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Gold Surges Past $5,044 as U.S. Military Strikes on Iran Seen as Imminent, Oil Markets on Edge

Gold prices surged to $5,044 per ounce on Friday as reports circulated that U.S. national security officials have briefed President Trump that the military is prepared for potential strikes on Iran, sending safe-haven assets sharply higher and pushing silver above $80 per ounce, while defense stocks and energy equities rallied on the prospect of broader Middle East conflict.

Nvidia's February 25 Earnings Report Looms as the AI Economy's Defining Moment — Analysts Divided on Path Forward

With Nvidia set to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on February 25, Wall Street is fixated on whether the chipmaker's Blackwell GPU ramp, forward guidance, and commentary on the AI investment super-cycle can justify the stock's elevated valuation — as multiple major banks reiterate buy ratings even as the broader Nasdaq struggles and AI disruption fears weigh on software peers.

Walmart Beats Q4 Estimates but Soft Full-Year Guidance Rattles Investors

Walmart delivered better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and revenue on Thursday, fueled by robust e-commerce growth and expanding advertising revenue, but its full-year earnings outlook of $2.75 to $2.85 per share fell short of Wall Street's consensus of $2.96, sending shares modestly lower in premarket trading and raising questions about the pace of margin expansion under its new chief executive.

Wall Street Braces for Friday's GDP and PCE 'Data Deluge' — A Potential Inflection Point for 2026 Markets

Investors are positioning defensively ahead of Friday's simultaneous release of the Q4 2025 advance GDP estimate and December PCE inflation data — a rare consolidation of two pivotal economic reports that analysts are calling the 'ultimate reality check' for the 2026 outlook, with consensus projecting 2.8% annualized GDP growth and core PCE inflation of 2.8% year-over-year, either of which could dramatically reprice rate expectations across equity, bond, and currency markets.

U.S. Stocks Rally Led by Tech as Major Indexes Close Higher

U.S. stock markets closed higher Wednesday with the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq all posting gains as Nvidia surged following news of a major AI chip partnership. Investors balanced optimism over tech leadership against stronger economic data and rising Treasury yields in a session that reflected both risk appetite and macro caution.

Stocks Slip Before the Open as Geopolitical and Economic Concerns Surface

U.S. equity futures softened in early trading as investors weigh geopolitical risks, including tensions in the Middle East, alongside incoming economic data and corporate earnings risks. The cautious tone ahead of the open reflects investor sensitivity to global volatility and macroeconomic indicators as markets try to gauge the near-term direction for stocks.

Bullish Memory Chip Stocks Lead S&P 500 Performers Amid AI Boom

Memory-focused companies such as Sandisk, Western Digital, and Seagate showed significant gains in U.S. markets as AI-driven demand continues to reshape sector valuations. Investors are reallocating capital toward memory and semiconductor stocks benefiting from heightened data center and AI hardware needs, even as broader market performance was mixed.

Market Risks Rise as Investor Optimism Nears Multi-Year Highs

Investor sentiment has surged to levels not seen in years, raising concerns among strategists that markets may be overextended and vulnerable to correction. With broad bullishness persisting and allocations heavily tilted toward equities, analysts advise selectivity in stock picking as risks tied to inflation and rising yields intensify.

Palo Alto Networks Faces Sharp Sell-Off as Analysts Slash Targets Following Mixed Q2 Results

Shares of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) continued their downward trajectory this Thursday, dropping nearly 7% as a wave of Wall Street analysts lowered their price targets. Despite beating top-line revenue estimates in its fiscal second quarter, the cybersecurity giant’s conservative full-year earnings guidance and high integration costs associated with its 'platformization' strategy have spooked investors. The software sector is broadly lower as the market reassesses valuations amid decelerating growth for enterprise security spend.