Financial Market Update - February 20

Stock Market

The U.S. stock market saw slight gains on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 reaching another record close.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.16% to 44,627.59.
S&P 500 gained 0.24% to 6,144.15.
Nasdaq inched up 0.07% to 20,056.25.

Investors are analyzing the Federal Reserve's January policy meeting minutes, which indicated concerns over inflation and new tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump.

Gold Market

Gold prices hit a record high before declining due to a stronger U.S. dollar and trade concerns.

Spot gold fell 0.2% to $2,928.49 per ounce.
U.S. gold futures settled down 0.4% at $2,936.10 per ounce.

Market analysts note uncertainty surrounding global tariffs and trade talks, which are supporting gold prices.

Oil Market

Oil prices remained near a one-week high due to concerns over supply disruptions from Russia and the U.S.

Brent crude closed at $76.04 per barrel, up 0.3%.
WTI crude increased 0.6% to $72.25 per barrel.

Market watchers are assessing the impact of sanctions and geopolitical tensions on oil supply.

Foreign Exchange Market

The U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen gained as trade war concerns fueled demand for safe-haven assets.

USD/JPY fell 0.4% to 151.495.
EUR/JPY dropped 0.6% to 157.925.
The U.S. Dollar Index ended at 107.18, up 0.2%.

Global Headlines

Federal Reserve officials are considering slowing or pausing balance sheet reduction due to concerns over debt ceiling complications.

U.S.-Russia talks over the Ukraine war remain contentious, with President Trump urging a quick resolution.