US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
U.S. stock index futures held steady Monday evening after Wall Street closed higher, with the Nasdaq reaching a new record high on optimism over a possible Federal Reserve rate cut next week.
S&P 500 Futures rose 0.1% to 6,510.25, Dow Jones Futures gained 0.1% to 45,618.0, while Nasdaq 100 Futures stayed flat at 23,810.0 by 20:07 ET (00:07 GMT). Earlier, the S&P 500 added 0.2% and the Dow closed 0.3% higher. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.5%, setting a fresh record close.
The rally was fueled by semiconductor stocks, particularly Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO), which surged after posting stronger-than-expected earnings. Investor sentiment was also boosted by growing expectations of monetary easing from the Fed. Weak U.S. labor data showed nonfarm payrolls increased by only 22,000 in August, far below forecasts, while unemployment rose to 4.3%, its highest in over a year.
Traders now fully price in a 25 basis point Fed rate cut at the September meeting, with odds of a larger 50 basis point reduction also increasing, according to CME’s FedWatch tool.
Markets are eyeing Thursday’s key inflation data, with both consumer price index (CPI) and producer price index (PPI) reports due. Analysts expect CPI to show inflationary effects from recent tariffs imposed under former President Trump, which took effect last month.
On the corporate front, GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) will report second-quarter results Tuesday after market close, while Oracle Corp. (NYSE: ORCL) releases fiscal Q1 earnings. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) will host its “Awe Dropping” event on September 9 at Apple Park, expected to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup, a slim “Air” edition, new Apple Watch models, and third-generation AirPods Pro.
