U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
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.
