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Feb 17, 2026
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LONG
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is "close to cutting business ties with [Anthropic]... the dispute is centered on how the military might deploy Anthropic's AI model... not wanting its technology to be used for mass surveillance or to develop weapons." The Pentagon has an urgent demand for AI. If Anthropic (the pacifist option) is out, the contract volume logically flows to AI firms explicitly built for defense applications (e.g., Palantir). LONG Defense-focused AI providers. Government budget delays or internal development of AI tools. |
CNBC
Squawk Pod: The Legacy of Reverend Jesse Jack...
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Feb 17, 2026
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LONG
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"The US military is preparing for an operation against Iran that could last weeks." Explicit confirmation of upcoming military operations in the Middle East is a direct catalyst for Defense stocks (replenishment/usage) and Energy (risk premium on oil supply disruption). LONG Defense and Energy sectors. Diplomatic resolution or limited scope of conflict. |
CNBC
Squawk Pod: The Legacy of Reverend Jesse Jack...
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Feb 17, 2026
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WATCH
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"Hyatt hotel's chairman Thomas Pritsker announcing he's going to retire following the release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein." Sudden C-suite departures linked to scandals often create short-term volatility and governance uncertainty. While the business operations may remain sound, the headline risk is elevated. WATCH for dip-buying opportunities once headlines fade. Further reputational damage impacting brand value. |
CNBC
Squawk Pod: The Legacy of Reverend Jesse Jack...
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Feb 06, 2026
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NEUTRAL
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Bitcoin dropped 13% in a 24-hour period (worst since mid-2022), nearly breaking below $60,000 before bouncing to ~$66,000. MicroStrategy reported a $12 billion loss. The "Trump Trade" crypto premium has evaporated. Bitcoin is currently behaving as a risk asset rather than an inflation hedge. For MicroStrategy, the risk is tangible: their average Bitcoin acquisition cost is $76,000, meaning their holdings are currently underwater, though Michael Saylor claims to have cash reserves for two years of obligations. Bitcoin fell from highs of $125,000 to ~$60,000 (a ~50% draw-down). MicroStrategy's average cost basis is $76,000. Continued volatility could trigger forced selling or liquidity issues for leveraged holders; conversely, institutional adoption could stabilize the price. |
CNBC
Squawk Pod: Jennifer Garner & Once Upon A Far...
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