Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
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.
