Today’s Outlook :
• US MARKET : Wall Street weakened on Thursday. Nvidia shares fell despite strong quarterly results, dragging down other chip stocks. The S&P 500 slid 0.4% to 6,909.01, the NASDAQ Composite dropped 1.2% to 22,878.38, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended relatively flat at 49,499.51. The market had risen in the prior session amid renewed optimism over AI prospects, which continue to swing in a roller-coaster fashion. The third round of U.S.–Iran nuclear talks in Geneva ended with “significant progress,” according to mediator Oman, and discussions will resume after consultations in respective capitals. President Donald Trump warned of serious consequences if meaningful progress is not achieved. A prolonged conflict could disrupt oil supplies from Iran, the third-largest producer in OPEC. Nvidia posted revenue and profit above expectations for the quarter ended January and issued a stronger-than-expected revenue outlook for the current quarter, supported by still-robust AI-driven demand for its chips. Netflix Inc said it will not raise its bid for Warner Bros Discovery Inc, after Warner Bros deemed Paramount Skydance Corp’s latest proposal superior. Netflix’s co-CEOs said the deal is no longer financially attractive at the required valuation.
• EUROPEAN MARKET : European equities rose on Thursday, supported by corporate earnings releases and positive sentiment from Nvidia. Germany’s DAX gained 0.4%, the U.K.’s FTSE 100 added 0.4%, and France’s CAC 40 jumped 0.7%. Data showed a slight improvement in EU economic sentiment in February. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde reiterated she intends to serve her term through October 2027. In the U.K., sentiment in the services sector improved after more than a year of declines, though consumer-facing businesses remain downbeat
• ASIAN MARKET : Asian equities mostly advanced. Japanese stocks hit record highs as markets pared expectations for interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan, while Nvidia’s earnings fueled a rally in South Korean chipmakers. Chinese markets were broadly steady, while Hong Kong declined on weakness in local tech stocks. South Korea’s KOSPI surged more than 2% to a record 6,222.14. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix climbed to record highs on strong AI chip demand prospects. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX also set new records after Japan nominated more dovish academics to its central bank. China’s CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite edged lower after sharp gains over the previous two sessions, as optimism over Lunar New Year consumer spending cooled.
• COMMODITIES :Oil prices turned higher in choppy trade after U.S.–Iran nuclear talks showed progress. Brent rose 0.6% to USD 71.14 per barrel, while WTI gained 0.2% to USD 65.60 per barrel.
• INDONESIA : The JCI fell 1.04% to 8,235.36 amid concerns over potential outflows from MSCI rebalancing and lingering worries about Indonesia’s fiscal condition. Staying positioned in commodity-related stocks remains the preferred strategy this year, supported by rising prices of oil, gold, and nickel. Investors are advised to remain cautious, using tight stop-loss and trailing-stop levels amid elevated volatility.
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