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Category: Market Summary

  • European Stocks Little Changed as Earnings Season Continues and Inflation Data Looms: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European Stocks Little Changed as Earnings Season Continues and Inflation Data Looms: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equity markets traded cautiously on Friday as investors reviewed another round of corporate earnings while monitoring key inflation releases toward the close of a busy week.

    At 08:10 GMT, Germany’s DAX was broadly unchanged, France’s CAC 40 edged down 0.1%, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 gained 0.2%.

    Earnings season remains in focus

    Investors continued to analyse company results as Europe’s reporting season approached its final stages. More than half of companies in the STOXX 600 have now released fourth-quarter figures, with overall earnings slightly exceeding expectations — a trend that helped push the benchmark index to record highs on Thursday.

    Swiss Re (TG:SR9) reported record annual net income of $4.76 billion, representing a 47% increase year over year. However, the reinsurer’s life and health division fell short of targets after booking a $650 million charge linked to assumption updates affecting underperforming portfolios in Australia, Israel, and South Korea.

    BASF (TG:BAS) announced a 9.5% decline in full-year earnings, with its core chemicals division nearly breaking even during the fourth quarter. The German chemicals group relied heavily on reduced capital spending to support free cash flow generation.

    Holcim (TG:HLBN) achieved a record recurring EBIT margin of 18.3% in 2025, an improvement of 80 basis points, following the spin-off of its North American operations and new acquisition agreements involving European walling manufacturer Xella and a majority stake in Peru’s Cementos Pacasmayo.

    Melrose Industries (LSE:MRO) posted a 23% increase in adjusted operating profit for 2025 and returned to positive free cash flow for the first time in two years. Net debt rose, however, as the British aerospace and defence group distributed £255 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.

    Netflix steps back from Warner Bros bidding contest

    In U.S. corporate developments, Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) said Thursday it would not increase its bid for Warner Bros Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) after Warner Bros concluded that a revised offer from Paramount Skydance (NASDAQ:PSKY) qualified as a superior proposal under the terms of its merger agreement with the streaming company.

    “We’ve always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid,” Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters said in a statement.

    Inflation data draws attention

    On the macroeconomic front, France reported fourth-quarter GDP growth of 0.2%, matching expectations. Consumer prices in the country rose 0.7% in February after declining 0.3% the previous month.

    Germany’s inflation figures are due later in the session, with European Central Bank policymakers expected to scrutinise the data closely ahead of their next monetary policy meeting scheduled for mid-next month.

    Oil prices head toward weekly decline

    Oil markets moved slightly higher on Friday but remained on track for weekly losses after the United States and Iran agreed to continue discussions over Tehran’s nuclear programme, easing fears of supply disruptions linked to escalating geopolitical tensions.

    Brent crude futures rose 0.7% to $71.29 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures gained 0.8% to $65.74 per barrel.

    For the week, Brent prices were broadly flat, while WTI was set to decline by roughly 1%, partially reversing gains from the previous week.

    Negotiations between Washington and Tehran concluded Thursday without a definitive agreement, but both sides plan to resume technical-level talks next week in Vienna, according to Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi in a post on X following meetings in Geneva.

    Tensions surrounding Iran have been a key influence on oil markets throughout February, as the United States deployed significant military assets to the Middle East and warned of potential action should Tehran reject a negotiated settlement.

  • Mixed Corporate Earnings Point to Uneven Start for Wall Street: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Futures

    Mixed Corporate Earnings Point to Uneven Start for Wall Street: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Futures

    U.S. stock futures indicated a largely flat opening on Thursday, suggesting markets may struggle for clear direction after posting strong gains over the previous two sessions.

    Investor sentiment appeared divided following earnings updates from Dow components Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Salesforce (NYSE:CRM), raising expectations for potentially volatile trading early in the session.

    Shares of Nvidia climbed about 1.0% in premarket activity after the artificial intelligence leader delivered fiscal fourth-quarter results that exceeded expectations and issued upbeat forward guidance.

