influenced by policy uncertainties and economic data. On Friday, February 21, the S&P 500: Fell by 1.71%, ending at 6,013.13.

The market's decline was attributed to concerns over President Trump's rapid policy changes, including significant spending cuts and new tariffs, which have introduced uncertainty among investors. Additionally, U.S. business activity tumbled to a 17-month low, indicating growing unease among businesses and consumers regarding the current administration's policies.

Gold

Gold prices reached record highs this week, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties. On Friday, spot gold slightly eased, closing at $2,934.10 per ounce, as investors booked profits from the previous session's peak. Despite this minor pullback, the precious metal remains a favored safe-haven asset amid global market volatility.

Oil

Oil markets faced downward pressure this week. On Friday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed at $70.40 per barrel, down 2.87%. The drop in oil prices was influenced by supply disruptions in Russia and a diminishing Middle East risk premium, coupled with uncertainty surrounding potential peace deals in Ukraine.

Currencies

In the foreign exchange market, the U.S. dollar strengthened against major currencies this week. The dollar index rose by 0.25%, reaching 106.62. The euro weakened by 0.38%, trading at $1.046, influenced by business activity surveys indicating economic contraction in France and only mild improvement in Germany. The Japanese yen appreciated by 0.31%, with the exchange rate at 149.14 yen per dollar.

Cryptocurrencies:

The cryptocurrency market remained relatively stable this week. Bitcoin (BTC) traded near $96,000. The digital asset continues to exhibit resilience amid broader market fluctuations, attracting both retail and institutional investors.

Economic Calendar Highlights:

U.S. Business Activity: Data released on Friday indicated a significant decline in U.S. business activity, reaching a 17-month low. This downturn reflects growing concerns among businesses and consumers about the current administration's policies.

Federal Reserve Minutes: The Federal Reserve released minutes this week revealing discussions about potentially pausing quantitative tightening due to concerns over reserve volatility linked to the debt ceiling. This cautious stance suggests a possible slowdown in the balance sheet runoff.

Germany's Upcoming Election: European markets remained volatile ahead of Germany's election on Sunday. The political uncertainty has contributed to cautious investor sentiment in the region.

This Week's Top Gainer in US Markets (excluding small caps under $2B market cap)

Company: CELH (Celsius Holdings Inc)

Gain: 46.02%

Celsius Holdings surged 27.77% on Friday to $32.62 after announcing the $1.8 billion acquisition of competitor Alani Nutrition LLC, including $150 million in taxes, alongside an investment firm’s rating upgrade. The deal is expected to boost growth, giving the combined brands a 16% market share in the energy drink sector, with completion set for Q2 2025.

This Week's Top Loser

Company: GLOB (Globant SA)

Gain: -32.41%

Globant S.A. (NYSE:GLOB) plunged 27.81% to $151.72, hitting an eight-month low after a mixed earnings report and a rating downgrade. The stock dropped as much as 27.9% intraday before recovering slightly. While Q4 net income fell 4% to $39.5 million, full-year profit still grew 6.9% to $169 million. Revenue increased 10.68% in Q4 to $642 million, with full-year revenue up 15% to $2.4 billion.

Want to Make Informed Investment Decisions?

Let's be real, understanding why the market does the cha-cha is key to not getting left behind in the investing dance-off. But how do you spot the market's next superstar or the one-hit wonder before they hit the stage?

Enter Investorean, your backstage pass to market mastery!

At Investorean, we've got the secret sauce to help you strut your stuff in the investing world:

Hedge Fund Tracker : Ever wondered what the top hedge fund managers are buying, selling, and betting big on? Now you don’t have to guess.

Pro Filters, Pro Moves: With our Investorean Pro filters, you're like a treasure hunter with a map. These proprietary financial ratios are your X marks the spot to find those market gems everyone else is missing.

Market News DJ: We spin the latest tracks on market trends and industry news, keeping you in the loop so your investments can keep grooving to the beat.

Portfolio Monitor: You can also create and customise your portfolio page with many tools.

And now, for the grand finale of this newsletter, here's one of our favorite quotes to inspire your next investment boogie:

‘’You get recessions, you have stock market declines. If you don't understand that's going to happen, then you're not ready, you won't do well in the markets.’’

Stay sharp, Investorean! Keep an eye on your investments and take care of that cash.

For more market insights like this, visit investorean.com.

And hey, don't forget to follow us on Reddit, X and TikTok where you'll find playlists packed with news, entertainment, and educational content…

May Investorean Be With You