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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.

Stocks Rally With Futures Higher After State of the Union and Trade Policy Headlines

U.S. stock futures climbed modestly on February 25, 2026, as markets digested the State of the Union address and braced for key earnings from Nvidia and others. Traders reacted positively to pro-economic rhetoric and confirmed global tariff levels, while optimism in chip and software names supported futures gains. Amid this backdrop, investors took selective positions in tech and industrial ETFs, balancing trade uncertainty with earnings anticipation.

Soft Inflation Data Adds to Rate Cut Considerations

New inflation figures showed smaller-than-expected CPI increases in January, reinforcing expectations for potential Federal Reserve rate cuts in coming months. While markets reacted modestly, rate-sensitive sectors like real estate and financials could see renewed interest if cut timing becomes clearer.

Market Heads Lower on Wall Street as ASX Set to Open Weak, Bitcoin Slumps

Equity markets showed signs of strain Tuesday as major indices pulled back and Asian markets anticipated a weak session following a sell-off in key tech and AI names. Bitcoin slipped to a multi-month low, reinforcing risk-off sentiment among traders and prompting rotation into defensive assets like precious metals and commodities amid renewed volatility in global benchmarks.