Momentum Unwind? 

The S&P 500 Index hit an all time closing high of 6,144 on February 19th, 2025, up 4.6% year-to-date (YTD) at that point, seemingly on an easy route to another blockbuster year for stocks. Just like most of 2024, momentum was the top factor in January and early February as the market did show some broadening outside the Magnificent 7. The same high-beta stocks, particularly those related to artificial intelligence (AI), continued to defy gravity. In fact, the AI trade broadened even more with names like Palantir (up 48% YTD through 2/19/25) and AppLovin (up 53% YTD through 2/19/25) soaring to start the year. Apparently no end in sight. Until… the last seven trading days of February. A brutal selloff in that narrow trade ensued.

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