Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
U.S. stock futures traded slightly lower on Wednesday evening as investors assessed a mixed round of earnings from major technology companies and absorbed the Federal Reserve’s latest policy update, while remaining cautious ahead of more high-profile corporate results. S&P 500 futures slipped about 0.2% to 6,994 points, Nasdaq 100 futures were little changed at around 26,160 points, and Dow Jones futures declined roughly 0.3% to near 49,019 points, reflecting a subdued risk appetite in late trading.
During the regular session, Wall Street closed mostly flat, with the S&P 500 hovering near record levels. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite managed modest gains, signaling that investors were reluctant to take aggressive positions before a wave of key earnings reports. After the bell, market reactions were driven largely by results from heavyweight technology firms, which set the tone for stock futures.
Meta Platforms shares surged nearly 8% in extended trading after the company issued an upbeat revenue outlook for the first quarter. Strong advertising demand and improving returns from artificial intelligence investments helped reassure investors about growth prospects in the digital advertising space. Tesla stock also rose close to 2% after the electric vehicle maker delivered fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded analyst expectations, easing some concerns around demand and margins.
In contrast, Microsoft weighed on sentiment after its shares dropped about 7% following the release of its fiscal second-quarter results. Slower growth in the company’s cloud business and weaker-than-expected guidance for operating margins highlighted near-term cost pressures tied to heavy AI-related spending, sparking investor caution across the tech sector.
On the macroeconomic front, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%, marking its first pause after three consecutive rate cuts. The central bank pointed to still-elevated inflation, steady economic growth, and a stabilizing labor market, while offering limited clarity on the timing of future rate reductions. Investors are now closely watching upcoming earnings from Apple, Caterpillar, and Lockheed Martin for further insight into corporate health, cost pressures, and broader economic momentum.
