US stocks are stalling after hitting fresh highs. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1%, the Nasdaq dropped 0.6%, while the Dow edged up 57 points. Big Tech is dragging the market: Meta, Apple, and Oracle all dropped, with Oracle down more than 2%. Defense stocks are flying after President Donald Trump proposed a $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027. Kratos popped 17%, Northrop Grumman jumped 10%, and Lockheed gained 8%. ETF inflows hit a record $1.5 trillion in 2025, up $400 billion YoY, while gold is trading below $4,300 after a 64% gain in 2025. HSBC sees it hitting $5,000 soon.
