India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Trump Announces U.S.–India Trade Deal Cutting Tariffs, Boosting Markets and Energy Ties 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Indian Rupee Strengthens Sharply After U.S.-India Trade Deal Announcement 
S&P 500 Rises as AI Stocks and Small Caps Rally on Strong Earnings Outlook 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Investors Eye Big Tech Earnings and AI Momentum 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Dollar Holds Firm as Strong U.S. Data, Fed Expectations and Global Central Bank Moves Shape Markets 
U.S. stock index futures ticked higher Thursday evening, extending optimism after record closes for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq fueled by Alphabet’s strong quarterly results and upbeat AI outlook. However, broader gains were capped by steep declines in Tesla, IBM, Honeywell, and UnitedHealth following lackluster earnings and guidance.
S&P 500 Futures rose 0.1% to 6,408 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures added 0.1% to 23,393 points, and Dow Jones Futures climbed 0.1% to 44,947 points as of 19:34 ET. Paramount Global gained 1.4% in after-hours trading after the FCC approved its $8 billion merger with Skydance Media.
Alphabet’s second-quarter earnings surpassed expectations, signaling continued investment in artificial intelligence. The results boosted AI-linked stocks, with NVIDIA rising 1.8%. Sentiment was further supported after President Donald Trump signed three executive orders and unveiled a 90-part plan to accelerate U.S. AI development.
The S&P 500 closed 0.1% higher at 6,363.39, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.2% to 21,957.96—both new record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged, dropping 0.7% to 44,694.09, pressured by losses in IBM, Honeywell, and UnitedHealth. Tesla plunged 8% after CEO Elon Musk warned of “rough quarters” ahead as vehicle sales continued to decline. Intel also slid 3.7% and extended losses in after-hours trade following a disappointing forecast and new cost-cutting measures.
Investor caution persisted ahead of Trump’s August 1 tariff deadline, with hopes for additional trade deals tempered by weaker-than-expected manufacturing PMI data showing U.S. factory activity contracted in July. Nonetheless, overall business activity remained resilient, supported by a stronger services sector.
