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China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
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.
