BOJ Holds Rates at 1% as Inflation Outlook Eases, October Rate Hike Still Possible 
Oman Proposes Strait of Hormuz Plan as U.S., Iran Remain Divided Over Shipping Fees 
China PMI Falls Into Contraction as Manufacturing, Services Weaken in July 
Oil Prices Head for 21% Monthly Surge as Middle East Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,025 Ahead of Fed Decision as Middle East Tensions Lift Oil 
Australia Inflation Cools as Core CPI Misses Forecasts, Easing RBA Rate Hike Pressure 
US Stocks Slide as Fed Holds Rates, AI Chip Selloff Deepens and Oil Prices Surge 
BOJ Rate Decision in Focus as Sticky Inflation, Weak Yen Shape USD/JPY and Nikkei Outlook 
Hong Kong Home Prices Extend Winning Streak With 13th Straight Monthly Gain in June 
Gold Price Today: Gold Set for First Monthly Gain Since February Despite Friday Dip 
Oil Prices Ease After Sharp Rally as Trump Warns of More Action Against Iran 
Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady as Kevin Warsh Says Rising Treasury Yields Tighten Financial Conditions 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Optimism Lifts Markets; Yen Holds Gains Ahead of BOJ Decision 
US Dollar Slips Ahead of Fed Decision as Oil Prices Ease Inflation Fears 
Japan Earthquake Disrupts Auto and Chip Supply Chains 
Asian Stocks Tumble as Tech Selloff Deepens Ahead of Fed Decision, Big Tech Earnings 
U.S. stock index futures climbed on Friday, extending Wall Street’s technology-led rebound as renewed confidence in artificial intelligence investments boosted investor sentiment despite lingering concerns over spending and supply chain challenges.
As of 05:42 ET (09:42 GMT), Dow Jones futures gained 261 points, or 0.5%, while S&P 500 futures advanced 35 points, also up 0.5%. Nasdaq 100 futures outperformed with a 317-point, or 1.1%, increase, driven by continued strength in technology stocks.
The rally followed Thursday’s sharp gains on Wall Street, where Microsoft’s stronger-than-expected earnings restored confidence that massive AI infrastructure investments could deliver long-term returns. Analysts at Vital Knowledge also pointed to reports that hedge fund Situational Awareness had significantly reduced its equity holdings, suggesting that the recent selloff in AI-related stocks was driven more by technical factors and forced selling than weakening fundamentals.
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surged 8.19%, marking its strongest daily performance since April 2025, helping the S&P 500 record its best session in seven weeks despite weakness across most of its components.
Markets also continued to digest the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged, alongside easing U.S. inflation data and second-quarter economic growth that, while slower, indicated the economy remained resilient. The positive momentum spread globally, with South Korea’s KOSPI soaring 17.91% and European markets also trading higher.
Investors remained focused on major technology earnings. Apple shares fell in premarket trading after the company projected September-quarter revenue growth of 9% to 11%, below analysts’ expectations. The iPhone maker also warned that supply chain disruptions and rising memory chip costs could pressure profitability.
Amazon, however, jumped more than 12% in premarket trading after reporting robust results fueled by Amazon Web Services, whose revenue climbed 37% year over year to $42.2 billion. CEO Andy Jassy said AWS could eventually generate $1 trillion in annual revenue, reinforcing optimism around AI-driven cloud demand despite Amazon raising its 2026 capital spending forecast to $220 billion.
Later Friday, investors will turn their attention to earnings from ExxonMobil, Chevron, and AbbVie as the busy earnings season continues.
