Written by Michael A. Johnson, Lead Editor & Market Strategist
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Ready for Quick Agreement with the U.S.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Lavanchy, stated that Iran is prepared to reach an agreement with the U.S. as soon as possible. In an interview with NPR, he emphasized that negotiations will focus solely on nuclear issues and expressed hope for a positive response from the U.S. if there is political will from all parties involved.
Federal Reserve Insights on AI and Interest Rates
AI's Impact on Labor Market
Federal Reserve Governor Cook highlighted that AI is causing significant changes in the U.S. labor market, potentially leading to increased unemployment rates. She noted that while AI presents new opportunities, job displacement may occur before new jobs are created, complicating the economic transition.
Interest Rate Projections
Cook warned that the AI investment boom could raise neutral interest rates in the short term, necessitating tighter monetary policy. However, if AI exacerbates income inequality, neutral rates might decline over time.
Trump to Announce Energy Cost Agreement with Tech Companies
On February 25, President Trump will announce an agreement with major tech companies to cover a larger share of energy costs associated with data centers. This move aims to alleviate pressure on the power grid and has become a significant topic ahead of the midterm elections.
U.S. Job Market Shows Moderate Recovery
Recent data indicates that U.S. private employers added an average of 12,750 jobs weekly over the past four weeks, marking the fourth consecutive week of improvement. However, this growth remains below the peak levels seen in late 2025.
Federal Reserve Officials on Inflation
Collins' View on Inflation
Fed's Collins expressed optimism about a potential decrease in inflation later this year, citing recent encouraging employment data.
Barkin's Inflation Concerns
Barkin noted that inflation remains above target levels, with a need for further data to confirm a downward trend.
Global Oil Freight Rates Surge
Recent data shows that the cost of chartering a super tanker to transport Middle Eastern oil to China has surged to over $170,000 per day, tripling since the beginning of the year due to various geopolitical factors.
Anthropic Launches AI Solutions Amid Market Recovery
AI company Anthropic recently held a briefing to introduce new AI integration methods for businesses, which helped stabilize the software sector. Major indices saw gains, with the S&P 500 rising by 0.77%.
Google Expands Waymo's Autonomous Taxi Service
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google, is expanding its autonomous taxi service to four new cities in Texas and Florida, aiming to increase its operational reach across major U.S. urban areas.
Warner Bros. Considers Paramount's Acquisition Offer
Warner Bros. is evaluating a new acquisition offer from Paramount, which has increased its bid to $31 per share. The board will respond to this latest proposal.
Klaviyo Partners with Google
Klaviyo announced a strategic partnership with Google to enhance AI-driven customer experiences, resulting in a stock price increase of over 5%.
Meta and AMD's Major Chip Deal
Meta has signed a significant agreement with AMD to deploy up to 6 gigawatts of AMD chips, valued at $60 billion, while also securing the option to purchase AMD shares at a discounted price.
Stripe's Interest in Acquiring PayPal
Reports suggest that Stripe is considering acquiring PayPal, leading to a notable increase in PayPal's stock price.
Keep's Profit Forecast for 2025
Keep announced a forecast for adjusted net profit of approximately 25 million yuan for 2025, marking a significant turnaround from previous losses.
Liu Qiangdong's Investment in Yacht Industry
Liu Qiangdong has announced a personal investment of 5 billion yuan to establish a yacht brand, aiming to make yachts affordable for the average worker.
China's Chip Production Plans
China's top chip manufacturers, including Huawei and SMIC, plan to increase advanced semiconductor production to meet rising domestic AI demand, despite facing U.S. export restrictions.
Haizhi Technology Signs AI Framework Agreement
Haizhi Technology has signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Zhizhu to focus on model training and industry applications.
Upcoming Financial Reports
The Hong Kong budget will be released soon, with several companies, including Circle and Nvidia, set to announce their earnings.
