US Stock Futures Steady as Nvidia Earnings and Iran Tensions Keep Investors on Edge 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Dollar Holds Near Six-Week High Amid Iran War Concerns 
Gold Prices Climb as Trump Delays Iran Strike, Boosting Safe-Haven Demand 
Dollar Holds Near Six-Week High as Iran War Fuels Inflation Fears and Boosts Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Thailand Economy Grows 2.8% in Q1 2026, Beating Market Expectations 
Asian Stocks Slide Ahead of Nvidia Earnings as Tech Shares Tumble 
Singapore NODX Surges 24.5% in April on Strong AI-Driven Electronics Demand 
ECB’s Nagel Says Central Banks Can Do More to Support Markets Amid Inflation Concerns 
Dollar Slips as Bond Market Stabilizes Amid Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Markets Waver as Trump Delays Iran Strike, Oil Prices Retreat 
Asian Stocks Mixed as Tech Shares Slide Ahead of Nvidia Earnings 
China to Buy 200 Boeing Jets, Push for Extended U.S. Trade Deal 
UK Hiring Slows as Iran War Fuels Economic Uncertainty in 2026 
Asian Currencies Slide as Iran Conflict Fuels Dollar Strength and Inflation Fears 
Global Companies Face $25 Billion Blow From U.S.-Israel Iran Conflict 
Gold Prices Steady as Iran War Fuels Inflation and Rate Concerns 
U.S. stock index futures rose slightly on Thursday evening as investors maintained expectations for further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, shifting their attention toward the upcoming third-quarter earnings season. The modest gains followed a soft Wall Street session, where markets paused after a record-breaking rally driven by tech optimism and artificial intelligence momentum.
As of 19:07 ET (23:07 GMT), S&P 500 futures gained 0.1% to 6,784.50, Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 0.1% to 23,312.75, and Dow Jones futures edged up 0.1% to 46,628.0. The S&P 500 closed Thursday down 0.3% at 6,735.11, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.1% to 23,024.63, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.5% to 46,358.42.
Tech stocks, including NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), have been the primary catalyst for recent market strength, buoyed by increased investment and chip supply deals linked to AI development. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE: TSM) also added support after reporting strong third-quarter revenue, with investors awaiting its full earnings report next week.
Market sentiment was further shaped by comments from Federal Reserve officials. New York Fed President John Williams expressed support for additional rate cuts, citing a weakening labor market. Minutes from the Fed’s September meeting revealed that while policymakers broadly agreed on more easing, opinions differed on how deep the cuts should go. Fed Chair Jerome Powell offered limited guidance, but traders largely continued to price in a 98% chance of a 25-basis-point rate cut in October, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
Looking ahead, attention turns to the Q3 earnings season beginning next week. Major financial institutions including JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Citigroup (NYSE: C), and BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) are set to report Tuesday. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), ASML Holding (AS: ASML), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) will follow midweek. Investors will watch closely to assess how trade tariffs and economic disruptions have impacted corporate profits.
