Market Monitor February 28th

A volatile trading day in New York highlights the uncertainty among investors. The Dow Jones closed 1.4% higher on Friday, while the Nasdaq gained 1.6%, partly due to an unexpected surge in the final half-hour. Throughout the day, Wall Street experienced strong fluctuations, with alternating declines and gains of around 1%.

The turbulent session was partly driven by harsh remarks from Donald Trump toward Ukrainian President Zelensky, warning of a possible third world war. Trump’s unpredictable behavior is adding uncertainty to the markets.

Investors found some support in the bond market, where the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield fell by 5 basis points to 4.21%. This fueled speculation that the Fed might implement multiple rate cuts this year, given weak economic data and declining inflation.

Nvidia (NVDA) managed to recover, rising nearly 4% after an earlier 8% drop despite better-than-expected quarterly earnings. Bank of America raised its price target to $200, projecting an upside potential of 66%. Despite challenges such as competition from China and export restrictions, revenue increased by 78%.

The PC market remains weak. Dell (DELL) reported better-than-expected results but disappointed with a lower profit forecast, causing its stock to drop 5%. HP Inc. (HP) took an even bigger hit, falling 8% after weak guidance and a lower-than-expected earnings outlook.

Tesla (TSLA) initially traded lower but ended the day with a nearly 4% gain. The 200-day moving average (SMA 200) acted as a buy trigger for technical traders.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) shares hit record highs on Friday. The stock has risen more than 11% in 2025, outperforming the S&P 500. Berkshire reported a 71% increase in Q4 operating profit to $14.53 billion, mainly driven by a 302% surge in insurance earnings.