Market News Today — AI-Curated Stock & Crypto Headlines

Citadel's hedge funds, including its flagship Wellington fund, performed well in February, beating the S&P 500 in a choppy month, with a 1.9% gain for the Wellington fund and a 2.9% year-to-date gain.

Rolls-Royce announced a massive £7-9 billion share buyback plan from 2026 to 2028, following a £1 billion buyback in the last year, and declared a final dividend of 5p a share.

S&P Global Ratings predicts a steeper decline in China's primary real estate sales, forecasting a 10-14% drop this year, worse than their previous prediction in October.

The energy sector is experiencing a strong start to the year, outperforming the broader market with a 11.2% year-to-date gain, driven by a rebound in oil prices.

Big fund managers are shifting focus from individual stock picking to achieving alpha through diversified investments in cash, bonds, gold, and commodities, as beating the S&P 500 becomes increasingly difficult.

Energy shares have started the year strongly, with the S&P 500 Energy Sector gaining 6.8% year-to-date, driven by geopolitical tensions and a rise in Brent oil prices to $64.15 per barrel.

The S&P 500 closed 2025 with a 16.4% total return, driven by growth-oriented sectors, with technology leading the way at 24.6% return.

The US stock market ended 2025 with a strong performance, with all 11 market sectors experiencing gains, led by tech and industrials, which saw 24.6% and 19.3% returns respectively.

Phillips 66 CEO Mark Lashier discusses the company's new directors and its relationship with activist investor Elliott Management, while also touching on the energy industry and its history.

A potential merger between Rio Tinto and Glencore could create the world's largest mining entity, with a combined value of £190 billion, amidst a growing demand for critical metals like copper.

AI-driven copper demand is expected to rise by 50% by 2040, potentially leading to a supply squeeze due to long lead times for new mines, with a projected demand-supply gap of 10 million tons.

The S&P 500 rose due to energy gains, while gold and silver prices surged in response to geopolitical tensions, indicating a mixed market sentiment.