February ended on a downbeat note, particularly on Wall Street while the TSX outperformed. On Friday, hotter than expected U.S. inflation numbers from January worried investors; the producer’s index rose 0.5% compared to the expected 0.3%, but core PPI came in at a high 0.8% cs the street’s 0.3%. The U.S. 10-year yield tumbled to 3.95% while the S&P closed -0.43% (and that much for the week), the Nasdaq -0.9% (for the week as well) and the Dow -1.05%, which slid 1.3% for the week. For the month of February, the Dow nearly broke even, but the S&P sank 1.45% and the Nasdaq slid nearly 5%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other headlines that rocked investors was Block announcing that AI will replace 40% of its workforce. Block<\/a> itself jumped 16.82%, while Dell<\/a> soared 21.93%, American Express<\/a> tumbled 7.88%, and Apollo Global Management<\/a> shed another 8.57%. The Warner Brothers takeover found closure after Netflix<\/a> bowed out of contention. Its shares jumped 13.77% while winner Paramount Skydance<\/a> rocketed 20.84%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, on Bay Street the TSX slipped 0.49% on Friday, but climbed 1.55% for the week and 3.76% in February. Only four sectors, led by telcos, gained while tech and financials lagged the most. Key names: CCL Industries<\/a> rallied 6.86%, Aya Gold & Silver<\/a> 5.84%, Aritzia<\/a> -7.8%, Energy Fuels<\/a> -6.7% and BRP<\/a> -5.81%. Silver continued to gain, up over 6% to US$93.55, gold advanced US$76 to US$5,261 and WTI rose 3.2% to US$67.39 as tensions between the U.S. and Iran could explode into war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 💾 Block Inc (SQ-N)<\/a> +16.82%<\/p>\n\n\n\n 💻 Dell Computers (DELL-N)<\/a> +21.93%<\/p>\n\n\n\n 🏛 American Express (AXP-N)<\/a> -7.88%<\/p>\n\n\n\n 🏛 Apollo Global Management (APO-N)<\/a> -8.57%<\/p>\n\n\n\n 📺 Netflix Inc. (NFLX-Q)<\/a> +13.77%<\/p>\n\n\n\n 🎞 Paramount Skydance Corporation (PSKY-Q)<\/a> +20.84%<\/p>\n\n\n\n 🚚 CCL Industries (B) (CCL.B-T)<\/a> +6.86%<\/p>\n\n\n\n ⛏ Aya Gold & Silver (AYA-T)<\/a> +5.84%<\/p>\n\n\n\n 👗 Aritzia Inc. (ATZ-T)<\/a> -7.8%<\/p>\n\n\n\n