Stocks Slip 0.24% as Brent Hits $71.42 on Iran Risks

Global equity markets paused Thursday as fading fears over artificial intelligence disruption were offset by rising geopolitical tensions and a firm Federal Reserve stance on interest rates. Investors balanced optimism about technology earnings with caution over U.S.-Iran developments and higher-for-longer borrowing costs.

Europe’s benchmark STOXX Europe 600 slipped 0.24% after touching a record high a day earlier. Losses in aerospace giant Airbus and mining heavyweight Rio Tinto followed earnings updates, trimming momentum built on strong defense and banking shares earlier in the week.

U.S. futures were steady, with contracts tied to the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite little changed. In Asia, the MSCI Asia Pacific ex Japan Index rose 0.38%, though trading volumes were light due to Lunar New Year holidays in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.

AI Fears Ease, Tech Rebounds

Markets earlier this month were unsettled by concerns that artificial intelligence spending could disrupt profit models across industries. That anxiety cooled after chipmaker Nvidia announced a multi-year agreement to supply Meta Platforms with millions of AI chips.

Wall Street rallied Wednesday on the news, with investors interpreting the deal as evidence that demand for advanced processors remains strong. Nvidia, currently the world’s most valuable listed company, reports earnings next week—an event traders view as pivotal for broader technology sentiment.

Strategists say confidence in a resilient U.S. economy is also underpinning equities. Federal Reserve minutes from January showed policymakers are in no rush to cut rates, citing persistent inflation pressures. Several officials even signaled openness to further tightening if price growth stalls.

Key market drivers this week:

• STOXX 600 down 0.24% after record high
• Brent crude up 1.5% to $71.42
• Gold up 0.8% to $5,017 per ounce
• Dollar index down 0.11% after 0.59% jump

Oil and Gold Reflect Risk

Energy markets reflected rising geopolitical unease. Reports from outlets including The New York Times and CNN detailed a buildup of U.S. forces near Iran, though Donald Trump had not announced a final course of action.

Brent crude climbed 1.5% to $71.42 a barrel after surging 4.4% in the prior session, while U.S. crude rose 1.6% to $66.26. Gold, a traditional haven during instability, advanced 0.8% to $5,017 an ounce.

Currency markets were steady. The dollar index edged down 0.11% after gaining 0.59% Wednesday on stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data.

For investors, the message is clear: optimism about corporate earnings is intact, but geopolitics and Federal Reserve policy remain decisive forces. As long as inflation proves stubborn and tensions simmer, markets are likely to move carefully rather than boldly.