Most large technology stocks ended lower, with Apple, Netflix, and Intel falling by more than 1%, Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia falling slightly; Amazon, Tesla, and Meta rising slightly. Deere Agricultural Machinery closed up 12%, hitting a record closing high.
Livermore's leading index of Chinese concept stocks closed down 0.54%. Among the constituent stocks, Lufax fell by more than 3%, Bawangchaji, Ctrip Group, etc. fell by more than 2%; AHG rose by more than 10%, NEGG, Melco Crown Entertainment rose by more than 4%, Silver Metal Mining, Huazhu, etc. rose by more than 1%.
The FTSE A50 futures index closed down 0.34% in consecutive overnight trading, at 14,814 points.
Spot gold and spot silver closed higher.
New York crude oil CFD was reported at US$66.691/barrel, an increase of 2.52%; Brent crude oil was reported at US$71.534/barrel, an increase of 2.53%.
According to media reports, some analysts pointed out that intensifying geopolitical concerns have caused the stock market to fall while driving oil prices to continue to soar.
According to CCTV News, on February 19, local time, U.S. sources said that U.S. President Trump is weighing a "limited-scale" preliminary military strike against Iran to force it to accept the U.S. nuclear deal requirements.
Relevant people familiar with the matter said that if authorized, the operation may be launched within days and will target a small number of military or government facilities, with the intention of putting pressure on Tehran rather than launching an immediate all-out war. The plans are seen as the first step in a phased approach.
It is said that if Iran still refuses to stop uranium enrichment activities as requested by the United States, the United States may further expand the scope of its actions and launch a wider attack on Iranian regime-related facilities, and may not even rule out aiming to shake the Tehran regime.
Earlier in the day, Trump publicly stated that Iran has "10 to 15 days" to reach an agreement, otherwise it will face "serious consequences." Currently, tensions between the United States and Iran surrounding the nuclear issue continue to escalate, and the United States' military deployment in the Middle East has also significantly increased.
