Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Dollar Eases as Middle East Conflict, Fed Outlook and Japan Pension Policy Drive FX Markets 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Singapore GDP Grows 5.7% in Q2 2026 as AI-Driven Manufacturing Boosts Economy 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
U.S. stock index futures moved lower Thursday evening, extending Wall Street’s losses after Nvidia’s post-earnings decline weighed heavily on technology stocks. Investors questioned the chipmaker’s shareholder return strategy, overshadowing its strong quarterly results and pressuring broader market sentiment.
By 19:00 ET (00:00 GMT), S&P 500 futures slipped 0.4% to 6,892.0, Nasdaq 100 futures declined nearly 0.4% to 24,994.0, and Dow Jones futures fell 0.6% to 49,260.0. The pullback followed a sharp sell-off in tech shares during regular trading hours.
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) dropped more than 5% despite reporting robust earnings driven by continued demand for AI chips and data center solutions. While the company posted bumper results, investors were disappointed by the lack of clarity around increased shareholder returns, especially after a significant rise in its cash reserves. Profit-taking after a strong pre-earnings rally also contributed to the decline. Concerns about rising competition in AI server chips added further pressure, as AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) recently secured a major supply agreement with Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META). Alphabet’s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google is also expanding its tensor chip ambitions, reportedly signing a multibillion-dollar deal with Meta.
The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.2% to 22,878.38, putting it on track for a 2.5% monthly loss. The S&P 500 dropped 0.5% to 6,908.89 and is down 0.4% for February, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended flat at 49,499.20 but remains up 1.2% for the month, supported by gains in non-tech sectors.
In contrast, Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) surged 9% in after-hours trading after confirming it would not raise its bid for Warner Bros Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD). The decision followed Warner’s preference for a $31-per-share offer from Paramount Skydance (NASDAQ: PSKY). Netflix stated that matching the higher bid was no longer financially attractive, though it stands to receive a $2.8 billion termination fee if the Paramount deal proceeds.
Elsewhere, Block (NYSE: XYZ) soared over 20% after announcing plans to cut 40% of its workforce, while CoreWeave tumbled 10% on a wider-than-expected loss and heavy capital expenditure forecasts, adding to volatility in the tech sector.
