Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
U.S. stock index futures declined Thursday amid escalating Middle East tensions and uncertainty over recent U.S.-China trade developments. Dow E-minis dropped 269 points (0.63%), S&P 500 E-minis fell 25.5 points (0.42%), and Nasdaq 100 E-minis slid 74 points (0.34%).
Investors showed caution after an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed in Ahmedabad, India, with over 200 passengers on board. Boeing shares (NYSE:BA) plunged 7.6% in premarket trading. The incident added to broader risk-off sentiment already pressured by geopolitical risks.
President Donald Trump announced the repositioning of U.S. personnel in the Middle East, calling it a “dangerous place,” and warned Iran against pursuing nuclear weapons. An Iranian official responded by threatening U.S. bases if nuclear talks fail. The developments come ahead of a sixth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations.
In trade news, China confirmed a consensus on a trade agreement with the U.S., urging both sides to honor the deal. Markets await further details from this week’s two-day talks in London, as investor focus remains on tariff impacts and global economic stability.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) fell 1.7% and Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) lost 1.1%, tracking broader tech weakness. In contrast, Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) jumped 7.7% after raising its revenue forecast on surging AI-related demand.
Gold prices rose, boosting U.S.-listed gold miners. Newmont climbed 1.5%, Harmony Gold gained 3.5%, and AngloGold Ashanti advanced 4.2%. Oklo shares slid 5.8% after launching a $400 million stock offering.
Markets also await May’s Producer Price Index and initial jobless claims, due later today. Citigroup (NYSE:C) analysts noted tariff effects may intensify in late summer, while current inflation appears muted.
The S&P 500 is now 2% below its February peak, while the Nasdaq is 2.7% off its December high.
