3 weeks of war, possible rate hikes, and AI's 'show me' phase: What to watch this week

Market Overview - US equities ended the week in the red, with all three major indexes now showing year-to-date losses of over 5% [1] - The Dow lost about 1.0% (approximately 450 points), the S&P 500 fell by 1.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 2%, resulting in a total loss of roughly 7% since January 1 [1] Economic Indicators - Attention is focused on inflation and labor market indicators following hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell [2] - Key readings on inflation expectations from the University of Michigan and industrial economy data from S&P Global and the Kansas City Federal Reserve are anticipated [3] Oil Market Dynamics - Oil prices remain above $100, with Brent trading around $107 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude at approximately $98.30, both up about 3% for the week [4] - The ongoing conflict in Iran has significantly impacted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about energy supply stability [4][5] - QatarEnergy's CEO indicated that repairs to the Ras Laffan LNG terminal could take years, highlighting vulnerabilities in energy infrastructure [6]