Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
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 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
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 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
U.S. stock index futures fell sharply on Sunday evening after former President Donald Trump announced plans to impose new trade tariffs on several European countries, unsettling global markets and driving investors toward safe-haven assets. The comments sparked renewed concerns about trade tensions, geopolitical risk, and their potential impact on the global economy, sending gold prices to a fresh record high in late trading.
As of 18:41 ET (23:41 GMT), S&P 500 futures dropped 0.7% to 6,930.0 points. Nasdaq 100 futures declined nearly 1% to 25,437.50 points, while Dow Jones futures fell 0.6% to 49,269.0 points. Trading volumes remained thin ahead of Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, amplifying market volatility. The declines followed a mildly negative session on Friday, with investors already cautious ahead of a busy earnings calendar.
Market sentiment deteriorated after Trump said he would impose an additional 10% tariff starting February 1 on goods imported from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and Britain. He added that the tariffs could rise to as much as 25% by June if negotiations over Greenland fail to produce a deal. The remarks reignited fears of a broader trade conflict between the U.S. and Europe, particularly as several European governments, including France, signaled potential retaliatory measures.
Trump reiterated his long-standing stance that Greenland should become part of the United States, arguing it is critical for national security. Greenland is a self-governing territory under the Kingdom of Denmark, and the proposal has been widely rejected by European leaders. The rhetoric drew additional attention given Trump’s earlier suggestion of possible military involvement and heightened geopolitical tensions following a U.S. incursion in Venezuela earlier this year.
Looking ahead, investors are shifting focus to key fourth-quarter earnings reports expected this week. Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, 3M, U.S. Bancorp, Charles Schwab, Prologis, and Halliburton are among major companies set to report results. These earnings will be closely analyzed for insights into consumer demand, corporate profitability, and the broader U.S. economic outlook, especially after mixed signals from major bank earnings last week.