    “Despite markets already pricing in extraordinary year-on-year growth, Nvidia projected revenue for the next quarter well above consensus estimates,” said Daniela Hathorn, Senior Market Analyst at Capital.com.

    She added, “The results reset a narrative that had begun to tilt overly bearish in recent sessions, where concerns around overspending, diminishing returns and intensifying competition had weighed on valuations.”

    In contrast, Salesforce shares declined roughly 1.7% ahead of the open. While the enterprise software company reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings, investors reacted negatively to softer guidance for upcoming periods.

    Wall Street finished Wednesday’s session mostly higher, extending momentum from earlier gains and helping the Nasdaq and S&P 500 fully recover losses recorded at the start of the week.

    By the close, major indexes ended slightly below intraday highs. The Nasdaq advanced 288.40 points, or 1.3%, to 23,152.08, the S&P 500 gained 56.06 points, or 0.8%, to 6,946.13, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 307.65 points, or 0.6%, to 49,482.15.

    Part of Wednesday’s advance reflected optimism ahead of Nvidia’s earnings release after the closing bell, with the chipmaker’s shares rising 1.4% during the session.

    Technology stocks broadly supported the rally. IBM Corp. (NYSE:IBM) jumped 3.6%, continuing its rebound after Monday’s sharp decline following UBS upgrading the stock to Neutral from Sell.

    Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) also gained 1.2% after Oppenheimer raised its rating on the software company to Outperform from Perform.

    Software names led market performance, with the Dow Jones U.S. Software Index climbing 3.1%. The index continued its recovery after dropping to a ten-month closing low earlier in the week as concerns about artificial intelligence disruption eased.

    Computer hardware stocks also posted strong gains, reflected in a 2.9% rise in the NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index.

    Financials, networking companies and semiconductor stocks also showed notable strength, while housing-related shares moved sharply lower during the session.

  • European Stocks Advance as Nvidia Results Lift Sentiment: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European Stocks Advance as Nvidia Results Lift Sentiment: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equity markets traded broadly higher on Thursday, supported by upbeat earnings from Nvidia that helped counter lingering concerns around U.S. trade policy and ongoing geopolitical tensions.

    Investor attention also turned to diplomacy, with officials from Iran and the United States scheduled to meet in Geneva for a third round of nuclear talks aimed at easing tensions and avoiding a potential conflict.

    The French CAC 40 Index climbed 0.8%, while Germany’s DAX Index added 0.4%. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index posted a more modest gain of 0.2%.

    Shares in London Stock Exchange Group (LSE:LSEG) surged about 4% after the exchange operator unveiled plans for a £3 billion share buyback program alongside reporting a 56.5% increase in pretax profit for 2025.

    Italian energy major Eni (BIT:ENI) advanced 1.4% following the announcement of a 35% year-on-year rise in fourth-quarter adjusted net profit.

    German sportswear company Puma (TG:PUM) jumped 6% after forecasting a smaller EBIT loss for fiscal year 2026.

    Insurance giant Allianz (TG:ALV) slipped 1.3% as investors reacted to 2026 guidance that came in below market expectations.

    Reinsurer Munich Re (TG:A2TSS7) declined 2.6% after reporting a sharper-than-anticipated drop in fourth-quarter profit, weighed down by adverse currency movements.

    French industrial group Bouygues (EU:EN) gained 1.2% after delivering full-year earnings in line with analyst forecasts.

    Schneider Electric (EU:SU) rose 2.6% after announcing record annual revenue of €40.15 billion, driven by strong demand for data-center infrastructure linked to artificial intelligence growth.

    Payments company Worldline (EU:WLN) fell 3% after confirming it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Indian operations to local payments firm BillDesk.

    Utility group Engie (EU:ENGI) rallied 7.3% after agreeing to acquire the United Kingdom’s largest electricity distribution network in a £10.5 billion ($14.2 billion) deal.

