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Macro EconomyMedium•20 February 2026•

1 min read

US Futures Slip as Iran Tensions Rise and Markets Await Key Economic Data

An older Black man in a red cap and glasses stands between the Nigerian and UK flags, with gold bars, coins, and banknotes in the foreground. Cityscapes and financial charts with upward and downward a

US equity futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq edged lower on Wednesday as investors weighed escalating geopolitical risks involving Iran. Market sentiment was further pressured by a heavy schedule of upcoming economic releases, including US GDP and the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, the Core PCE. Gold prices surged to record levels above $5,000 per ounce, reflecting a flight to safety, while Brent crude retreated toward $71 per barrel. In corporate news, Akamai Technologies saw its shares tumble 11% following a disappointing earnings outlook for the upcoming year. Traders remain cautious as they navigate a deluge of macroeconomic data that could influence the Fed's future interest rate path. Major technology stocks, including Nvidia and Alphabet, also remain under scrutiny ahead of these critical data points.