Asian stock markets fell on Thursday, retreating from record highs hit earlier in the week, as sharp volatility in global technology shares amid AI disruption worries weighed on investor sentiment.
The U.S. services sector held steady in January, with businesses increasingly worried about supply constraints tied to a data center construction boom powering artificial intelligence.
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook on Wednesday signaled that she will not support another interest-rate cut until she sees more proof that price pressures are receding, saying she is more concerned about stalled progress on inflation than a weakening labor market.
Iran and the United States will hold nuclear talks in Oman on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Araghchi confirmed in a post on X.
Oil prices fell in Asian trade on Thursday, with traders taking out some risk premium after the U.S. and Iran confirmed that talks between the two will take place on Friday.