  • Nvidia, Salesforce results and U.S.-Iran talks steer global market sentiment: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street Futures

    Nvidia, Salesforce results and U.S.-Iran talks steer global market sentiment: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street Futures

    U.S. equity futures moved modestly lower on Thursday as investors weighed major technology earnings and monitored geopolitical developments ahead of renewed nuclear negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials. Results from Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) dominated market attention, while oil prices held steady near recent highs.

    Futures drift lower

    Futures tied to the main U.S. stock indices edged down as traders digested earnings from artificial intelligence leader Nvidia.

    At 03:05 ET, Dow futures were down 122 points, or 0.3%. S&P 500 futures slipped 7 points, or 0.1%, and Nasdaq 100 futures declined 27 points, also 0.1%. Wall Street’s major indices had finished the previous session higher as investors positioned ahead of Nvidia’s earnings announcement.

    Market sentiment improved on Wednesday amid renewed optimism around artificial intelligence, marking another shift in what has been a volatile debate over the technology’s economic impact. The Nasdaq outperformed, reflecting expectations that AI investment could ultimately deliver widespread productivity gains, contrasting with earlier concerns that new AI models might disrupt software firms and limit returns on heavy data-centre spending.

    Remarks from Richmond Federal Reserve President Tom Barkin also supported equities. Barkin said it remains unclear whether automation will trigger broad job losses and suggested AI could instead enhance labour market efficiency.

    Nvidia muted despite earnings beat

    Nvidia reported quarterly earnings above expectations for the January period and issued revenue guidance that also exceeded forecasts, though its shares showed little momentum in after-hours trading.

    Some investors raised concerns about shareholder returns despite strong cash generation. Yvette Schmitter, CEO of IT consulting firm Fusion Collective, noted that Nvidia generated $35 billion in cash during the fourth quarter but returned only 12% to shareholders, down from 52% a year earlier.

    Schmitter added that “this is happening at the same time Nvidia is claiming” that its sold-out Ampere chips are a “good signal for demand.”

    “[W]hy is the company with record cash generation cutting buybacks by half?” Schmitter said.

    The topic also surfaced during Nvidia’s earnings call when a UBS analyst asked whether the company intended to distribute part of the roughly $100 billion in cash expected this year. Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress said Nvidia plans to continue investing across the broader AI ecosystem, while Chief Executive Jensen Huang argued that AI-generated output will underpin the next era of computing.

    Salesforce drops on cautious outlook

    Shares of Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) declined sharply in extended trading after the cloud software company issued a revenue forecast that fell short of Wall Street expectations.

    The company projected fiscal 2027 revenue of $45.80 billion to $46.20 billion, slightly below the consensus midpoint estimate of $46.06 billion, according to LSEG data cited by Reuters. The guidance suggested enterprise software demand may be softening as businesses rein in spending amid economic uncertainty.

    At the same time, Salesforce continues to ramp up investment in artificial intelligence capabilities to counter investor concerns that emerging AI models, including those developed by startup Anthropic, could weaken demand for traditional software services. These worries have contributed to share-price volatility in early 2026 as the company seeks to address what some view as an existential challenge to the software-as-a-service sector.

    Despite the softer near-term outlook, Salesforce raised its fiscal 2030 revenue target to $63 billion from $60 billion previously, citing expected growth from so-called agentic AI.

    “[T]his is not a perfect report, but it should cross the ’good enough’ threshold, with the company’s AI products showing rapid growth (albeit off a very small base) while core business holds in well (in terms of margins and growth) and cash flow generation stays healthy,” analysts at Vital Knowledge said in a note.

    Oil steady ahead of nuclear negotiations

    Oil prices were broadly unchanged Thursday, remaining close to seven-month highs as markets awaited the third round of nuclear discussions between Washington and Tehran later in the day.

    Brent crude futures gained 0.2% to $70.84 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures rose 0.2% to $65.62.

    U.S. officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner, are expected to meet Iranian representatives in Geneva as Washington pushes for progress toward an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme.

    U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that “bad things” could happen if meaningful progress is not achieved, raising concerns that prolonged tensions could disrupt Iranian oil exports, with Iran ranking as the third-largest crude producer within OPEC.

