Key headlines from global financial media overnight and this morning include:

1. Iranian Foreign Minister: Negotiations with the United States have achieved good progress. 2. U.S. Department of Defense Sets Public Deadline for Unrestricted Access to Anthropic AI Tool. 3. Dell Technologies Reports Record Quarterly Revenue and Profit, Announces 20% Dividend Increase. 4. Walmart Reaches $100 Million Settlement with FTC Over Misleading Driver Pay Claims. 5. Following Viral Success, Google Launches Second Generation of AI Image Generator, Nano Banana 2. 6. Fed Governor Bowman: Regulators to Release Revised Bank Capital Reform Proposal by End of March.

Iranian Foreign Minister: Negotiations with the United States have achieved good progress. "We held very serious discussions on the elements of an agreement, including nuclear issues and sanctions," Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said in an interview with Iranian state television. "Today's talks were among the best and most serious we have had," he stated. "Our understanding is now very close. Of course, differences remain on certain issues, but both sides are perhaps more serious than before." Araghchi said the two sides have decided to hold the next round of talks "soon," likely in about a week, with the issue of sanctions relief to be discussed in more detail at the next meeting.

U.S. Department of Defense Sets Public Deadline for Unrestricted Access to Anthropic AI Tool. The U.S. Department of Defense escalated an ongoing dispute with Anthropic on Thursday, publicly threatening to effectively ban the AI startup from the Pentagon's vast supply chain. Department spokesperson Sean Parnell warned on social media that Anthropic must allow the Pentagon unrestricted use of its Claude Gov AI tool by 5:01 PM Eastern Time on Friday. The company had previously insisted on certain security measures. "This is a simple, common-sense requirement that will prevent Anthropic from jeopardizing critical military operations and potentially putting our service members at risk," Parnell wrote. A senior Pentagon official confirmed on Thursday that the Defense Department sent a final proposal to Anthropic on Wednesday.

Dell Technologies Reports Record Quarterly Revenue and Profit, Announces 20% Dividend Increase. Dell Technologies today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2026, ended January 30, 2026, and provided guidance for the first quarter and full fiscal year 2027. Full-year revenue reached a record $113.5 billion, an increase of 19% year-over-year. Full-year diluted earnings per share (EPS) reached a record $8.68, up 36% year-over-year; full-year non-GAAP diluted EPS reached a record $10.30, an increase of 27% year-over-year. Full-year operating cash flow reached a record $11.2 billion. The company announced a 20% increase in its cash dividend and a new $10 billion share repurchase authorization.

Walmart Reaches $100 Million Settlement with FTC Over Misleading Driver Pay Claims. Walmart has agreed to pay $100 million to settle charges from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that it misled delivery drivers about their pay and tips. The FTC alleged that Walmart, by showing drivers for its Spark delivery service inflated potential earnings—including prepaid tips selected by customers at checkout, base pay, and special incentive opportunities—cost drivers tens of millions of dollars in earnings. In a complaint filed in California federal court, the FTC stated that Walmart deceived customers by claiming that 100% of customer tips would go to drivers, while the company collected tips from customers that drivers did not receive. Eleven states, including North Carolina, Oklahoma, and California, joined the FTC's lawsuit.

Following Viral Success, Google Launches Second Generation of AI Image Generator, Nano Banana 2. Alphabet released an upgraded version of its previously viral AI image generation model, Nano Banana, on Thursday, emphasizing its faster performance in a bid to attract more users to its AI tools. The company said the new model, called Nano Banana 2, will be gradually integrated into several of its products, including the Gemini app, AI features in Search and Lens, and its AI video tool, Flow. This launch is the latest in a series of moves that have pushed the company to the forefront of the AI race, helping it better compete with OpenAI's ChatGPT after initial setbacks. This string of successes has helped drive its stock price up 47% over the past six months.

Fed Governor Bowman: Regulators to Release Revised Bank Capital Reform Proposal by End of March. Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said regulators are close to releasing a revised version of the U.S. bank capital reform proposal, known as the Basel III endgame. Bowman told a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Thursday, "We are working closely with the OCC and the FDIC to ensure the proposal is released by the end of March." When asked if officials had reached a consensus on the plan, she affirmed they had. Bowman said last week that U.S. regulators plan to release the proposal first, followed by a public comment period, emphasizing that the industry and public will have "ample time" to provide feedback on the plan.