February was a volatile month for stocks, with investor concerns around AI, tariffs, and trade policy. The Dow Jones was the best-performing of the large-cap U.S. markets, while international stocks were the best-performing part of the global market. On the economic side, the picture was mixed. Corporate fundamentals remain solid, but fourth-quarter real GDP slowed from the strong second- and third-quarter reports. Consumer confidence showed a slight improvement in February, while the January employment report was better than expected.
So, what risks should investors be monitoring in the month ahead? Watch my latest Market Thoughts video to learn more: