Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
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 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
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 
U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Tuesday evening as investors prepared for the final trading session of the year, with market sentiment dampened by thin liquidity, lingering Federal Reserve uncertainty, and fading hopes of a traditional year-end rally. With New Year’s Day falling on Thursday and U.S. bond markets scheduled for an early close on Wednesday, many participants remained on the sidelines, contributing to subdued trading activity.
S&P 500 futures declined about 0.2% to around 6,933 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures also slipped 0.2% to roughly 25,621 points. Dow Jones futures eased by approximately 0.1% to near 48,617 points. The muted movement in futures followed another broadly negative session on Wall Street earlier Tuesday, marking the third consecutive day of losses for major U.S. stock indexes. The S&P 500 finished slightly lower, the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a modest decline, and the Nasdaq Composite also ended the session down.
Investor sentiment was weighed down by the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s December policy meeting. While the Fed delivered a widely expected quarter-point interest rate cut, the minutes revealed notable divisions among policymakers regarding the outlook for rates in 2026. Some officials expressed concern that persistent inflation pressures and economic uncertainty could limit the scope for further easing, while others warned that keeping policy too restrictive for too long could slow economic growth more sharply than intended. These mixed signals added to market unease and reinforced a cautious near-term outlook.
Hopes for a Santa Claus rally, a seasonal pattern that often brings gains in the final days of December and early January, have steadily faded as stocks drift lower instead. Analysts pointed to narrow market leadership, year-end profit-taking after a strong overall performance in 2024, and limited fresh economic data as key factors restraining optimism.
With few major economic releases scheduled during the holiday-shortened week, markets are likely to remain driven by technical factors, shifting interest rate expectations, and year-end portfolio adjustments. As liquidity remains thin, even modest news or positioning changes could continue to influence U.S. stock futures in the final hours of the trading year.
