Iran-U.S. talks and Ukraine-Russia negotiations in focus — progress in sight?
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (3rd L) and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis (2nd R) attend a bilateral meeting between Switzerland and Iran during the second round of US-Iran talks in Geneva on February 17, 2026, during which Washington is pushing Tehran to make a deal to limit its nuclear program.
Cyril Zingaro | Afp | Getty Images
Geopolitics will be the main theme of the day, with markets monitoring high-stakes talks in Geneva between the US and Iran, as well as Ukraine and Russia.
The talks between Kiev and Moscow represent the latest round of negotiations between the countries mediated by the United States, as Russia approaches the fourth anniversary of its occupation of Ukraine.
The negotiations, which started on Tuesday, are expected to enter their second and final day on Wednesday; No concrete agreement has been announced yet. Russia reportedly The attack that hit Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure on Tuesday prompted condemnation from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Washington and Tehran’s talks appear to be making more progress so far.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the parties had reached a general agreement on “guiding principles,” but that does not mean an agreement on the countries’ long-running nuclear dispute is imminent, Reuters reported.
Still, Araghchi’s comments eased fears of an immediate conflict in the region, with oil futures falling on Wednesday.
US stock futures were trading slightly higher on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq gaining 0.25%. This follows a sluggish session for US stocks on Tuesday, with major averages posting weak gains.
Investors remain uneasy about the impact of artificial intelligence. The software sector, already under pressure due to fears of disruption from AI tools, continued to fall on Tuesday; Leaders like CrowdStrike and ServiceNow lost 3.6% and 1.1%, respectively.
In an interview with CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal, the CEO of leading European start-up Mistral AI predicted that more than 50% of businesses’ existing software could be replaced by AI.
He made the comments on the sidelines of India’s AI Impact summit, which continues this week. Important announcements have come out of the event so far, such as Adani’s commitment to invest $100 billion in data centers in the country by 2035.
Consumer price inflation figures will also be released from the UK on Wednesday, after jobs data showed the UK unemployment rate rose to a 5-year high and wage growth slowed in the final three months of 2025.
Shares of German multinational life sciences company Bayer will be in the spotlight after Monsanto unit announced this agreement reached It is worth $7.25 billion to resolve thousands of current and future lawsuits over concerns that the Roundup weed killer causes cancer.
What you need to know today
China’s exports contributed to the decline in cargo trade for the largest US port. New data from the Port of Los Angeles shows that China’s commitments to buy more US agricultural products have not yet materialized.
Meta expands Nvidia deal to use millions of AI chips. The new comprehensive agreement will enable Meta to use chips, including Nvidia’s new discrete CPUs and next-generation Vera Rubin systems, in AI data centers.
Nvidia is partnering with Indian VC firms on AI start-ups. The company said it is working with several major venture capital firms to identify and fund AI startups in India’s growing AI market.
Iran partially closes the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. State media cited reports citing “security measures” as Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard held military exercises in the waterway.
Japan’s export growth reached its highest level in the last 3 years. Exports rose 16.8% year-on-year in January, sharply beating market expectations and recording the fastest growth since November 2022.
[Pro] Appaloosa Management’s David Tepper is bullish on Micron and Korean stocks. The billionaire hedge fund manager increased his stake in Micron and took a position in Korean stocks, both artificial intelligence plays.
And finally…
Businesses strive to tap into China’s growing experience economy
There’s nothing like the holiday rush in China for Lunar New Year.
The streets of Beijing city begin to empty a few days in advance as the majority of residents return to their hometowns or travel to other places. The normally tense atmosphere of people rushing to work or school is replaced by a quiet calm.
So where do the locals go? Immersive experiences rank high.
— Evelyn Cheng
