TLDR
- A coordinated U.S.-Israel military operation against Iran over the weekend introduced fresh geopolitical risk into financial markets
- Major indices including the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow posted weekly losses; Bitcoin retreated to approximately $66,000 as gold advanced to $2,596
- February employment report scheduled for Friday release; January data revealed 130,000 new positions, significantly exceeding analyst predictions
- Key corporate earnings releases include Broadcom, CrowdStrike, Costco, and Target
- Apple begins rolling out new product announcements Monday, with a dedicated event planned for Wednesday
Equity markets concluded the week in negative territory as artificial intelligence and entertainment sector stocks experienced significant volatility. The S&P 500 registered declines across the daily, weekly, and monthly timeframes for February.
The Nasdaq 100 similarly posted losses, while the Dow Jones declined 1.05%. Treasury yields on the 10-year note retreated to 3.95%.
Bitcoin descended toward the $66,000 level as the week concluded. Gold appreciated to $2,596 while crude oil advanced to $67.29 per barrel.
During weekend operations, U.S. and Israeli forces executed a coordinated military strike targeting Iranian positions. President Trump issued statements encouraging regime change in Iran, prompting Iranian counterstrikes against Israeli and Gulf state targets.
Crude oil prices had already been climbing throughout the week on Middle East tensions. Additional escalation could drive energy costs higher, creating ripple effects across energy, aviation, and defense industry stocks.
Jobs Report in Focus
The February employment report arrives Friday morning. January’s data revealed employers added 130,000 positions, more than doubling economist expectations.
That same release, however, included downward revisions to previous months, indicating early 2025 job growth was less robust than initially calculated. The Federal Reserve maintains its benchmark rate between 3.5% and 3.75% as market participants monitor labor market indicators.
The unemployment rate is projected to remain near 4.4%. A softer reading could reignite speculation about potential rate reductions at the March or May policy meetings.
The postponed January retail sales data also publishes Friday. December figures indicated consumer spending plateaued at year-end, with subdued employment growth identified as a contributing factor.
Earnings Season Continues
Broadcom delivers results Wednesday with analysts projecting approximately $19.22 billion in quarterly revenue. The company indicated in December that its artificial intelligence revenue stream would experience year-over-year doubling.
CrowdStrike announces earnings Tuesday. Software sector equities have faced headwinds from concerns about AI-driven disruption, though certain analysts view artificial intelligence as an expansion catalyst for cybersecurity providers.
Marvell Technology reports Thursday. Investor attention will center on AI semiconductor demand following Nvidia’s exceptional quarter that delivered $68.1 billion in Q4 revenue.
Target announces results Tuesday under recently appointed CEO Michael Fiddelke, who assumed leadership last month. Target’s stock price has rebounded during the current year following a challenging 2025.
Costco releases quarterly results Thursday. The retailer’s shares have similarly strengthened in 2026 after a difficult prior year.
Netflix stock surged 13.82% last week following Warner Bros. Discovery‘s acceptance of a $31-per-share proposal from Paramount Skydance, rejecting Netflix’s competing bid. Netflix declined to increase its offer.
Apple is anticipated to unveil new hardware beginning Monday, potentially including the iPhone 17 and a budget-friendly MacBook option. A special announcement event is confirmed for Wednesday.
The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book publishes Wednesday in advance of the central bank’s March 17-18 policy meeting.
Marvell Technology’s quarterly earnings call is confirmed for Thursday, March 5.
Get 3 Free Stock Ebooks
Discover top-performing stocks in AI, Crypto, and Technology with expert analysis.
- Top 10 AI Stocks - Leading AI companies
- Top 10 Crypto Stocks - Blockchain leaders
- Top 10 Tech Stocks - Tech giants