    Gold edges higher

    Gold prices moved modestly higher as uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade tariffs supported safe-haven demand, while investors also awaited developments from the U.S.-Iran talks.

    Spot gold rose 0.6% to $5,196.55 an ounce at 01:40 ET (06:40 GMT), while U.S. gold futures slipped 0.5% to $5,200.54 per ounce.

    Alongside geopolitical developments, traders are assessing the impact of newly announced U.S. tariffs following a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down President Trump’s sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs.

    Markets are also awaiting key U.S. economic releases later in the session, including weekly jobless claims data. So far this year, bullion has remained supported by ongoing geopolitical tensions, central bank buying and portfolio diversification flows.

  • European Stocks Mixed as Earnings Season Intensifies; Nvidia Results Beat Expectations: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European Stocks Mixed as Earnings Season Intensifies; Nvidia Results Beat Expectations: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equities traded unevenly on Thursday morning as investors assessed a heavy flow of corporate earnings across the region alongside fresh results from U.S. chipmaker Nvidia.

    At 08:10 GMT, Germany’s DAX slipped 0.2%, while London’s FTSE 100 edged down 0.1%. France’s CAC 40 outperformed, rising 0.3%.

    Earnings Take Centre Stage

    Corporate earnings dominated market attention amid one of the busiest reporting days of the European season.

    According to Bank of America, fourth-quarter earnings across Europe are modestly outperforming expectations, although the broader outlook remains fragile due to narrow leadership and strong market reactions to companies missing forecasts.

    With just over half of STOXX 600 constituents having reported, earnings per share growth is currently running at around 2% year-on-year, compared with consensus expectations for a 2% decline at this stage of the reporting cycle.

    “The upside surprise to index earnings is dominated by financials and industrials, while tech has been the main drag,” BofA’s strategists led by Andreas Bruckner said in a note.

    Among individual companies, Deutsche Telekom (TG:DBK) reported a 9.2% decline in fourth-quarter adjusted net profit, citing currency headwinds from a weaker U.S. dollar that reduced contributions from its majority-owned T-Mobile US business, while also lowering growth expectations for its domestic market.

    Automaker Stellantis (BIT:STLAM) announced its first annual loss on record after earlier disclosing €22.2 billion in charges linked to a scaling back of its electric-vehicle ambitions.

    Insurance group Allianz (TG:ALV) delivered record operating profit for 2025 but disappointed investors with 2026 guidance that came in below analyst forecasts.

    French insurer AXA (TG:AXA) posted full-year results broadly in line with expectations, with underlying earnings per share increasing 8% year-on-year and reaching the upper end of its target range.

    Swiss chemicals company Clariant (BIT:1CLN) exceeded fourth-quarter earnings expectations, marking its third consecutive year of margin expansion.

    German sportswear manufacturer Puma (TG:PUM) projected an operating loss of €50 million to €150 million for the current year, despite reporting a smaller-than-expected loss in 2025.

    Meanwhile, Schneider Electric (EU:SU) reported record annual revenue, surpassing €40 billion for the first time, supported by triple-digit demand growth tied to data centre investments and setting a double-digit profit growth target for 2026.

    Nvidia Beats Expectations but Fails to Excite Investors

    In the United States, Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) reported better-than-expected quarterly results late Wednesday and issued revenue guidance above market forecasts, reflecting continued strong spending by major technology companies on artificial-intelligence infrastructure.

    The semiconductor group projected fiscal first-quarter revenue of $78 billion, plus or minus 2%, compared with analysts’ consensus estimate of $72.60 billion, according to LSEG data.

    Despite the beat, after-hours gains were limited, as investors accustomed to substantial upside surprises over the company’s previous 14 reporting quarters reacted cautiously to what were viewed as relatively uneventful results.

    Economic Data and Sentiment in Focus

    Markets were also awaiting regional economic indicators, including business confidence readings from Italy and Spain as well as broader EU economic sentiment data.

