South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
Oil Prices Jump After New U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Supply Concerns 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
Nikkei Hits Record High as AI Chip Stocks Power Japan Market Rally 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment 
Dollar Gains Slightly as U.S.-Iran Tensions Keep Forex Markets on Edge 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
UK Grocery Inflation Slows to 3.1% as Supermarket Price Pressures Ease in May 2026 
Mega IPOs Like SpaceX and OpenAI Could Reshape S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Portfolios in 2026 
Tokyo Inflation Cools in May, Supporting BOJ’s Cautious Rate Hike Path 
New World Screwworm Found Near U.S. Border Raises Threat to Cattle Industry and Beef Prices 
US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
Wall Street Hits New Highs as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar 
Oil Prices Set for Sharp Weekly Losses as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Ease Supply Concerns 
U.S. stock index futures edged lower Thursday evening as Wall Street closed in the red, weighed down by renewed fears surrounding regional banks, escalating U.S.-China trade tensions, and the prolonged government shutdown.
S&P 500 Futures slipped 0.2% to 6,654.50 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures dropped 0.2% to 24,778.50 points. Dow Jones Futures declined 0.1% to 46,097.0 points. During regular trading, the S&P 500 fell 0.6%, the NASDAQ Composite lost 0.5%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated 0.7%.
Regional bank stocks were among the biggest losers after Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ: ZION) and Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL) reported significant loan losses linked to potential fraud. Zions said it would write off roughly $50 million following “misrepresentations and contractual defaults” at its California Bank & Trust unit. Western Alliance announced legal action against a borrower accused of presenting fraudulent collateral. The disclosures triggered steep selloffs, with Zions tumbling more than 13% and Western Alliance dropping nearly 10%, dragging the KBW Regional Banking Index down about 6%.
Investor sentiment also weakened amid rising geopolitical and political uncertainty. President Trump’s announcement of an additional 100% tariff on all Chinese imports, in response to Beijing’s rare earth export restrictions, further fueled concerns of deteriorating trade relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government shutdown, now entering its third week, continued to rattle markets, delaying key economic data and stoking fears about short-term growth prospects.
Despite early optimism from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE: TSM) earnings that briefly lifted tech stocks, broader market declines in industrials and financials erased those gains. JB Hunt (NASDAQ: JBHT) surged over 20% after posting strong results, while Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) fell as Trump hinted at sharp price cuts for obesity drugs.
