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Israel Intensifies Strikes on Hezbollah Strongholds in Southern Lebanon

People and members of the Lebanese army gather at a damaged site in the aftermath of Israeli strikes in Abbasiyyeh, Tyre district, southern Lebanon Israel carried out heavy airstrikes on southern Lebanon , claiming it was targeting Hezbollah positions that were allegedly being rebuilt despite a ceasefire agreement reached last year. The Israeli military issued evacuation orders for three areas before launching the strikes, warning civilians to leave as it accused Hezbollah of attempting to restore its military infrastructure. According to Lebanese officials, smoke was seen rising from the Nabatieh district following the bombardment, while the health ministry confirmed at least one fatality from earlier strikes the same day. The full toll from the latest wave of attacks has not yet been released. The escalation comes amid growing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. Despite the truce brokered in late 2024 , Israel has continued to conduct operations against Hezbollah, citing s...

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Stock Market Update: S&P 500 Turns Green Ahead of Nvidia Earnings

 

In a late-day rally, U.S. stocks managed to flip into positive territory as investors eagerly awaited the high-stakes earnings report from artificial intelligence (AI) powerhouse Nvidia (NVDA). Here’s a snapshot of today’s market action:

  1. S&P 500: The broad-market index edged up more than 0.1%, signaling a cautious optimism among traders. The release of Federal Reserve minutes, which emphasized the central bank’s commitment to avoiding premature interest rate cuts, also played a role in the market’s sentiment.
  1. Dow Jones Industrial Average: The Dow gained about 0.1%, adding nearly 50 points. Investors closely monitored Nvidia’s performance, considering it a bellwether for the AI sector and a potential turning point for overall stock market trends
  1. Nasdaq Composite: The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lagged behind, slipping 0.3% following Tuesday’s declines. Nvidia’s shares had dipped almost 3% the previous day, marking their worst performance since October 17.

Nvidia’s Earnings: A Critical Moment

Expectations are running high for Nvidia’s fourth-quarter results. As one of the megacap companies driving recent stock market gains, Nvidia’s performance is closely watched by investors. Its AI-driven revenue growth serves as a barometer for the broader tech industry.

However, the stakes are even higher this time. Nvidia’s report could potentially shape market sentiment and influence trading decisions. Hedge funds have been adjusting their holdings in response to mixed growth prospects among the so-called “Magnificent Seven” stocks, of which Nvidia is a key player.

Other Market Movers

  • Palo Alto Networks (PANW): Shares of this cybersecurity provider plummeted over 28% after it cut its annual revenue forecast. Concerns about a tech spending pullback weighed on investor sentiment.
  • Walgreens (WBA): The pharmacy giant lost its spot on the blue-chip Dow index to Amazon (AMZN), causing Walgreens shares to slide by as much as 3%.

Fed Minutes and Interest Rates

The Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes highlighted the risks of moving too quickly in easing interest rates. Recent economic data has led to uncertainty about the timing of rate cuts, with June being the most probable window.

As the market awaits Nvidia’s earnings release after the bell, investors remain on edge. Will Nvidia’s results validate the AI trade’s strength, or will they signal caution? Only time will tell.

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