Market participants are preparing for a trading week abbreviated by the holiday, which will present new economic indicators and significant corporate earnings reports. Oil prices are currently exhibiting a rangebound behavior as the United States and Iran gear up for discussions in Switzerland regarding Tehran’s nuclear aspirations. There are indications that discussions regarding Paramount Skydance’s hostile takeover offer may be revisited, as gold and edge experience a decline.

The stock markets will be closed for a holiday on Monday, as traders prepare for an influx of economic indicators and a series of corporate earnings reports later this week. The primary indices exhibited a mixed performance at the conclusion of trading on Friday. Markets were analyzing data indicating that U.S. inflation increased at a slower than anticipated rate in January, which strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve might advance the timing of its forthcoming interest rate reduction to as early as June. A robust job market report earlier in the week had previously bolstered expectations that the central bank, which reduced rates multiple times in 2025, would refrain from resuming the easing until the latter half of this year. However, the Nasdaq Composite continued to experience pressure, indicative of persistent concerns regarding potential disruptions to the technology and communication services sectors stemming from the advent of new artificial intelligence models. Concerns regarding competition, coupled with uncertainties about the timeline for substantial investments by large-cap entities in AI infrastructure to yield returns, negatively impacted the major indices last week. Focus shifts to forthcoming data, particularly the U.S. personal consumption expenditures price index for December, scheduled for release on Friday. The PCE figure is monitored with great attention by Federal Reserve officials as a measure of inflation. An advance estimate of U.S. economic growth for the October-December quarter is scheduled for release on Friday.

This week, the United States and Iran are set to engage in a second round of discussions regarding Tehran’s nuclear aspirations in Switzerland, following the resumption of negotiations earlier in February. However, the resurgence of dialogue coincided with the U.S. positioning a second aircraft carrier in the Middle East, indicating preparations for a prolonged military engagement with Tehran should negotiations falter. U.S. President Donald Trump consistently cautioned Tehran to agree to a deal or confront increased military action. Iranian ministers communicated to the media over the weekend that the nation was prepared to make concessions regarding its nuclear programme in exchange for alleviation from onerous U.S. sanctions. They also indicated that the decision now rests with Washington regarding its willingness to pursue a deal. Analysts noted that a significant risk premium remains embedded in the market due to the prevailing uncertainty surrounding the developments in the U.S.-Iran situation. Oil prices exhibited a rangebound pattern during European trading hours on Monday. Market holidays in China and the U.S. resulted in subdued trading volumes, while disappointing economic growth figures from Japan raised concerns regarding a potential cooling in demand. Brent oil futures for April remained stable at $67.72 a barrel as of 02:28.

In other developments, media reports indicate a new turn in the ongoing narrative concerning the future of Hollywood mainstay Warner Bros. Discovery. Warner Bros is contemplating the resumption of negotiations regarding a potential sale to Paramount Skydance, following the enhancement of its hostile takeover bid by David Ellison’s studio group, according to reports. Board members at Warner Bros are considering whether Paramount’s offer could be more advantageous than a competing proposal from a prominent streaming entity, it is reported. Last week, Paramount committed to increasing cash payments to Warner Bros shareholders for each quarter that a deal remains unresolved in 2026, and assured that it would supply the necessary funds to cover any penalties that the HBO owner might face for terminating its existing agreement with Netflix. It is important to note that Paramount did not enhance its fundamental offer of $30 per share.

Gold prices declined beneath significant thresholds during European trading hours, as the U.S. dollar stabilized following the release of consumer price data. Metal markets exhibited continued volatility following significant fluctuations over the past fortnight, with both gold and silver remaining notably below their peaks observed in late January. Spot gold declined by 0.9% to $4,998.69 per ounce, whereas gold futures for April decreased by 0.6% to $5,018.69 per ounce as of 02:33. Gold and silver recorded gains in the previous week, driven by a combination of dip-buying and dollar weakness that bolstered metal prices. The increased tensions between the U.S. and Iran have sustained demand for safe-haven assets.

Bitcoin experienced a significant decline, furthering its losses as cryptocurrency markets recorded four consecutive weeks of substantial downturns. The world’s largest cryptocurrency experienced a decline following a brief ascent to $70,000 over the weekend. Bitcoin experienced a decline of 3.1%, reaching a value of $68,624.6 by 02:37. Bitcoin has now erased approximately 50% of its value since reaching a peak of about $126,000 in October. Elsewhere, — the world’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin — stated on Sunday that it will be capable of meeting its debt obligations even if the price of Bitcoin were to decline to as low as $8,000 a coin. The company stated in a social media post that it can “withstand a drawdown in price to $8K and still have sufficient assets to fully cover our debt.” Strategy possesses 714,644 Bitcoin, having financed its acquisitions of the cryptocurrency through a combination of new capital issuances and long-term debt financing.