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Global Markets Stabilize as Investors Assess Geopolitical Risk and Economic Data

Global equity markets showed signs of stabilization Thursday as investors evaluated geopolitical risks and new economic data. While energy prices and supply concerns remain dominant themes, traders are balancing those pressures against resilient corporate earnings and continued investment in technology and infrastructure sectors.

Safe Harbor Financial Reports 29% Growth in Emerging Cannabis Banking

Safe Harbor Financial today announced robust year-over-year growth of 29% in its emerging U.S. cannabis banking segment, driven by more than 100 new customer accounts. The expansion highlights ongoing opportunities in niche financial services and the broader cannabis sector as regulatory and market conditions evolve.

Global Markets Join Sell-Off as Geopolitical Risk Drives Energy Costs Higher

International equity markets weakened sharply amid renewed geopolitical tensions and a spike in energy prices, reinforcing global risk aversion. Stocks across Europe and Asia saw broad declines as investors digested heightened conflict in the Middle East and the possibility of supply disruptions. Energy and defense sectors outperformed, while traditional growth and travel sectors lagged amid rising risk premiums and inflation concerns.

BofA Strategist Warns of Bank Sector Risks and ETF Vulnerabilities

A Bank of America strategist is urging caution in the financial sector, highlighting rising risks in bank loan ETFs and potential market instability if key technical levels are broken. This cautionary outlook could influence investor positioning in banking and credit-sensitive assets.

HSBC Strategists Slash U.S. Equity Overweight, Favor Global Markets

HSBC’s global strategists sharply reduced their overweight position in U.S. equities, reallocating toward emerging markets and European stocks as economic momentum abroad appears stronger. The shift reflects concerns about U.S. equity valuations and changing growth prospects, signaling cross-border flow impacts for market participants adjusting risk exposures.

Salesforce Crushes Q4 Estimates by 25%, Authorizes $50 Billion Buyback as Agentforce Scales

Salesforce reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP EPS of $3.81, surpassing the $3.05 consensus estimate by nearly 25%, as its Agentforce AI platform reached approximately $800 million in ARR — up 169% year over year. The company authorized a $50 billion share repurchase program, though shares fell over 3% in premarket trading Thursday amid broader software sector anxiety.

Mortgage Rates Fall as U.S. 30-Year Average Drops to 6.04%

On February 25, 2026, Bankrate data show U.S. mortgage rates for 30-year fixed loans fell to an average of 6.04%, marking a notable decline from recent peaks. Despite historically elevated levels relative to pre-2023 norms, this drop offers potential relief to homebuyers and may support housing demand. Persistent inflation pressures, however, mean Federal Reserve rate policy remains cautious, with future cuts hinging on inflation progress and economic data.

Morning Bid: AI Doom Scenarios and Tariff Gloom Cloud U.S. Market Outlook

Market strategists flagged growing concerns over the potential adverse effects of rapid artificial intelligence adoption and renewed tariff policy uncertainty on risk assets. The combination of pessimistic AI disruption scenarios and tariff policy unpredictability has contributed to elevated volatility expectations and cautious positioning among institutional investors.

Trump Imposes 10% Global Tariff Under Section 122, Rattling Markets and Prompting EU Warning

President Donald Trump has activated a 10% blanket tariff on imports from virtually every country under the rarely invoked Section 122 of U.S. trade law, following the Supreme Court's decision to strike down his earlier reciprocal tariff regime. The European Commission responded swiftly, warning that the new levies are not conducive to fair transatlantic trade and threatening retaliatory measures, sending major U.S. equity indexes sharply lower before a partial recovery on Tuesday.