    In the UK, confidence among business and professional services firms improved significantly during the current quarter, ending more than a year of declining sentiment, although consumer-focused sectors remained subdued.

    The Confederation of British Industry’s quarterly services survey showed optimism in business and professional services rising to -3 in February from -50 in November, the strongest reading since August 2024.

    Oil Prices Hold Steady Ahead of U.S.-Iran Talks

    Oil markets were broadly stable, trading near seven-month highs as investors awaited developments from a third round of nuclear discussions between the United States and Iran scheduled later in the day.

    Brent crude futures gained 0.2% to $70.84 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures rose 0.2% to $65.62.

    U.S. envoys, including special representative Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner, are expected to meet Iranian officials in Geneva as Washington seeks progress on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

    U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that “bad things” could happen if meaningful progress is not achieved, raising concerns that a prolonged conflict could disrupt supply from Iran, the third-largest crude producer within OPEC.

  • FTSE 100 Opens Slightly Lower Near Record Levels; Earnings From LSEG and Rolls-Royce in Spotlight

    FTSE 100 Opens Slightly Lower Near Record Levels; Earnings From LSEG and Rolls-Royce in Spotlight

    UK equities slipped modestly at Thursday’s open but remained close to record territory as investors digested a fresh wave of corporate earnings, including updates from Rolls-Royce and London Stock Exchange Group. Sterling weakened against the US dollar while continuing to trade above the $1.35 level.

    At 0813 GMT, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 0.08%. The pound fell 0.2% to $1.3533 versus the dollar. Across Europe, Germany’s DAX declined 0.2%, while France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.3%.

    Globally, markets also reacted to results from NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), which beat revenue forecasts and issued an upbeat outlook but failed to spark investor enthusiasm. Attention additionally turned to geopolitical developments as the United States and Iran entered talks, while artificial intelligence remained a key theme, with investors weighing returns on heavy AI-related capital spending and potential disruption risks, according to Jefferies.

    UK Market Round-Up

    Rolls-Royce (LSE:RR.) reported a 40% rise in annual profit following strong aero-engine performance, alongside upgraded medium-term targets and enhanced shareholder return plans.

    Underlying operating profit reached £3.46 billion in 2025, producing a margin of 17.3% and exceeding the £3.27 billion consensus estimate. Free cash flow totalled £3.3 billion, supported by strong operating execution and expanding long-term service agreement balances, leaving the group with net cash of £1.9 billion at year-end. For 2026, Rolls-Royce expects underlying operating profit of £4.0 billion to £4.2 billion and free cash flow of £3.6 billion to £3.8 billion.

    London Stock Exchange Group (LSE:LSEG) posted a 56.5% increase in pretax profit for 2025 and announced an additional £3 billion share buyback programme. Pretax profit rose to £1.97 billion from £1.26 billion a year earlier, while total income excluding recoveries grew 5.8% to £8.99 billion, or 7.1% on an organic constant-currency basis. Reported earnings per share climbed 85.1% to 238.4 pence, with adjusted EPS up 15.7% to 420.6 pence.

    WPP (LSE:WPP) unveiled a multi-year restructuring strategy named Elevate28, aimed at simplifying operations and restoring organic growth. The advertising group plans to transition from a holding company structure into a unified operating model organised around four divisions: WPP Media, WPP Creative, WPP Production and WPP Enterprise Solutions, operating across North America, Latin America, EMEA and APAC.

    Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc (LSE:HIK) issued 2026 guidance below market expectations, forecasting sales growth of 2% to 4% compared with consensus estimates of 5.5%. Core EBIT is projected between $720 million and $770 million, below the $778 million consensus estimate, while injectables margins are expected to remain below market forecasts.

    Ocado Group (LSE:OCDO) reported stronger-than-expected second-half 2025 performance and said it anticipates achieving positive free cash flow in the second half of 2026, with full-year 2027 also expected to turn cash-flow positive. Group revenue beat expectations by 4.5%, while EBITDA exceeded consensus by 4.2%.

