Noon Market Summary: Nasdaq Gains 1.45% as Bitcoin Falls 50% from Peak; SMCI, MSTR Surge

The U.S. market delivered a mixed but broadly positive performance at noon, with the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) leading gains at 1.45% to $22,867.70, while the S&P 500 (SPX) rose 1.41% to $6,894.48 and the Dow Jones (DJI) climbed 1.83% to 49,803.13. Commodities saw divergent trends: WTI crude oil futures surged 0.89% to $63.85, gold futures jumped 1.64% to $4,969.60, and copper rose 0.61% to $5.8565, while silver fell 1.1%. Sectors were split, with Energy (+1.7%), Materials (+2.59%), and Information Technology (+3.33%) outperforming, while Consumer Discretionary (-0.56%) and Communication Services (-1.31%) lagged. Market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, driven by energy and tech gains but tempered by crypto volatility and geopolitical uncertainties.

Hot Stocks

Tech Giants:

• Super Micro Computer (SMCI): +10.69%
• Nvidia (NVDA): +6.73%
• Arm Holdings (ARM): +9.36%
• Coinbase Global (COIN): +9.33%
• Tesla (TSLA): +3.19%

Crypto/Blockchain:

• MicroStrategy (MSTR): +19.46%
• Roivant Sciences (ROIV): +18.07%
• CoreWeave (CRWV): +15.81%
• Robinhood (HOOD): +14.14%
• Astera Labs (ALAB): +13.90%

Other Movers:

• Fabrinet (FN): +12.95%
• Nebius Group (NBIS): +12.41%
• Credo Technology (CRDO): +11.54%
• Symbotic (SYM): +9.32%
• Kb Financial (KB): +8.22%

Macro & Corporate News

1. Bitcoin’s 50% Drop From Peak Spooks Markets

Bitcoin fell below $64,000, erasing gains from Trump’s election victory and marking its largest single-day drop in years. The sell-off wiped $2 trillion from crypto markets, with leveraged liquidations and weak institutional demand cited as key drivers. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 also dipped, reflecting broader tech sector jitters.

2. Trump’s Tariff Policies Fuel Customs Bond Market Volatility

The Supreme Court’s pending ruling on Trump-era tariffs could determine billions in customs bond values. If invalidated, importers may seek refunds, while insurers face revenue risks. The outcome, due February 20, remains a wildcard for market stability.

3. Big Tech’s $650B AI Spending Spree Accelerates

Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Google plan to invest $650 billion in AI infrastructure in 2026, a 60% jump from 2025. This surge is already boosting U.S. GDP growth, with AI outpacing consumer spending in some quarters.

4. EU Extends $109.8B U.S. Tariff Suspension

The EU paused tariffs on $109.8 billion of U.S. imports for six months, easing tensions after Trump’s trade threats. The move reflects ongoing negotiations to de-escalate U.S.-EU trade disputes, while underlying issues remain unresolved.

5. Trump-Linked Tokens Tumble Amid Congressional Probe

Tokens TRUMP (-14.6%) and WLFI (-10.8%) plummeted as a House investigation scrutinizes World Liberty Financial’s $500 million UAE deal. The probe questions potential conflicts of interest in AI chip exports and Binance investments.

6. Central Asia’s 6% Growth Outpaces Advanced Economies

The region’s 6.2% GDP growth (World Bank) and 6.6% (EDB) highlights emerging market resilience, contrasting with U.S. and eurozone forecasts of 1.6% and 1.1%, respectively. Energy-driven growth in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan underscores regional momentum.