In a climate still festive for many markets, investors' attention remains on one side for the talks between the United States and Iran, on the other hand for the double track on which the sector is movingartificial intelligence after the shocks of the last few days and Goldman Sachs launches dual baskets of securitiesUS markets will reopen today after the holiday and futures on stock market indices Wall Street are declining, while Treasuries are slightly higher, amid a cautious climate. In Asia, China, Hong Kong, and several regional markets are closed for the Lunar New Year and other markets are weak. The and the other precious are falling. The stocks europee they are preparing for a weak opening.
Oil maintains gains ahead of US-Iran talks
Oil held onto gains, with traders pricing in a higher geopolitical risk after theIran held naval exercises Near a critical shipping corridor ahead of talks with the United States. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog in Geneva yesterday, ahead of the second round of nuclear negotiations with the United States. today in Geneva aimed at solving their long-standing nuclear controversy, with few clear indications of compromise. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will take part in the negotiations, mediated by Oman, he said. Reuters a source familiar with the matter, along with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
Trump threatened to strike the Islamic Republic if it does not accept a deal limiting Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. It has mobilized warships and fighter jets near Iran in response to the Iranian regime's recent bloody crackdown on mass protests. WTI Crude Oil +0,5% to 63,25 dollars a barrel
The dual track of artificial intelligence. Goldman launches new baskets.
Continue to attract attention l'impact of artificial intelligence, which has generated selling pressure across various sectors of the stock market in recent weeks. The S&P 500 Index has fallen for two consecutive weeks and is down 0,1% since the beginning of the year. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 has fallen for three consecutive weeks, down 2% since the beginning of the year.
There is a dual track in the way Wall Street talks about artificial intelligence. On one side, there is the opinion that theAI will radically change the economyThis has been the driving force behind punitive sell-offs across several sectors, such as real estate services, wealth management, insurance, and logistics.
On the other side, there is still a lot of fear that Big Tech is in a AI bubble. Microsoft and Amazon shares have been hit hard this year by investors worried they're spending billions on further AI development. Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet alone are expected to spend over $600 billion on capital expenditures in 2026. This means some of the world's richest tech companies are rapidly becoming some of the most indebted.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has launched a new basket of software stocks which targets companies that will benefit from the adoption of artificial intelligence, and at the same time targets companies whose workflows could be replaced.
Wall Street expected to reopen lower ahead of new data this week.
Wall Street is on the defensive after the Presidents' Day holiday, and futures are pointing to a slower resumption. Contracts for the S&P 500 are down 0,4%, and those for the Nasdaq 100 index are down 0,7%.
Operators look forward in the week with others key data including ADP data today on the private sector labor market, the Fed minutes on Wednesday and the US GDP data on Friday. Britain, Canada and Japan will also publish inflation data this week. Traders also evaluating the prospects of rate cuts of interest from the Federal Reserve. Statements by Governor Michael Barr and San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly are expected today.
Asia is mixed, with China and Korea still closed for Lunar New Year.
Amid subdued trading due to the closure of markets in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore for the Lunar New Year holidays, other Asian markets were mixed, with Japanese stocks extending losses following disappointing economic growth data, while Australia was supported by gains in mining giant BHP.
Japanese indices Nikkei 225 and Toppix Both fell about 0,9%, extending the previous session's steep losses. Disappointing fourth-quarter gross domestic product data weighed heavily. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, while well received by the markets, will likely need to take further action to support growth. Technology stocks also suffered renewed sell-offs, amid continued uncertainty about the impact of artificial intelligence and real future profits. Softbank loses almost 5%. The industrial sector also suffers: down Kawasaki and Hitachi. Still in Japan, the demand for an auction of five-year government bonds rose for the first time since September, amid easing expectations of an early rate hike by the country's central bank. It was the first Japanese government bond auction since Takaichi's historic election victory earlier this month.
The Australian ASX 200 index is up 0,2%, mainly driven by gains in mining giant BHP Group, which reported strong earnings for the first half of its fiscal year. The stock jumps by almost 7%, hitting an all-time high. The group posted solid revenues thanks to the rally in copper prices at the end of 2025 and record iron ore production.
Alibaba Group has unveiled a major update to its flagship AI model, accelerating the race with a slew of startups and industry leaders aiming to overtake the next big thing from China’s DeepSeek phenomenon.
Advanced Micro Devices has partnered with Tata Consultancy Services to deploy the U.S. chipmaker’s latest AI data center technology in India, challenging Nvidia in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
On the currency market the index of dollar, which measures the dollar against a basket of currencies, rose to 97,12 after a 0,2% gain in the previous session. The euro fell 0,1% to $1,184.
Lo yen strengthened by 0,3% to 153,04 per dollar. GBP weakened by 0,11% to $1,3607.
The Gold fell more than 2% today as holidays in major markets hit liquidity while a stronger dollar added pressure. Spot gold fell 1,9% to $4.898,53 an ounce, after previously hitting $4.862 an ounce, its lowest in over a week. U.S. gold futures for April delivery lost 2,6% to $4.917,70 an ounce. Copper and aluminum also fell slightly as rising inventories of the red metal and uncertainty over tariffs weighed on sentiment. Copper fell as much as 0,8%, falling below $12.800 a tonne, while global inventories tracked by the London Metal Exchange hit their highest level in two decades.'aluminum fell as much as 0,6%, with investors awaiting further information on the extent of tariffs on U.S. imports.
European stock markets are seen declining early. At the Milan Stock Exchange, Prysmian and Fineco are all eyes on the stock market.
European markets are expected to open lower. Euro Stoxx 50 Index futures are down 0,4%.
Italian banks – The government could increase the cost of state guarantees on loans to SMEs. Banks could "offset" this cost by charging corporate borrowers or by reducing credit provision.
Fincantieri – New order worth over €2 billion from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings for the construction of three next-generation cruise ships.
Fineco – UBS raised its recommendation from Neutral to Buy, with a target price of 23,80 from the previous 21,80.
Italgas Berenberg raised its target price to 11 euros, from 7 euros previously, with a Hold rating confirmed.
Leonardo – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that the UK must accelerate defense spending. Leonardo's main projects include the GCAP partnership and a £1 billion medium transport helicopter program (the sole bidder). Yesterday, the group announced a contract with Saudi Arabia for the supply of four C-27J aircraft (estimated value: €300–400 million).
nexi Following the exit of the Bain and Advent funds, the stake tied to the shareholders' agreement has dropped to 41,37% from 55,27%. The agreement remains in effect for CDP shareholders, with 19,14%, and H&F with 22,23%.
Prysmian – Berenberg has lowered its recommendation from Buy to Hold, raising the target price to 92 euros, from 75 euros previously.
Stellantis – The EU is working on a rule requiring 70% of electric cars to be produced within the Union to qualify for government incentives.
Telecom Italy – JP Morgan raised its target price to 0,62 euros, from 0,57 euros, with a Neutral rating confirmed.
BFF Bank The Milan Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into the bank, alleging false accounting, according to two sources. Following the news, the stock closed yesterday down more than 12%. Late in the evening, the company clarified that it was aware of the investigation and agreed to cooperate with the prosecutor's office.
Erg, A2A – According to rumours of the Corriere della SeraErg is reportedly exploring potential extraordinary transactions, which could involve a shareholder reorganization. Among those interested are A2A, the leading Swiss electricity company Axpo, and several investment funds. The most likely possibility seems to be a merger between Erg and an industrial player.
Media for Europe – MFE has signed an advertising agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery in Spain to unify its advertising portfolio starting in June 2026.
