Private-credit ‘cockroaches’ and the AI ‘scare trade’ hammered stocks in February. Here’s what else has investors shaken up.

February saw market jitters fueled by two distinct concerns: the opaque nature of private credit markets, dubbed 'cockroaches' for their potential to hide systemic risk, and the 'AI scare trade,' suggesting irrational exuberance or fears around artificial intelligence's impact. Investors were also grappling with other undisclosed factors contributing to market volatility. This highlights a cautious sentiment driven by both fundamental economic concerns and speculative tech-related anxieties, warranting close attention to credit market health and AI sector valuations.