    CVS Group (LSE:CVSG) delivered first-half 2026 revenue growth of 5.8%, broadly matching forecasts as sales reached £356.9 million. Like-for-like growth improved to around 2.7%, reflecting a recovery from negative growth recorded a year earlier. UK operations generated £320.6 million in revenue, with Australia contributing £36.3 million.

    Derwent London (LSE:DLN) reported a net asset value of 3,225 pence per share for FY25, up 2.4%, alongside earnings per share of 98.4 pence and a dividend of 81.5 pence per share. Leasing activity totalled £11.3 million during the year at rents nearly 10% above estimated rental value.

    Howden Joinery Group (LSE:HWDN) exceeded profit expectations for FY25 and announced a £100 million share buyback. Pre-tax profit reached £344.9 million, beating consensus estimates of roughly £331 million.

    Greencoat UK Wind (LSE:UKW) reported net asset value per share of 133.5 pence at the end of 2025, equating to a total return of -4.9% for the year. Shares trade at a nearly 30% discount to NAV, prompting a continuation vote at the upcoming AGM.

    Man Group (LSE:EMG) recorded record organic growth, with assets under management rising 35% year-on-year to $227.6 billion, supported by $28.7 billion in net inflows and strong investment performance. The firm achieved its sixth consecutive year of market share gains.

    Drax Group (LSE:DRX) reported record renewable electricity generation for 2025, producing 6% of UK power and 11% of UK renewable output. Adjusted EBITDA declined to £947 million due to lower power prices, while operating profit dropped following £378 million in non-cash impairments. The company extended its share buyback programme with a new £450 million plan.

    Tate & Lyle (LSE:TATE) said third-quarter trading was in line with expectations, with revenue for the three months to December 31 rising 15% on a reported basis following the integration of CP Kelco.

  • Ocado Releases 2025 Preliminary Results and Sets Investor Presentation Date

    Ocado Releases 2025 Preliminary Results and Sets Investor Presentation Date

    Ocado Group (LSE:OCDO) has published its preliminary results for the financial year ended 30 November 2025, with the full annual report now accessible through the London Stock Exchange and the company’s corporate website.

    The online grocery and technology group confirmed that the unedited results have also been filed with the Financial Conduct Authority’s National Storage Mechanism, providing formal regulatory access for investors and market participants.

    In conjunction with the results release, Ocado announced it will host an investor and analyst presentation on 26 February 2026, including a live webcast and question-and-answer session. The event is intended to offer additional insight into the company’s annual performance, operational progress and forward outlook, reflecting its ongoing focus on maintaining transparency and engagement with shareholders.

    The company’s outlook continues to be shaped by challenging financial performance, including declining revenues and ongoing losses. Technical indicators suggest a weaker share price trend, further weighing on sentiment, while limited valuation visibility adds uncertainty around pricing levels. Although management highlighted positive elements such as revenue improvements in certain areas and strong liquidity during earnings discussions, these factors have yet to fully offset broader financial and technical pressures.

    More about Ocado Group

    Ocado Group is a UK-based online grocery technology and logistics company specialising in automated fulfilment systems and e-commerce solutions for food retailers. Its operations combine its own online grocery retail activities with the international licensing of the proprietary Ocado Smart Platform, which enables partners to operate automated warehouses and digital grocery services in global markets.

  • Tech Shares Seen Powering Further Gains on Wall Street: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Futures

    Tech Shares Seen Powering Further Gains on Wall Street: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Futures

    U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wednesday, suggesting equities may build on the strong rebound recorded in the previous trading session.

    Momentum is expected to remain concentrated in technology stocks, as investors position ahead of earnings from artificial intelligence chip leader Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA).

    Nvidia, scheduled to publish its fourth-quarter results after the market close, was up 0.8% in premarket trading.

    Software companies Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) and Snowflake (NYSE:SNOW) are also due to release quarterly results later in the day, keeping market attention firmly on the tech sector.

    Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) may add further support after Oppenheimer upgraded the stock to Outperform from Perform, helping lift shares by 2.4% in premarket activity.

