Meta Platforms, Inc.

Airbus SE

The Boeing Company

Amazon.com, Inc.

SoftBank Corp.

NVIDIA Corporation

Microsoft Corporation

OpenAI is preparing a record funding round, during which it may raise over $100 billion; the company's total valuation will eventually rise to $850 billion on the back of trillion-dollar investments in AI infrastructure. Meta is returning to wearable devices and intends to release its first smartwatch as early as this year. These and other topics - in our review of key events for the morning of February 19.

Highlights for the morning: OpenAI prepares a round over $100 billion, Meta returns to smartwatches

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

Celanese Corporation

Similarweb Ltd.

Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

Danaher Corporation

Masimo Corporation

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

General Mills, Inc.

Vulcan Materials Company

Apple Inc.

Daily review and forecast of events on the U.S. stock market from Mikhail Denislamov, Deputy Director of Freedom Capital Markets Research.

Morning in New York: focus on the Fed's Minutes

The European Central Bank (ECB) <a href="https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.mp260205~001d26959b.en.html">kept</a> interest rates unchanged - this is the fifth time in a row that the regulator has made such a decision. On February 5, this happened against the background of European officials' assessments of the economic consequences of the euro appreciation and renewed unpredictability in trade relations, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-05/ecb-holds-rates-as-euro-rally-and-tariffs-threaten-economy">writes</a>.

ECB kept interest rates unchanged for the fifth time in a row

Over the past two years, average monthly trading volumes on the prediction market, where Polymarket and Kalshi platforms are the leaders, have grown 80 times. Wall Street companies have begun hiring traders to work with prediction markets. Critics of the booming sector say it's an easy opportunity for holders of nonpublic information to make money from insider trading. Defenders insist that such platforms fulfill the main function of the market - to allow a fair assessment of a particular event.

"The New Beast": how Wall Street is adapting to the booming prediction market

Positive US labor market data boosted confidence that the regulator will be able to keep rates high all year long

Traders have less faith in a Fed rate cut in 2026

The cycle of monetary policy easing by the world's leading central banks has come to an end. But regulators may have to raise rates already this year. This may become one of the key risks for the markets.

Central banks could raise rates in 2026. This is the "pin" for the market bubble

A series of bets on the Venezuelan dictator losing power brought luck to a mysterious player.

An anonymous trader earned $410,000 on Maduro's overthrow. He bet 12 times less.

Robinhood Markets, Inc.

Prediction trading has become one of the company's fastest growing products

Robinhood has expanded its list of event betting. The market may grow 5 times by 2030

The Fed chief added that the Fed's policy focus has shifted to supporting the labor market

Powell said there are increased downside risks to employment. How will this affect the rate?

The Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (Core PCE) index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices and is therefore the U.S. Federal Reserve's preferred inflation indicator, was <a href="https://www.bea.gov/news/2025/personal-income-and-outlays-august-2025">unchanged</a> in August in annualized terms compared to July. That matched the expectations of economists<a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-09-26-2025/card/the-fed-s-preferred-inflation-gauge-pce-is-due-today-here-s-what-to-know--JGtV4waP2PnNYKrrZU2L#:~:text=On%20a%20core%20basis%2C%20which%20excludes%20volatile%20food%20and%20energy%20prices%2C%20the%20rise%20is%20expected%20to%20be%202.9%25%2C%20the%20same%20rate%20as%20in%20July."> surveyed by</a> The Wall Street Journal. Core PCE has increased 2.9% over the past 12 months.

The Fed's favorite measure of inflation was unchanged in August. What to expect from the Fed?

The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.8% in the second quarter, up from the previous estimate of 3.3%, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)<a href="https://www.bea.gov/?utm_source=chatgpt.com"> reported</a>. The revised pace was the fastest since the third quarter of 2023, Reuters<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/us-second-quarter-gdp-growth-revised-sharply-higher-2025-09-25/"> calculated</a>. Analysts surveyed by the agency had expected no change. According to the Ministry of Trade, the main drivers for GDP were a reduction in the trade deficit amid a fall in imports and growth in consumer spending and business investment.

The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly two years. How is Wall Street reacting?

The main U.S. index has gained nearly 13% since the start of 2025, and was losing about 0.4% in trading on Sept. 24

Key rates