Global Market Brief: February 24, 2026 Global equity markets are showing continued resilience as February draws to a close. Investors have largely pivoted from initial geopolitical jitters toward a focus on fundamental economic expansion. The macro environment remains supportive, characterized by broadening participation across sectors and geographies. In the United States, major benchmarks finished the recent trading week in positive territory. The **Dow Jones Industrial Average** closed at **49,625.97**, a gain of **0.5%**. The **S&P 500** continues to hover near the psychological **7,000** threshold, currently sitting at **6,836.17**, while the tech-heavy **Nasdaq Composite** ended at **22,546.67**. Inflation and Monetary Policy US inflation data for January 2026 came in lower than anticipated, providing a clear tailwind for risk assets. The annual **Consumer Price Index (CPI)** slowed to **2.4%**, the lowest level since early 2021. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, also eased to **2.5%**. The Federal Reserve is currently maintaining interest rates steady, but market consensus has priced in three rate cuts for 2026. Projections suggest a terminal rate settling between **3.0% and 3.25%** by year-end. This shift reflects a normalizing price environment despite persistent labor market tightness and wage growth holding near **3.9%**. Energy and Commodities The energy sector is undergoing significant price recalibration. **Brent Crude** averaged **$67 per barrel** in January but is forecasted to decline toward **$58** as global production begins to outpace demand. Domestic natural gas remains volatile; the **Henry Hub** spot price spiked to **$7.72 per MMBtu** earlier this month due to winter weather disruptions but is expected to average **$4.31** for the remainder of the year. Gold and silver have seen substantial momentum. Silver futures recently surged **10%** to reach **₹2,60,000 per kg** in some markets, while gold futures climbed to **₹1,52,000 per 10 grams**. This movement highlights a sustained appetite for traditional hedges amid ongoing trade policy uncertainty. Technology and Emerging Assets Artificial Intelligence has transitioned from an experimental phase to the structural backbone of the enterprise. The "AI trade" is broadening beyond megacap names into industrials and materials. In the private sector, investment is shifting toward multi-agent platforms and specialized hardware accelerators as organizations seek measurable impact over hype. The cryptocurrency market is currently navigating a period of stabilization following high volatility in late 2025. **Bitcoin** is trading near **$65,834**, with a market capitalization of approximately **$1.3 trillion**. While prices remain below their previous records, the sector is showing less sensitivity to trade-related headlines compared to earlier cycles. International Performance Emerging markets are delivering a diverse mix of growth stories. In India, the **BSE Sensex** recently hit **83,739**, while the **Nifty 50** reached **25,727**. Growth in this region is projected at **7.3%** for the 2025-26 fiscal year. In Asia, the **Nikkei** rose **5.8%** to start the year, supported by ongoing governance reforms in Japan. Global trade remains under pressure from rising tariffs and the reconfiguration of supply chains. Global growth is projected at a subdued **2.6%** for 2026, as major economies like China experience a slight deceleration toward **4.6%**. The reconfiguration of value chains toward risk management over cost-efficiency continues to reshape investment flows.