Global Markets Under Pressure as Middle East Tensions and Private Equity Concerns Rise 📈

• Global Market Sentiment: Markets across Asia and the U.S. dipped on Friday as geopolitical risks escalated. Japan’s Nikkei dropped 1% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.3%. U.S. private equity stocks (Apollo, Blackstone) saw sharp declines of over 5% due to liquidity and valuation concerns. • Energy & Commodities: Brent crude futures reached a 6.5-month high, surpassing US$ 72 per barrel. This spike follows a U.S. military buildup and a 10-15 day deadline set by the U.S. for Iran to reach a nuclear deal, signaling potential supply disruptions. • Currency & Rates: • The U.S. Dollar is on track for its largest weekly gain in four months (+0.9% against the Euro). • The Japanese Yen weakened as core inflation slowed to 2.0%, potentially delaying interest rate hikes. • U.S. 10-year Treasury yields remained steady at 4.06% amid uncertainty over the Fed's rate-cut trajectory. • Corporate & Trade: • ICT/BPM and tech focus remains on Nvidia’s upcoming earnings and a reported US$ 30 Bn investment into OpenAI. • The U.S. trade deficit widened in December, with the 2025 goods shortfall hitting record highs despite tariff policies. • Consumer outlook remains cautious as retail giant Walmart shares fell 1.4% following soft guidance. _Summary based on provisional market data as of Feb 20, 2026._