23 February 2026 — Today's Market News — Oil Falls to $70.95/bbl on Easing U.S.–Iran Tensions & IDFC Bank Drops 15%

Global Markets

Precious Metals

Gold: $5,157.03/oz (+1.01%)

Gold rose more than 1% as investors increased buying following fresh trade policy uncertainty. Stable U.S. bond yields and ongoing geopolitical concerns supported prices, helping gold move higher during the session.

Silver: $86.98/oz (+2.70%)

Silver rose 2.7%, outperforming gold. Prices increased due to safe-haven buying and strong demand from the electronics and semiconductor sectors in Asia. Silver benefits both from risk concerns and industrial demand.

Brent Crude: $70.95/bbl (−1.0%)

Brent crude fell about 1%, down around 76 cents to nearly $71 per barrel. Prices came down after news that the U.S. and Iran will hold a third round of nuclear talks in Geneva on Thursday, and there will be more supply of oil.

FX

Dollar Index (DXY): 104.30 (+0.10%)

The dollar did not move much today as tariff worries still exist. The U.S. interest rates are still much higher than those of many other countries, so investors still prefer to keep their money in the dollar.

USD/JPY: 151.80 (+0.20%)

The dollar became slightly stronger against the yen due to higher U.S. interest rates compared to Japan's, prompting investors to favor dollar holdings.

Stock Market — What Happened Today

U.S. Equities

Nasdaq: 22,886.07 (+204.18 pts, +0.90%)

The Nasdaq rose 0.90%, mainly driven by large technology stocks after legal news reduced tariff concerns. Investors bought strong, well-known growth companies, helping the index move higher.

Notable gainers:

• Alphabet: +3.7% ($300B+ revenue)
• Amazon: +2.6% ($550B+ revenue)
• Apple: +1.5% ($160B+ cash)

Hong Kong

Hang Seng Index: 27,022.00 (+2.30%)

The Hang Seng rose 2.30% to 27,022, mainly because large technology stocks moved sharply higher.

Notable movers:

• JD.com: +6.9%
• Meituan: +4.2%
• Tencent: +3.4%

Investors bought these companies after earlier declines, as prices had become attractive. Improved global tech sentiment also supported buying.

India

Nifty 50: 25,733 (+0.64%)

The Nifty 50 climbed 0.64% to 25,733 as Indian equities advanced after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down former President Trump's emergency tariffs, which removed pressure on export companies.

Notable movers:

• Trident: +8%
• Welspun Living: +3.03%
• IDFC First Bank: −15% (on $65 million fraud probe)
• AU Small Finance Bank: −6.6% (following regulatory action)

Volatility & Positioning

The VIX closed around 19.5, indicating moderate market risk and cautious investor sentiment.

What Traders Are Watching

With key macro developments ahead, traders are focusing on three themes:

1. U.S. Trade Policy Developments — Further clarity on tariff frameworks could shift global risk appetite quickly.
2. AI & Semiconductor Momentum — Continued earnings strength in chipmakers may extend technology leadership.
3. Upcoming U.S. Inflation Data — Inflation readings will influence Federal Reserve rate expectations and dollar direction.