U.S. stock markets will close on Monday for President’s Day, as investors around the globe focus on a critical meeting of U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia over a possible Russia-Ukraine peace deal.
Walmart (WMT), for example, will report its earnings later this week and give important readings on U.S. consumer spending. Gold prices are steady elsewhere as uncertainty over U.S. tariffs and interest rates continue to support safe-haven demand.
1. Market Closed for Presidents’ Day
U.S. stock markets will be closed on Monday for President’s Day as Asian and European equities begin the week on a high.
Wall Street ended mixed on Friday as investors digested President Donald Trump’s move to impose broad reciprocal tariffs, even though no immediate levies were announced. Trump has ordered his economic team to prepare a proposal for these tariffs by April 1. Treasury yields retreated on hopes that the delay would help ease worries about continuing trade tensions.
The uncertainty over these tariffs, and their potential effect on Federal Reserve policy, has weighed on markets; economists have warned that the measures could spark inflationary pressures again and muddle the Fed’s schedule of future rate cuts.
2. Peace Talks Between U.S. and Russia in Saudi Arabia
U.S. and Russian diplomats will hold talks in Riyadh on Tuesday aimed at a potential framework for negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. U.S. representatives447446 include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff. The Russian delegation is not known.
That high-level discussion — the first between the two countries in years — would pave the way for a potential meeting between Trump and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine confirmed, however, that Kyiv would not have a seat at the negotiating table, raising concerns among Ukraine’s European allies that they would be pushed off to the sidelines in the negotiations.
A Russia-Ukraine peace deal and subsequent sanctions relief on Russian energy could hit global oil supply, analysts say, but current demand trends have helped keep crude prices steady.
3. Walmart Earnings in the Hot Seat
Walmart is slated to report earnings on Thursday, and investors will watch for clues about trends in U.S. consumer spending.
Recent data has pointed to growing fears over inflation and Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports. Consumer prices posted their largest increase in almost a year and a half in January, sentiment also slumped to a seven-month low in February. Hierarcy fears over the damage to the economy from new tariffs have contributed to the consumer caution.
E-commerce giant Alibaba (BABA) of China is also due to report earnings this week. It recently partnered with Apple (AAPL) to bring AI-enhanced features to the growing Chinese market, ahead of domestic players.
4. Gold Remains Stable in Face of Uncertainty
Gold held steady on Monday, hovering just below all-time highs as safe-haven demand continued amid uncertainty over U.S. trade policies and interest rates.
Trump’s tariff moves sent the metal to new heights recently, but a delay in implementing some of the duties has pulled prices back somewhat. Speculation about possible peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine has also dulled risk aversion, curbing some demand for gold.
5. Japan’s Economy Grows Faster Than Expected
Japan’s Q4 GDP growth at +0.7% quarter-on-quarter, beat market estimates +0.3%. On an annualized basis, G.D.P. increased 2.8 percent, up from 1.7 percent growth in the prior quarter.
That outperformance was propelled by a recovery in capital expenditure, as well as external demand. Japanese companies stepped up investment, and exporters stepped up shipments before expected U.S. trade tariffs under Trump’s administration.US markets close for President’s Day as focus shifts to U.S.-Russia talks
U.S. stock markets will close on Monday for President’s Day, as investors around the globe focus on a critical meeting of U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia over a possible Russia-Ukraine peace deal.
Walmart (WMT), for example, will report its earnings later this week and give important readings on U.S. consumer spending. Gold prices are steady elsewhere as uncertainty over U.S. tariffs and interest rates continue to support safe-haven demand.
1. Market Closed for Presidents’ Day
U.S. stock markets will be closed on Monday for President’s Day as Asian and European equities begin the week on a high.
Wall Street ended mixed on Friday as investors digested President Donald Trump’s move to impose broad reciprocal tariffs, even though no immediate levies were announced. Trump has ordered his economic team to prepare a proposal for these tariffs by April 1. Treasury yields retreated on hopes that the delay would help ease worries about continuing trade tensions.
The uncertainty over these tariffs, and their potential effect on Federal Reserve policy, has weighed on markets; economists have warned that the measures could spark inflationary pressures again and muddle the Fed’s schedule of future rate cuts.
2. Peace Talks Between U.S. and Russia in Saudi Arabia
U.S. and Russian diplomats will hold talks in Riyadh on Tuesday aimed at a potential framework for negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. U.S. representatives447446 include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff. The Russian delegation is not known.
That high-level discussion — the first between the two countries in years — would pave the way for a potential meeting between Trump and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine confirmed, however, that Kyiv would not have a seat at the negotiating table, raising concerns among Ukraine’s European allies that they would be pushed off to the sidelines in the negotiations.
A Russia-Ukraine peace deal and subsequent sanctions relief on Russian energy could hit global oil supply, analysts say, but current demand trends have helped keep crude prices steady.
3. Walmart Earnings in the Hot Seat
Walmart is slated to report earnings on Thursday, and investors will watch for clues about trends in U.S. consumer spending.
Recent data has pointed to growing fears over inflation and Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports. Consumer prices posted their largest increase in almost a year and a half in January, sentiment also slumped to a seven-month low in February. Hierarcy fears over the damage to the economy from new tariffs have contributed to the consumer caution.
E-commerce giant Alibaba (BABA) of China is also due to report earnings this week. It recently partnered with Apple (AAPL) to bring AI-enhanced features to the growing Chinese market, ahead of domestic players.
4. Gold Remains Stable in Face of Uncertainty
Gold held steady on Monday, hovering just below all-time highs as safe-haven demand continued amid uncertainty over U.S. trade policies and interest rates.
Trump’s tariff moves sent the metal to new heights recently, but a delay in implementing some of the duties has pulled prices back somewhat. Speculation about possible peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine has also dulled risk aversion, curbing some demand for gold.
5. Japan’s Economy Grows Faster Than Expected
Japan’s Q4 GDP growth at +0.7% quarter-on-quarter, beat market estimates +0.3%. On an annualized basis, G.D.P. increased 2.8 percent, up from 1.7 percent growth in the prior quarter.
That outperformance was propelled by a recovery in capital expenditure, as well as external demand. Japanese companies stepped up investment, and exporters stepped up shipments before expected U.S. trade tariffs under Trump’s administration.Publication date:
2025-02-17 14:30:47 (GMT)
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