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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.

Middle East War Rattles Markets as Brent Crude Climbs Toward $84 and Iran Vows Escalation

U.S. equity futures retreated Thursday as Brent crude resumed its climb toward $84 a barrel after Iran pledged to escalate its retaliation against American and Israeli strikes, disrupting Persian Gulf shipping lanes and reigniting fears that prolonged conflict could stoke inflation and delay Federal Reserve rate cuts well into 2026.

Nvidia Holds $5 Trillion Crown as Alphabet Joins Mega-Cap Club Amid AI Spending Surge

Nvidia continues to anchor a historic rally in large-cap technology after cementing its position as the first publicly traded company to sustain a $5 trillion market capitalization, while Alphabet joined Microsoft and Apple in the $4 trillion tier following a favorable antitrust ruling, as semiconductors and AI infrastructure spending redefine valuation ceilings on Wall Street.

Trump's 15% Global Tariff Set to Take Full Effect This Week, Bessent Signals Rollback Within Five Months

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Thursday that President Trump's revised 15% global tariff, enacted under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 following the Supreme Court's invalidation of IEEPA-based duties, will take full effect this week, though Bessent expressed confidence the rates would revert to prior levels within five months as trade authorities complete sector-specific assessments.

Costco, Kroger, and Marvell Technology Headline Earnings Thursday as Consumer and Chip Spending Face Scrutiny

Investors will receive critical data points on consumer spending resilience and semiconductor demand Thursday as retail giants Costco and Kroger, along with AI chip supplier Marvell Technology, publish quarterly results against a backdrop of rising oil prices, a freshly enacted 15% global tariff, and persistent questions about whether household purchasing power is beginning to crack.

Weekly Jobless Claims and Factory Orders Data Take Center Stage Ahead of Friday Payrolls Report

Markets are bracing for Thursday's Department of Labor weekly jobless claims release and January factory orders data, which together will help investors calibrate expectations for Friday's comprehensive February nonfarm payrolls report — a pivotal number for Federal Reserve rate policy at a moment when oil-driven inflation, global tariffs, and Middle East tensions are all complicating the central bank's calculus.

Broadcom Posts Q1 FY2026 Earnings After Bell; AI Chip Revenue Expected to Double to $8.2 Billion

Broadcom reports its first-quarter fiscal year 2026 results Wednesday after market close, with analysts forecasting revenue of $19.21 billion — a 29% year-over-year increase — and earnings per share of $2.02. The AI semiconductor division is projected to generate approximately $8.2 billion, effectively doubling from a year ago, fueled by massive hyperscaler demand and a reported $73 billion AI chip backlog including a new $11 billion Anthropic order.

ADP Report: Private Payrolls Rise 63,000 in February, Beating Estimates but Revealing Narrow Job Growth

The ADP National Employment Report released Wednesday showed U.S. private employers added 63,000 jobs in February, topping consensus estimates of 50,000 and improving from a downwardly revised 11,000 in January. However, gains were concentrated almost entirely in construction and education and health services, with professional and business services shedding 30,000 positions, raising questions about underlying labor market breadth ahead of Friday's official nonfarm payrolls report.

Bitcoin Surges Past $71,000, Testing Its Role as a Digital Safe Haven Amid Iran War

Bitcoin climbed above $71,000 on Wednesday, rising more than 6% over 24 hours as investors sought alternatives to equities roiled by Middle East conflict. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded three consecutive days of net inflows, and analysts at Tagus Capital described the cryptocurrency as exhibiting "defensive characteristics" during the crisis — a notable shift from its historical tendency to decline alongside risk assets during geopolitical stress events.