Gold Prices Steady Ahead of U.S. Inflation Data and Fed Decision 
Iraq Seeks 6 Million Bpd OPEC+ Oil Quota 
China Buys 1 Million Tons of U.S. Soybeans Ahead of Xi Visit 
China Inflation Accelerates in August as CPI, PPI Rise 
Asian Stocks Mixed as AI Chip Rally Meets Oil Surge 
US Bans Canadian Alcohol, Motorcycles as Trade War Escalates 
ECB Rate Hike in Focus as Oil Tops $100 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady as Oil Tops $100 Ahead of Inflation Data 
China Boosts Gold Reserves by 650,000 Ounces as Prices Rally 
UK Food Inflation Forecast to Hit 6.4% by Mid-2027 
Gold Prices Rise as Yen Rally Weakens Dollar 
US Stock Futures Mixed as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
Hormuz Shipping Slows as Iran Threats Lift Oil Risks 
Asian Stocks Fall as Oil Tops $100, Yields Rise 
Asian Currencies Steady as Yen Holds Firm, Oil Tops $100 
Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Assets as U.S. Tensions Escalate 
Oil Prices Rally as Brent Nears $100 on U.S.-Iran Escalation 
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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.
