China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
U.S. stock index futures were slightly lower on Monday evening following a mixed session on Wall Street, where optimism around artificial intelligence (AI) and positive corporate developments helped lift major indexes. As of 19:15 ET (00:15 GMT), S&P 500 futures slipped 0.1% to 6,873.20, Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.2% to 26,048.75, and Dow Jones futures declined 0.1% to 47,412.00.
The S&P 500 gained 0.2% and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.5%, driven by strength in megacap tech stocks and renewed confidence in AI innovation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, fell 0.5% as investors took profits after last week’s rally. Market sentiment was fueled by news of a $38 billion partnership between Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) and OpenAI. Under the deal, Amazon Web Services will provide large-scale cloud infrastructure to power OpenAI’s next-generation AI models—reinforcing expectations of accelerating AI investment through 2025. Amazon shares surged over 4%, while Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) rose 2.2%, benefiting from optimism surrounding AI infrastructure demand.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Nvidia’s cutting-edge “Blackwell” AI chips would be reserved exclusively for U.S. use, a move analysts warned could strain trade relations with China. On the economic front, the ISM manufacturing index reported a contraction for the eighth consecutive month in October, with a reading of 48.7, indicating ongoing weakness in U.S. factory activity.
Amid a prolonged government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—investors and policymakers remain without key economic data. In earnings news, Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) reported results in line with forecasts but fell 3% in after-hours trading. Investors now turn their focus to upcoming reports from Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD), Uber (NYSE: UBER), and McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) for further insight into AI trends and consumer resilience.
