Japanese Yen Nears Seven-Month High as Oil Approaches $100 
Iran Plans New Gulf Restricted Zone as Hormuz Tensions Push Oil Higher 
Brent Oil Tops $100 as Middle East Conflict Threatens Supply 
Canada Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Goods Take Effect 
Japan GDP Growth Beats Forecast, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Bets 
Oil Prices Rally as Brent Nears $100 on U.S.-Iran Escalation 
Asian Currencies Mixed as Yen Rallies on BOJ Bets 
European Stocks Flat as Iran Tensions, ECB Rate Hike Loom 
Asian Stocks Fall as Oil Tops $100, Yields Rise 
South Korea GDP Surges on Chip and AI Boom 
Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Assets as U.S. Tensions Escalate 
China Exports Surge 25% in August as Trade Surplus Hits $119 Billion 
UK House Prices Fall for First Time Since 2023 
Gold Prices Rebound as Dollar Weakens, Fed Decision Looms 
Oil Prices Hold Near Highs as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates 
Asian Stocks Mixed as Korean Chipmakers Rally 
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U.S. stock index futures edged higher Thursday evening following modest Wall Street gains, driven by corporate earnings from Apple and Microsoft. Investors now focus on Friday’s personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index for insights into the Federal Reserve’s next move after maintaining a hawkish stance.
S&P 500 Futures rose 0.1% to 6,104.75, while Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.3% to 21,695.50. Dow Jones Futures ticked up 0.1% to 45,076.
Tech earnings fueled market sentiment. Microsoft stock dropped 6% despite surpassing estimates, as its cloud revenue and AI-related expenses disappointed. Apple stock gained 3% in after-hours trading despite missing iPhone sales estimates. Meta rose 1.6% on strong Q4 revenue but warned of weaker current-quarter sales. Tesla shares climbed nearly 3% on cost-cutting measures and plans for an affordable EV model.
Outside tech, Caterpillar shares fell 4.6% on weak Q4 revenue and a lackluster 2025 outlook. UPS plunged over 14% after cutting 2025 guidance and slashing Amazon deliveries by over 50%.
The NASDAQ Composite gained 0.3% to 19,681.75, the Dow Jones rose 0.4% to 44,881.64, and the S&P 500 advanced 0.5% to 6,071.18.
Friday’s PCE inflation report is expected to show a 0.3% month-over-month increase, signaling persistent inflation. The Fed’s stance remains cautious, with Chair Jerome Powell emphasizing strong labor markets and ongoing price pressures.
Meanwhile, trade policy uncertainties linger. President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs, including a 25% levy on Canadian and Mexican oil imports, have fueled investor concerns. Markets await clarity on exemptions before the tariffs take effect Saturday.
