Why does the Munich Security Conference matter for markets?

It signals policy direction. When high‑profile figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez float antitrust and defense oversight ideas on a global stage, investors reprice risk. That can shift multiples in Big Tech and alter defense cash flow visibility. Even without laws changing immediately, expectations alone move discount rates and earnings assumptions.

How could antitrust tech regulation hit my portfolio?

Tighter rules can lower take rates, raise compliance costs, and curb default placement deals. That pressures margins and cash flow visibility, which drives multiple compression. If you hold tech-heavy ETFs, size positions, diversify across software, semis, and services, and use stop‑losses around key technical levels to manage downside.

What should I watch on U.S. defense policy?

Track FY budget drafts, committee markups, and statements on procurement reforms. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backs more oversight and restraint, which could slow awards or tighten profit rules. Monitor backlog growth, book‑to‑bill trends, and cash conversion in earnings. Those metrics flag whether sentiment will stabilize or weaken in defense names.

How can DE investors manage currency risk in U.S. equities?

Decide whether to hedge USD exposure. Hedged share classes reduce currency swings but add costs, while unhedged positions benefit if EUR weakens. Align hedge ratios with rebalancing dates, and watch ECB‑Fed spreads and U.S. inflation data. Consistent FX policy prevents currency noise from masking your equity factor exposures.

Law and Government

Ocasio-Cortez February 17: Munich Pitch Puts Big Tech, Defense on Watch

ByHuzaifa Zahoor February 17, 2026February 17, 2026

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used the Munich Security Conference to spotlight a working‑class, anti‑monopoly agenda and caution on U.S. military interventions. For investors in Germany, this matters. If her profile rises into a 2028 presidential bid, policy signals could hit Big Tech multiples and defense spending assumptions. We outline the risk map for ^NDX and ^GSPC exposures from Frankfurt to Berlin, with practical steps to position portfolios while headlines evolve and liquidity stays sensitive to policy talk.