    Trading volumes could remain relatively light, however, as the absence of major U.S. economic releases may prompt some investors to stay cautious.

    Following Monday’s selloff, equities rebounded strongly on Tuesday, with all three major benchmarks posting notable gains led by technology stocks.

    The Nasdaq advanced 236.41 points, or 1.0%, to close at 22,863.68. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 370.44 points, or 0.8%, ending at 49,174.50, while the S&P 500 rose 52.32 points, or 0.8%, to 6,890.07.

    Part of the rally appeared driven by bargain hunting, as traders stepped in to buy stocks after the sharp decline earlier in the week.

    On Monday, the Dow had fallen to its lowest closing level in a month amid renewed uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

    Semiconductor shares led Tuesday’s recovery, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index climbing 1.5% to a record closing high.

    Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) stood out with an 8.8% surge after announcing a 6-gigawatt agreement to power Meta’s (NASDAQ:META) next generation of artificial intelligence infrastructure using multiple generations of AMD Instinct GPUs.

    Networking stocks also showed strength, reflected by a 1.5% rise in the NYSE Arca Networking Index.

    Oil services, gold miners, airlines and software stocks also posted solid gains, joining most major sectors in moving higher.

    On the economic front, data from the Conference Board showed U.S. consumer confidence improved in February.

    The organization reported its consumer confidence index rose to 91.2 from a revised 89.0 in January. Economists had expected a reading of 88.0 compared with the originally reported 84.5.

    “Confidence ticked up in February after falling in January, as consumers’ pessimistic expectations for the future eased somewhat,” said Dana M Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board.

    “Four of five components of the Index firmed,” she added. “Nonetheless, the measure remained well below the four-year peak achieved in November 2024 (112.8).”

  • European Markets Higher as AI Concerns Fade; HSBC and Nordex Lead Gains: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European Markets Higher as AI Concerns Fade; HSBC and Nordex Lead Gains: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equities traded mostly higher on Wednesday after artificial intelligence concerns eased following new partnership announcements from AI startup Anthropic.

    The company introduced updated features for Claude Cowork, enabling businesses to integrate the productivity platform across a wide range of enterprise software applications.

    The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index advanced 1.0%, while Germany’s DAX Index gained 0.5% and France’s CAC 40 Index rose 0.4%.

    Shares of U.K.-based pharmaceutical group GSK (LSE:GSK) were largely unchanged after the company agreed to acquire biotech firm 35Pharma Inc., which is developing an early-stage treatment for high blood pressure.

    Banking giant HSBC Holdings (LSE:HSBA) moved sharply higher after reporting 2025 earnings that exceeded market expectations.

    Wind turbine maker Nordex (TG:NDX1) also rallied strongly following better-than-anticipated fourth-quarter results.

    Adecco Group (USOTC:AHEXY) shares climbed after the Swiss staffing company said it was experiencing “positive momentum” in hiring activity at the start of the year.

    In contrast, Diageo (LSE:DGE) dropped sharply after the spirits producer cut its annual sales outlook for the second time during the current fiscal year.

    German healthcare company Fresenius (TG:FME) also declined after issuing a 2026 outlook that disappointed investors.

  • Markets eye Nvidia and Salesforce earnings as AI debate intensifies; gold and oil edge higher: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street Futures

    Markets eye Nvidia and Salesforce earnings as AI debate intensifies; gold and oil edge higher: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street Futures

    U.S. stock futures pointed modestly upward on Wednesday as investors prepared for key earnings releases from Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Salesforce (NYSE:CRM). The announcements come amid ongoing uncertainty about how rapidly artificial intelligence could reshape business models across multiple sectors. Meanwhile, gold and oil prices advanced ahead of scheduled talks between U.S. and Iranian officials later this week.

    Futures steady ahead of major results

    U.S. equity futures traded cautiously higher as markets positioned for a busy earnings calendar led by AI chipmaker Nvidia.

    At 03:01 ET, Dow futures were broadly flat, S&P 500 futures rose by 5 points, or 0.1%, and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 29 points, also up 0.1%.

