Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
U.S. stock index futures traded mixed on Sunday evening as investors remained cautious toward technology and artificial intelligence stocks following disappointing guidance from major tech players. Concerns around the sustainability of the AI-driven rally intensified after weak outlooks from Broadcom and Oracle, prompting a broad sell-off in tech shares late last week.
As of late Sunday, S&P 500 futures were little changed near 6,830, Nasdaq 100 futures slipped nearly 0.2% to around 25,174, while Dow Jones futures edged up 0.1% to approximately 48,525. The muted performance reflects growing uncertainty among investors, particularly in high-growth technology names that have led market gains throughout the year.
Market sentiment deteriorated sharply on Friday after Wall Street endured a negative session dominated by losses in tech stocks. Semiconductor and AI-related companies were hit hardest, with Nvidia posting notable declines as investors reassessed lofty valuations tied to artificial intelligence expectations. Broadcom shares plunged more than 11% after the company warned of margin softness and indicated that meaningful returns from its data center partnership with OpenAI may not materialize until at least 2027. This announcement raised fresh doubts about near-term profitability across the AI supply chain.
Oracle also weighed heavily on sentiment after issuing underwhelming guidance and highlighting aggressive spending on AI data centers. The stock dropped more than 12% over the past week, as investors grew uneasy about the company’s capital intensity and its heavy reliance on OpenAI-related revenue commitments. Together, the outlooks from Broadcom and Oracle dampened enthusiasm for the AI trade and pressured the broader technology sector, including the so-called “Magnificent Seven.”
Despite tech weakness, losses across major U.S. indexes were partially cushioned by strength in non-tech sectors and dovish signals from the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% on Friday, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.7% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.5%.
Looking ahead, investors are focused on the upcoming U.S. consumer price index data for November, a key indicator that could influence interest rate expectations. Signs of easing inflation may boost hopes for additional Federal Reserve rate cuts, especially after the central bank recently lowered rates and signaled a data-dependent approach. The Fed’s plan to purchase $40 billion per month in short-term Treasuries has further reinforced a cautiously dovish outlook for monetary policy going into 2026.
