Morning Report 19 Feb 25: US stock rally slows as S&P 500 hovers near record high

US investors return from a public holiday with a cautious mindset, yet optimism remains for equities, as investors expect them to be the best-performing asset class in 2025. In corporate news, Intel shares surged the most since 2023 on speculation of a potential breakup, while SuperMicro extended its rally after issuing a bullish forecast. In contrast, Medtronic fell as quarterly sales missed expectations. Australian stocks are in focus as NAB, Santos, and Rio Tinto prepare to release earnings today. Meanwhile, oil prices climbed on discussions of an OPEC production delay, and gold gained amid uncertainty surrounding potential Trump-era tariffs. Elsewhere, the RBNZ is expected to deliver another 50 basis point rate cut, while in Australia, the ASX 200 is set to slip on Wednesday, and the Aussie dollar remains flat following yesterday’s rate cut.

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