Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
U.S. stock index futures rose slightly Sunday evening, aiming to recover from last week’s selloff driven by escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The rebound comes as investors shift focus to this week’s Federal Reserve meeting, where interest rates are expected to remain unchanged.
S&P 500 Futures edged up 0.2% to 6,040.75, Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.2% to 21,909.0, and Dow Jones Futures increased 0.1% to 42,553.0 by 7:55 p.m. ET.
Markets are now closely watching the Fed’s two-day policy meeting starting Tuesday. The central bank is widely expected to keep rates steady at around 4.5%. However, investors are looking for any signals pointing to future rate cuts amid cooling inflation, a slowing job market, and reduced economic growth. These factors have fueled speculation that the Fed could soften its stance later this year.
Despite cutting rates by 1% in 2024, the Fed has projected a slower pace of easing in 2025, largely due to persistent inflation concerns and uncertainty over President Trump’s ongoing trade tariffs. Trump has also been pressuring the Fed to lower rates further.
Last Friday, Wall Street tumbled as geopolitical risks surged. Israel launched strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, prompting swift retaliation from Tehran. The conflict significantly weakened prospects for renewed nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S. and triggered fears of broader war in the Middle East.
The S&P 500 dropped 1.1% to 5,976.97, the NASDAQ Composite slid 1.3% to 19,406.83, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.8% to 42,197.79. However, defense and energy stocks saw gains, driven by rising oil prices and expected defense spending amid the escalating conflict.
