Daily Market Update: Markets Prepare for Iran Conflict, Employment Figures, and Major Corporate Earnings

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TLDR

  • A joint U.S. and Israeli military strike on Iran over the weekend has introduced fresh geopolitical uncertainty into the markets.
  • Major indices including the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow all declined last week; Bitcoin trended toward $66,000 as gold advanced to $2,596.
  • The February employment report is due Friday; the previous month’s data revealed 130,000 jobs were added, significantly exceeding expectations.
  • Key earnings reports this week are expected from Broadcom, CrowdStrike, Costco, and Target.
  • Apple begins a series of new product announcements Monday, with a special event anticipated for Wednesday.

U.S. equity markets ended the week in negative territory, influenced by significant swings in AI and media stocks. The S&P 500 recorded losses for the day, the week, and the entire month of February.

E-Mini S&P 500 Mar 26 (ES=F)

The Nasdaq 100 also declined, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.05%. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note decreased to 3.95%.

Bitcoin moved closer to $66,000 as the week concluded. Gold prices increased to $2,596, and oil climbed to $67.29 per barrel.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price

During the weekend, the United States and Israel conducted a joint military operation against Iran. President Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their government, prompting retaliatory attacks from Iran on Israel and Gulf nations.

Oil prices were already ascending during the week due to tensions with Iran. Any further escalation has the potential to drive crude prices higher, impacting stocks in the energy, travel, and defense sectors.

Jobs Report in Focus

Attention turns to the February jobs report, which will be released on Friday. The January data indicated that employers created 130,000 new jobs, a figure that was more than double economists’ predictions.

Source: Forex Factory

However, the January report also included downward revisions for prior months, revealing that hiring in 2025 was not as strong as initially reported. With the Federal Reserve maintaining interest rates between 3.5% and 3.75%, markets are monitoring for any indications of a cooling labor market.

The unemployment rate is anticipated to be around 4.4%. A softer figure could reignite discussions about potential interest rate cuts in March or May.

The delayed retail sales report for January is also scheduled for release on Friday. December’s data indicated a stall in consumer spending at the end of the year, with sluggish hiring identified as a contributing factor.

Earnings Season Continues

Broadcom is set to report earnings on Wednesday, with revenue projections around $19.22 billion. Back in December, the company projected that its AI-related revenue would double for the quarter.

CrowdStrike will report on Tuesday. Software stocks have faced pressure due to concerns about AI disruption, although some analysts believe AI presents a growth avenue for cybersecurity companies.

Marvell Technology reports on Thursday. Investor focus will be on demand for AI chips, especially following Nvidia’s record-breaking quarter, which featured $68.1 billion in Q4 revenue.

Target reports on Tuesday under the leadership of its new CEO, Michael Fiddelke, who assumed the role last month. Target’s stock has rebounded this year after a difficult 2025.

Costco is also scheduled to report on Thursday. Its shares have similarly seen improvement in 2026 following a decline last year.

Netflix shares surged 13.82% last week after a company chose a $31-per-share offer from Paramount Skydance over a bid from Netflix. Netflix declined to increase its offer and withdrew from the process.

Apple is anticipated to commence new product announcements on Monday, which may include the iPhone 17 and a more affordable MacBook. A special event is planned for Wednesday.

The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book will be published on Wednesday, preceding the central bank’s policy meeting on March 17-18.

Marvell Technology’s earnings are scheduled for Thursday, March 5.