Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
US stock index futures saw little movement in holiday-thinned trade on Sunday, as investors remained cautious over President Donald Trump’s tariff plans and persistent inflation concerns. Futures stabilized after a mixed Wall Street session on Friday, where the S&P 500 closed just below record highs, driven by technology stocks, while other sectors lagged.
Investor attention now turns to Federal Reserve speakers and the minutes from the Fed’s January meeting, where interest rates were held steady. Last week’s strong inflation data has tempered hopes for near-term rate cuts. S&P 500 Futures rose slightly to 6,135.50 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures inched up 0.1% to 22,212.50 points, and Dow Jones Futures remained steady at 44,646.0 points. Trading volumes were subdued with US markets closed for a holiday on Monday.
Market sentiment was weighed down by Trump’s recent 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and his executive order for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, heightening fears of a global trade war. However, Trump indicated that these tariffs would take effect in April, providing temporary relief.
On Friday, the S&P 500 ended flat at 6,114.63 points, the NASDAQ Composite gained 0.4% to 20,026.77 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.4% to 44,546.08 points.
This week, markets will closely monitor speeches from Federal Open Market Committee members Patrick Harker and Michelle Bowman. Their remarks follow mixed inflation data from last week, where core components influencing the Fed’s preferred PCE price index showed signs of easing, raising hopes for inflation nearing the central bank’s 2% target. Investors await insights on future monetary policy from the Fed amid ongoing economic uncertainties.
