South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
U.S. stock index futures climbed on Sunday evening after President Donald Trump announced a delay in the proposed 50% tariffs on the European Union, easing investor concerns and lifting market sentiment. The tariffs are now postponed until July 9 following a "productive" call between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, signaling renewed momentum in U.S.-EU trade talks.
S&P 500 Futures rose 0.8% to 5,865.50, Nasdaq 100 Futures jumped 1% to 21,177.25, and Dow Jones Futures gained 0.7% to 41,972.0 by 20:26 ET. The uptick comes after Friday’s sharp selloff triggered by Trump’s tariff threats, which rattled Wall Street. The S&P 500 had fallen 0.7%, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1%, and the Dow Jones declined 0.6%.
In addition to trade developments, investor focus this week shifts to Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), set to report fiscal Q1 earnings on Wednesday. The chipmaker remains a bellwether for the artificial intelligence sector, with analysts watching closely to see if strong AI demand can offset recent U.S. restrictions on chip exports to China, a key Nvidia market.
Despite regulatory hurdles, demand from major AI hyperscalers is expected to have fueled Nvidia's performance. A Reuters report over the weekend revealed Nvidia plans to release a lower-tier AI chip from its Blackwell line tailored for the Chinese market later this year, potentially mitigating lost revenue from export limitations.
With thin trading expected due to the Memorial Day holiday, market momentum hinges on trade negotiations and Nvidia's results, both of which will shape investor outlook in the near term.
