Stock Market Update Thursday February 20, 2025

Stock Market Update Thursday February 20, 2025 The morning selloff was followed by the usual dip-buying, which limited the S&P 500's decline to 0.4% for the day, after it had been down 0.8% at one point. The Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) fell by 0.5%, while small caps (IWM) underperformed with a drop of 0.9%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) experienced the largest decline, falling by 1%, largely due to Walmart's (WMT) 6.5% drop.

Away From Stocks: Treasury bonds saw slight gains on the long end, with 30-year yields decreasing by two basis points to 4.74%, indicating a cautious market sentiment. WTI crude oil rose to $72.50 per barrel, and gold reached a new all-time high of $2,940 per ounce, reflecting ongoing demand for inflation protection. Bitcoin surged past its recent range, climbing to $98,200, while the VIX fell below 16 after briefly reaching 16.5 earlier in the session, suggesting reduced expectations for volatility.