    Wall Street’s main indices closed higher in the previous session after AI firm Anthropic unveiled a series of partnerships, helping to calm fears that its latest models could significantly disrupt software and data companies.

    Investor concern in recent weeks has focused on whether emerging AI products from Anthropic and competitors could weaken demand for traditional software services. At the same time, markets have been closely watching heavy spending on AI infrastructure by major technology companies, with questions emerging over when these investments will translate into meaningful profits and over what some observers describe as the increasingly “circular” structure of AI-sector agreements.

    Illustrating this dynamic, Meta agreed to purchase 6 gigawatts of AI computing capacity from Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) as part of a $100 billion arrangement that could ultimately give the social media group a roughly 10% stake in the chipmaker. AMD shares rallied after the company said the deal would strengthen its competitive position against Nvidia.

    Adding another layer of uncertainty is U.S. trade policy under President Donald Trump. Following a Supreme Court decision that struck down earlier “reciprocal” tariffs, the administration introduced temporary global duties of 10%. In Tuesday’s State of the Union address, Trump said “everything was working well” with his tariff strategy and described the court ruling as “unfortunate.”

    Nvidia earnings seen as market barometer

    Attention now shifts to Nvidia, whose results — scheduled after the U.S. market close — are widely viewed as a key signal for the global AI investment cycle and broader equity market sentiment.

    Shares of the so-called “Magnificent Seven” technology giants have largely moved sideways this year after surging in the wake of OpenAI’s ChatGPT launch in 2022, which sparked a wave of enthusiasm for AI. While these companies have been major beneficiaries of the AI boom and key drivers of equity gains in recent years, momentum has softened in early 2026.

    “It’s not only Nvidia investors who will be nervous ahead of the company’s results; the entire global equity market may be on edge, given the importance of the AI trade,” said Laurence Booth, Global Head of Markets at CMC Markets.

    Salesforce also in focus

    Salesforce is also due to publish quarterly earnings after the closing bell.

    The cloud software company has been among those most affected by investor unease surrounding increasingly advanced AI systems. Shares of the San Francisco-based group have fallen more than 26% so far this year, highlighting concerns about the outlook for the software-as-a-service industry.

    Analysts at Vital Knowledge described sentiment heading into the release as “gloomy,” noting that disappointing guidance from IT services company Workday earlier in the week added to market caution.

    “[T]he AI-linked medium/long-term existential overhang weighing on all of software will not go away anytime soon,” the analysts warned.

    However, they added that if Salesforce delivers “decent” fourth-quarter results, provides “respectable” guidance for the year ahead, and “demonstrate[s]” stronger progress in AI initiatives, “the stock (and the whole software-as-a-service group) could extend the squeeze higher witnessed on Tuesday.”

    Gold recovers

    Gold prices moved higher after slipping in the previous session amid profit-taking, as investors assessed the implications of new U.S. tariffs and awaited developments from upcoming U.S.-Iran discussions.

    Spot gold rose 0.9% to $5,190.21 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures gained 0.6% to $5,209.51 per ounce. The metal had fallen 1.6% on Tuesday after four consecutive sessions of gains.

    The United States began collecting a temporary 10% global import tariff earlier this week, with officials aiming to raise the rate to 15%, increasing uncertainty around global trade flows and inflation prospects. The move followed a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated earlier tariffs imposed under emergency authority, prompting Washington to reintroduce duties under alternative legal grounds.

    Geopolitical tensions also remained a focal point as U.S. and Iranian representatives prepared for a third round of negotiations in Geneva regarding Tehran’s nuclear programme.

    Oil prices near multi-month highs

    Oil prices traded close to seven-month highs ahead of the Switzerland talks.

    Brent crude futures rose 0.4% to $70.86 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 0.5% to $65.93 per barrel.

    Both benchmarks remain near their highest levels since early August, as the United States has deployed military assets in the Middle East to pressure Iran toward reaching an agreement over its nuclear programme. U.S. envoys, including special representative Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner, are expected to meet Iranian officials on Thursday.