European Stocks Flat as Iran Tensions, ECB Rate Hike Loom 
Hong Kong Eyes Offshore Yuan Expansion, Deeper China Market Links 
Iran Plans New Gulf Restricted Zone as Hormuz Tensions Push Oil Higher 
South Korea GDP Surges on Chip and AI Boom 
Gold Holds Near $4,400 as Fed Hike Bets Rise 
Japan GDP Growth Beats Forecast, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Bets 
Gold Prices Rise as Yen Rally Weakens Dollar 
ECB Set for September Rate Hike as Energy Prices Fuel Inflation 
Asian Currencies Mixed as Yen Rallies on BOJ Bets 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Optimism Fuels Chipmaker Surge 
Japan Foreign Reserves Plunge $79.6 Billion After Record Yen Intervention 
US Stock Futures Mixed as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
China to Inject $45 Billion Into State Financial Institutions 
China Boosts Gold Reserves by 650,000 Ounces as Prices Rally 
China Expands Influence in Global Gold Market 
Japan, U.S. Stay Aligned on Yen as Currency Surges 
OPEC+ Expected to Hold October Oil Output Steady 
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U.S. stock index futures were relatively flat Tuesday evening following a strong regular session that pushed the S&P 500 close to its all-time closing high. By late evening, S&P 500 Futures hovered near 7,007.75, Nasdaq 100 Futures nudged 0.1% higher to 26,012.75, and Dow Jones Futures remained steady at 48,752.0 points.
During the day's trading session, major indexes posted solid gains. The S&P 500 climbed 1.2%, the Nasdaq Composite surged nearly 2%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced approximately 0.7%. The rally was largely fueled by strength in technology stocks and a pullback in oil prices, both of which responded positively to emerging signs of a potential diplomatic resolution in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump indicated that Iranian officials had reached out expressing interest in negotiations, raising investor hopes that the ongoing geopolitical conflict could ease. Despite the optimism, the situation remains tense, with the U.S. enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian shipping lanes while Iran has issued warnings targeting Gulf state ports after weekend peace talks broke down.
Adding to the bullish sentiment, U.S. producer price index data came in softer than anticipated. Annual PPI rose around 4.0% against forecasts of 4.6%, signaling that inflationary pressures in the supply chain may be gradually easing — a welcome development for Federal Reserve policy watchers.
On the corporate earnings front, results were mixed. JPMorgan Chase topped profit expectations on robust trading activity, while Wells Fargo fell short on revenue despite reporting higher earnings. Johnson & Johnson exceeded estimates and lifted its full-year guidance, boosted by strong pharmaceutical demand.
Investor attention now shifts to Wednesday, when Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and semiconductor equipment giant ASML are scheduled to report results — outcomes that could set the tone for broader market momentum heading into the rest of earnings season.
