BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
U.S. stock futures edged lower Thursday evening as investors digested fresh tariff measures announced by President Donald Trump and mixed quarterly earnings from Amazon and Apple. The market also awaited Friday’s key nonfarm payrolls report, following new economic data showing mild inflation and slightly higher jobless claims.
By 20:26 ET, S&P 500 Futures slipped 0.3% to 6,358.50, Nasdaq 100 Futures fell 0.4% to 23,278.75, and Dow Jones Futures dropped 0.2% to 44,227. In Thursday’s regular session, the S&P 500 declined 0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.7%, while the NASDAQ Composite closed nearly flat.
Amazon shares plunged over 7% in extended trading after issuing weak operating income guidance and disappointing AWS cloud results, falling short of investor expectations set by rivals’ stronger performances. Conversely, Apple stock gained 2% after beating revenue and earnings forecasts and providing an upbeat outlook for the current quarter.
Investors are also reacting to Trump’s new reciprocal tariffs, set to take effect August 1, ranging from 10% to 41% on imports from multiple countries. The order imposes 25% tariffs on goods from India, 20% on Taiwan, and 30% on South Africa, while raising Canadian tariffs to 35% from 25% over fentanyl-related concerns. A separate 15% tariff was announced earlier on imports from South Korea.
Economic data showed initial jobless claims rose slightly to 218,000 last week, signaling a still-resilient labor market. Meanwhile, June consumer spending increased, and the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index rose 0.3%, matching forecasts and slightly above May’s 0.2%, providing fresh signals on U.S. inflation trends amid heightened trade tensions.
