Daily Market Update: Markets Brace for Iran Tensions, Jobs Data, and Big Earnings

TLDR

• U.S. and Israel launched a joint military strike on Iran over the weekend, adding geopolitical uncertainty to markets
• The S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow all fell last week; Bitcoin slid toward $66,000 while gold rose to $2,596
• February jobs report drops Friday; January showed 130,000 jobs added, more than double forecasts
• Major earnings this week include Broadcom, CrowdStrike, Costco, and Target
• Apple kicks off new product launches Monday, with a special event expected Wednesday

U.S. stocks closed the week lower as AI and media stocks drove sharp moves. The S&P 500 fell for the day, the week, and the month of February.

The Nasdaq 100 also dropped, and the Dow Jones fell 1.05%. The 10-year Treasury yield eased to 3.95%.

Bitcoin slid toward $66,000 by week’s end. Gold climbed to $2,596 and oil rose to $67.29 a barrel.

Over the weekend, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military strike on Iran. President Trump called on Iranians to overthrow their government, and Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and Gulf nations.

Oil had already been rising on Iran tensions during the week. Further escalation could push crude prices higher and affect energy, travel, and defense stocks.

Jobs Report in Focus

The February jobs report arrives Friday. The January report showed employers added 130,000 jobs, more than double what economists had forecast.

However, that same report revised earlier months downward, showing 2025 hiring was weaker than first reported. The Federal Reserve is holding rates at 3.5% to 3.75% and markets are watching for any sign of labor market cooling.

An unemployment rate near 4.4% is expected. A weaker number could bring rate cut talk back to the table for March or May.

The delayed January retail sales report also drops Friday. December data showed spending stalled at year-end, with weak hiring cited as a factor.

Earnings Season Continues

Broadcom reports Wednesday and is forecast to post around $19.22 billion in revenue. In December, the company said its AI-related revenue would double in the quarter.

CrowdStrike reports Tuesday. Software stocks have been under pressure from fears about AI disruption, though some analysts see AI as a growth opportunity for cybersecurity firms.

Marvell Technology follows Thursday. Investors will be watching AI chip demand closely after Nvidia posted a record quarter with $68.1 billion in Q4 revenue.

Target reports Tuesday under new CEO Michael Fiddelke, who took over last month. Target shares have recovered this year after a rough 2025.

Costco also reports Thursday. Its stock has also improved in 2026 after a down year.

Netflix shares jumped 13.82% last week after Warner Bros. Discovery chose a $31-per-share offer from Paramount Skydance over Netflix’s bid. Netflix walked away without raising its offer.

Apple is expected to announce new products starting Monday, including possibly the iPhone 17 and a lower-cost MacBook. A special event is scheduled for Wednesday.

The Fed’s Beige Book releases Wednesday ahead of the central bank’s March 17-18 meeting.

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

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