Asian Stocks Slide as AI Rally Pauses, South Korean Chipmakers Lead Regional Decline 
South Korea Stocks Tumble as AI-Fueled Rally Faces Profit-Taking Pressure 
Canada, British Columbia Launch $5 Billion Infrastructure Partnership to Boost Housing, Transit, and Healthcare 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Supply Concerns 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Russian Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
US Stock Futures Recover as Iran Signals Progress in Peace Talks 
Trump Says No Hormuz Strait Tolls During 60-Day Iran Ceasefire 
US Dollar Hits One-Year High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Overshadows Middle East Developments 
New Zealand Fast-Tracks Gold Mining as Industry Revival Gains Momentum 
France Faces Long Road to Economic Rebalancing as Weak Demand and High Rates Weigh, Says Citi 
Gold Price Rises as Investors Weigh U.S.-Iran Talks and Fed Policy Outlook 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
100+ Global Companies Push Governments to Prioritize Electrification for Economic Growth 
China Keeps Loan Prime Rates Unchanged for 13th Straight Month as Policymakers Prioritize Credit Demand Recovery 
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.
