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Meta announces the launch of four new chips designed specifically for AI tasks to support its data center expansion. These chips belong to the MTIA series and are expected to be deployed in batches over the next two years, aiming to improve performance and reduce costs, thereby enhancing capabilities in the generative AI field. The first chip was put into use a few weeks ago, and subsequent chips will accelerate Meta's AI development.

Stryker's stock price fell 3.4% on Wednesday after it experienced a cyberattack related to Iran, causing global system outages. Employees were warned not to use company devices and to disconnect from the internet to prevent leaks. The company is a giant in the medical technology field, specializing in the production of surgical equipment.

Wells Fargo warns that rising oil prices are eroding American households' purchasing power, and a weak labor market along with stagnant real incomes may lead to a slowdown in consumer spending growth. Although the U.S. economy is more resilient to energy shocks, high oil prices could still pose asymmetric risks and impact economic outlook. Two interest rate cuts are expected this year, but high oil prices may make achieving this goal more difficult.

Wolfe Research analysis indicates that American consumers are now equipped to handle rising energy prices caused by the Iran conflict, with fiscal support and strong refunds alleviating the impact. Although markets are concerned about an economic slowdown, analysts believe that in the short term, the stock market will remain news-driven, and the conflict is expected to gradually de-escalate, leading to a decline in gasoline prices. Overall, consumer spending is expected to remain strong.

Trump hints that military operations with Iran are about to end, stating there are almost no targets left to hit. Nevertheless, U.S. and Israeli officials say the strikes will continue for at least two weeks. Trump emphasized that this operation is a retaliation for the damage Iran has caused over the years.

KKR's publicly traded private credit fund faces pressure, with its stock price down 29%. CFO Robert Lewin stated that non-traded instruments may contain greater opportunities. He mentioned that returns on direct loans are affected, especially due to pressure on subordinate exposures.

Jefferies data shows that in February, US airline ticket prices increased by 7.1% year-over-year and 1.4% month-over-month. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.4% year-over-year, in line with expectations. Although airline ticket prices nominally increased, actual prices are still 17% below 2019 levels. Air travel remains resilient despite Middle East conflicts and rising fuel costs.

Bank of America has raised its 2026 Brent crude oil forecast, expecting global energy supply and prices to become more vulnerable due to the Iran conflict. The forecast shows a deficit of 1.1 million barrels per day in the first half of 2026, with prices expected to reach $77.50, potentially rising to $100 or $130 in more severe scenarios.

The Swedish Ministry of Finance has lowered its economic growth forecast for 2026 to 2.8%, down from the 3% prediction in December, mainly due to the impact of the Middle East conflict on household confidence. Nevertheless, growth is still expected to be higher than last year's 1.5%. The finance minister emphasized that the country has the conditions for recovery, but geopolitical tensions pose challenges to the economy.

Irvine, California - Tilly’s, Inc. (NYSE:TLYS) shares surged 48% after the company announced its Q4 earnings report, marking its first Q4 profit since fiscal 2021.
For the quarter ending January 31, 2026, the specialty retailer reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.10, well above analysts' expected loss of $0.32 per share.
Revenue reached $155.1 million, up 5.3% year-over-year, surpassing the market consensus of $146.1 million. Comparable store sales soared 10.1%, marking the seventh consecutive month of positive comparable sales growth.
President and CEO Nate Smith said, "Our comparable store net sales momentum accelerated in Q4 of fiscal 2025, achieving our first Q4 profit since fiscal 2021."

Bumble Inc. exceeded expectations in Q4, despite a decline in user numbers. The company has an optimistic outlook, and its stock price rose by 17%. Revenue decreased by 14.3% year-over-year but still surpassed expectations. Revenue for Q1 2026 is expected to be in line with analyst estimates. The CEO stated that the focus will be on enhancing the member experience.

Caesars Entertainment stock price rose by 4.7% as billionaire Fetti plans to acquire at approximately $34 per share, with a total transaction value of about $7 billion, surpassing Icahn Enterprises' $33 cash offer. Caesars has not yet rejected Icahn's proposal, and the outcome of the negotiations remains uncertain.

California Governor Newsom confirmed that despite receiving warnings about a potential drone attack by Iran, law enforcement officials consider the threat to be not credible. The information is for preventive purposes, and the state government has taken coordinated measures. Public support for Iran conflicts is low, increasing concerns about the current situation.

California Governor Newsom stated that the state government has taken note of the potential drone attack threat and pointed out that the FBI has warned that Iran may attack the West Coast. The state government is organizing a task force to address this issue.

Stitch Fix's second-quarter performance exceeded expectations, with revenue increasing 9.4% year-over-year to $341.3 million, and adjusted loss per share of -$0.02. Despite a decline in active customers, customer engagement improved. The company’s revenue forecast for the third quarter is slightly below market expectations, while it raised its revenue outlook for fiscal year 2026 to $1.33 billion-$1.35 billion.

Oracle Financial Software's credit risk indicators have significantly improved, with the five-year debt default protection cost dropping to 1.52%, a one-month low. This change stems from the company's quarterly report alleviating investor concerns over AI-related expenditures.

Analyst Wolfe has raised the target price for Eli Lilly's experimental oral weight loss drug orforglipron, expecting strong long-term demand and potential dominance in the obesity treatment market. The analysis indicates that the drug's annual peak revenue is expected to reach $44 billion, surpassing market consensus. Its launch is expected to drive growth in the obesity market.

On Wednesday, three commercial ships were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, including a cargo ship flying the Thai flag that sent a distress signal and was forced to evacuate. 20 crew members were injured, and 3 are missing. The UK maritime authorities confirmed the attack.

Saudi Arabia significantly increased its oil production in February to 10.882 million barrels per day to respond to the potential U.S. attack on Iran. This production boost was an emergency measure to prevent disruptions in Middle Eastern supply, causing oil prices to surge after the attack on February 28. OPEC maintains an optimistic outlook for global oil demand growth.

U.S. consumer prices increased by 2.4% over the 12 months ending in February, unchanged from the previous month. Data from the Department of Labor show a month-on-month increase of 0.3%, while the "core" consumer prices, excluding volatile items, rose 2.5% year over year.