The three major U.S. stock indices open lower

Eastern Time Monday, U.S. stocks closed slightly lower. As of press time, the Nasdaq fell 0.03%, the Dow Jones dropped 0.31%, and the S&P 500 declined 0.03%.

Novo Nordisk plummeted 15% after the company’s new weight-loss drug CagriSema showed less effective trial results compared to Eli Lilly’s Zepbound. Nvidia rose nearly 2%, with the company set to release its earnings after the market close on February 25 Eastern Time.

Global News

It is reported that the U.S. has decided to launch a military strike on Iran, expected on the 23rd or 24th

While signals of negotiations are being exchanged between the U.S. and Iran, the risk of the U.S. launching a military strike on Iran still exists. On the 22nd, Russian Sputnik News cited former CIA intelligence officers saying the U.S. might carry out a military attack on Iran on February 23 or 24.

U.S.-Iran conflict outlook becomes increasingly pessimistic, multiple analysts predict significant oil price hikes

U.S. President Trump is weighing whether to attack Iran, a decision that will directly impact global oil prices. Iran holds the third-largest oil reserves in the world and controls one of the most critical energy trade routes—the Strait of Hormuz. If the U.S. attacks, Iran may retaliate with missiles and other weapons, similar to last summer, further disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Thousands of U.S. companies queue for tax refunds amid awkward U.S. tariff war attempts to save face

“Companies are rushing to Washington to recover the billions of dollars in tariffs imposed by the federal government last year,” described Samir Kapadia, head of trade at Vogel Group, an international government affairs consulting firm. Currently, over a thousand U.S. companies, including Costco, are lining up to ensure they can get their tariff refunds.

Foreign investors frequently discuss AI—what to expect for 2026?

On the last day of the Spring Festival holiday, with the A-shares market still closed, discussions about “how to invest this year” and “market outlook for the year” have returned to investors’ focus. Financial Associated Press has summarized investment outlooks from firms like Schroders, Blackstone, Pictet Asset Management, and UBS Wealth Management, covering gold and commodities, U.S. stocks and AI themes, private equity assets, global multi-asset allocation, and Asian fixed income.

Korean stock index hits new all-time high! Latest February export data: chips are king

On Monday, benefiting from the ineffectiveness of U.S. reciprocal tariffs and the ongoing AI boom boosting chip exports, South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index hit a new record high, closing at 5846 points. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariff policy illegal, causing global market turbulence, while Wall Street stocks rose due to improved trade conditions.

21-year-old man shot dead after storming Mar-a-Lago; identity revealed: family all Trump loyalists

According to Xinhua News Agency, on the 22nd local time, a man attempting to breach former U.S. President Donald Trump’s private residence, Mar-a-Lago, was shot and killed by Secret Service agents. The Secret Service stated that around 1:30 a.m. on the 22nd, a man in his early 20s entered the security perimeter of Mar-a-Lago without authorization and was found near the north gate of the estate.

Northeastern U.S. hit by snowstorm; multiple areas enter emergency mode

Multiple U.S. media reports indicate that a winter storm began sweeping through the Northeastern U.S. on the morning of the 22nd. New York State, New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York City have all declared states of emergency. New York City is expected to receive 12 to 18 inches (about 30.5 to 45.7 centimeters) of snow, accompanied by winds up to 55 miles per hour (about 88 kilometers per hour). Mayor Eric Adams announced the city’s emergency status, with schools closed for a day on the 23rd due to snow, and travel bans in effect from 9 p.m. on the 22nd until noon on the 23rd.