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Trading Day: AI disruption, US-Iran nuclear talks, rate cut bets keep investors on their toes
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 17, 2026
3 min readLast updated: February 17, 2026
Home > Finance > Trading Day: AI disruption, US-Iran nuclear talks, rate cut bets keep investors on their toes
Quick Summary
AI disruption, US-Iran talks, and rate cut bets are key factors affecting investor decisions, with tech stocks rebounding and geopolitical tensions impacting currencies.
Trading Day: AI disruption, US-Iran nuclear talks, rate cut bets keep investo...
Market Overview and Key Influences
By Stephen Culp
Impact of AI on Labor Market
NEW YORK, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Wall Street stocks see-sawed to nominal gains on Tuesday as investors juggled ongoing concerns over spending on artificial intelligence and the potential economic disruptions AI may bring, with positive signals from Iran regarding the progress of nuclear talks with the United States.
Warner Bros Discovery Bid Rejection
Investors appeared to buy the technology dip, with tech and chip shares reversing earlier losses as the session progressed.
Market Predictions for Tomorrow
I will go into more detail on today's market moves below. If you have more time to read, here are a few articles I recommend to help you make sense of what happened in markets today.
I'd love to hear from you, so please reach out to me with comments at stephen.culp@thomsonreuters.com.
Today's Key Market Moves
* STOCKS: U.S. indexes closed little changed. NorwegianCruise Line and Southwest Airlines helped boost transports,while Apple and Broadcom provided some upside muscle for tech * SECTORS/SHARES: Real estate, financials, Dowtransports, and airlines outperformed, but energy, consumerstaples and housing stocks were the clear laggards * FX: The dollar strengthened on geopolitical tensions,while the euro notched its sixth straight session of lossesagainst the dollar. The yen weakened for the second straightsession after snapping a five-day winning streak. * BONDS: U.S. Treasury yields were mixed amid Fed ratecut speculation * COMMODITIES/METALS: Cooling geopolitical tensionseased oil supply concerns and safe-haven demand,sending crude and gold prices lower.Today's Key Reads
1. Fed's Goolsbee: Several rate cuts possible this yearif inflation gets back to 2% 2. Dollar might be ready for a reprieve after afour-month decline 3. Suffocating U.S. pressure could force Russian oiloutput cuts 4. Canada's annual inflation cools in January on fallinggasoline prices 5. Quiet markets, loud diplomacy: All eyes on Iran
Today's Talking Points
* Artificial intelligence and its potential impact on the labor market
Fed Reserve Governor Michael Barr and San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly spoke separately on the subject of AI and its potential impact on the labor market and the broader economy.
* Warner Bros Discovery rejected Paramount Skydance's revised bid; remains receptive to final offer
Warner Bros Discovery turned down Paramount Skydance's latest $30-per-share hostile bid, but gave the company seven days to deliver a "best and final" offer.
What could move markets tomorrow?
* United Kingdom CPI (January) * United Kingdom PPI (January) * France CPI (January) * U.S. New Orders for Durable Goods (December) * U.S. Housing Starts/Building Permits (December) * U.S. Industrial Production/Capacity Utilization (January) * Japan Machinery Orders (December) * South Korea Trade Balance (January) * Australia Employment Report (January) * U.S. Federal Reserve Vice Chair Michelle Bowmanparticipates in a discussion on "supervision and regulation"Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.
(By Stephen Culp; Editing by Nia Williams)
Key Takeaways
- •AI disruption raises concerns over economic impact.
- •US-Iran nuclear talks show positive progress.
- •Investors anticipate potential Fed rate cuts.
- •Tech stocks rebound after initial losses.
- •Geopolitical tensions influence currency markets.
Frequently Asked Questions about Trading Day: AI disruption, US-Iran nuclear talks, rate cut bets keep investors on their toes
1What is artificial intelligence?
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn. AI can perform tasks such as problem-solving, understanding language, and recognizing patterns.
2What is monetary policy?
Monetary policy is the process by which a central bank manages the supply of money in an economy, primarily through interest rates and other financial tools, to achieve specific goals like controlling inflation and stabilizing currency.
3What is economic growth?
Economic growth refers to an increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period of time, typically measured by the rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
4What are rate cuts?
Rate cuts refer to a reduction in the interest rates set by a central bank. This is often done to stimulate economic activity by making borrowing cheaper.
