Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
U.S. stock futures posted modest gains Thursday evening, rebounding slightly after Wall Street’s sharp decline earlier in the day. By 19:29 ET (00:29 GMT), S&P 500 Futures rose 0.3% to 6,765.0, Nasdaq 100 Futures gained 0.3% to 25,318.75, while Dow Jones Futures slipped 0.2% to 47,129.0 points.
The recovery followed another volatile session driven by intensified selling in artificial intelligence and semiconductor stocks, with growing fears that high valuations in the tech sector may have overshot fundamentals. The NASDAQ Composite tumbled 1.9%, the S&P 500 dropped 1.4%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.8% as investors reacted to warnings from top Wall Street executives at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley about overheated equity markets.
Concerns were further compounded by the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, now stretching into its second month, delaying crucial economic data such as inflation and jobs reports. This lack of data has complicated the Federal Reserve’s decision-making process regarding potential interest rate cuts. Meanwhile, private data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed a staggering 183% increase in corporate layoffs in October—the steepest monthly rise in decades—adding to recessionary concerns.
In corporate developments, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) shareholders approved CEO Elon Musk’s record-breaking $1 trillion compensation package, contingent on achieving ambitious goals like an $8.5 trillion market valuation and mass deployment of robotaxis and humanoid robots. The approval reflects investor confidence despite recent volatility in tech shares.
Elsewhere, Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB) surged 5% in after-hours trading following strong quarterly earnings and upbeat guidance. Affirm Holdings (NASDAQ: AFRM) also jumped over 12% after reporting robust results that exceeded Wall Street forecasts.
The cautious optimism in futures trading suggests investors remain watchful of macroeconomic uncertainty, market valuations, and the broader impact of AI-driven growth.
