US Stocks End Three-Day Winning Streak

- The market pullback was influenced by several factors, including a cautious outlook from Walmart, concerns over AI's potential disruption to various industries, and investors taking profits after a recent rally. - Brent crude, the international benchmark, settled at $71.66 a barrel, a six-month high, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude closed at $66.43. The price surge was attributed to escalating military activity in the Middle East and a 10-day deadline from the U.S. to Iran regarding its nuclear program. - The rising oil prices negatively impacted airline stocks, with American Airlines (AAL) falling 5.32%, Delta Air Lines (DAL) dropping 5.16%, and United Airlines (UAL) declining 5.88% due to concerns about higher fuel costs eroding profit margins. - Within the S&P 500, energy was a bright spot, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) gaining, while sectors like consumer staples and materials saw declines. In contrast, some technology and software stocks, including Salesforce (CRM), continued to face pressure over fears of AI disruption. - Travel company Booking Holdings (BKNG) experienced a significant 6.1% drop, becoming one of the market's sharper losses, despite reporting profits that exceeded analysts' expectations. The decline was fueled by investor anxiety that competitors using artificial intelligence could disrupt the travel booking industry. - In economic news, the Conference Board's Leading Economic Index declined for the fifth consecutive month in December, suggesting slower economic activity at the start of 2026. However, initial jobless claims for the week ending February 14th fell to 206,000, indicating a resilient labor market. - As investors moved away from equities, safe-haven assets like gold saw increased interest, with April gold futures trading just above the symbolic $5,000 per troy ounce mark. - Despite the day's downturn, the Russell 2000 index, which tracks smaller companies, managed to close with a 0.2% gain.