First Light News: Iran Tensions and AI Fears at the Forefront Ahead of Key US Data

Commodities - Oil prices reached year-to-date highs of US$67.01, driven by geopolitical tensions following US President Trump's warning to Iran regarding nuclear negotiations [1] Currency and Labor Market - The USD index extended its recent gains, marking a fourth consecutive day of increases with a 0.1% rise [2] - US weekly jobless claims for the week ending February 14 were reported at 206,000, down from a revised 229,000, indicating labor market resilience [2] - The US economy added 130,000 new jobs in January, with the unemployment rate decreasing to 4.3% [2] Economic Data and Forecasts - The upcoming US Q4 GDP first estimate is expected to show a growth rate of 3.0%, a deceleration from Q3's 4.4% but still considered healthy [4] - The GDP deflator is projected to decrease to 2.9% from 3.7% [4] - The PCE price index is anticipated to remain unchanged at 2.8% year-on-year, with a modest increase in month-on-month figures [5] Federal Reserve Implications - An upside surprise in PCE data could support the Fed's current stance and strengthen the USD, while softer inflation could have the opposite effect [6]