Dollar Eases as Middle East Conflict, Fed Outlook and Japan Pension Policy Drive FX Markets 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
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 Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
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 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
European Stocks Slip as Middle East Tensions and Hormuz Threat Rattle Markets 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
U.S. stock futures moved higher on Sunday evening, signaling a cautiously optimistic start to the week after Wall Street staged a strong rebound at the end of last week. Investors remain on edge, however, as markets await delayed U.S. jobs and inflation data that could shape expectations around Federal Reserve policy.
As of late Sunday, S&P 500 futures were up 0.4% at 6,978.75 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.6% to 25,319.0 points. Dow Jones futures also edged higher, gaining 0.2% to trade around 50,327.0 points. The modest gains reflect a balance between renewed buying interest and lingering macroeconomic uncertainty.
Wall Street’s rebound on Friday followed several sessions of declines, with investors stepping back into oversold technology stocks. Easing Treasury yields helped improve sentiment, encouraging bargain hunting across chipmakers and AI-related shares that had been under pressure earlier in the week. The S&P 500 rose 2% on Friday, the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.2%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 2.5%, marking its first-ever close above the 50,000 level.
Despite Friday’s rally, weekly performance was mixed. The Dow gained roughly 2.5%, supported by strength in industrial and financial stocks. In contrast, the S&P 500 slipped 0.1%, while the Nasdaq fell about 2%, reflecting continued volatility in high-growth technology names. Earlier selloffs were driven by concerns over stretched valuations and fears that rapid advances in artificial intelligence could disrupt traditional software business models and squeeze profit margins.
Looking ahead, investor attention is firmly fixed on upcoming U.S. economic data that had been delayed due to a partial government shutdown. The January U.S. employment report is now scheduled for Wednesday, after a recent private-sector jobs report showed weaker-than-expected hiring. This has raised questions about whether labor market momentum is beginning to cool. On Friday, markets will also digest the January consumer price index, which could offer critical insight into inflation trends and the Fed’s potential path toward interest rate cuts later this year.
Corporate earnings will add another layer of market drivers, with major companies such as Coca-Cola and Ford set to report results, potentially influencing broader market sentiment.
