ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
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 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
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 
Singapore GDP Grows 5.7% in Q2 2026 as AI-Driven Manufacturing Boosts Economy 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
U.S. stock futures were little changed on Monday evening as investors grew cautious ahead of key economic data releases later this week, following a mostly positive close on Wall Street. Futures tied to the S&P 500 slipped about 0.1% to 6,977 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures also edged down 0.1% to 25,333.75 points. Dow Jones futures hovered slightly lower at around 50,177 points, after the blue-chip index closed at a fresh record high during regular trading.
During Monday’s session, Wall Street extended recent gains, although the pace was measured. The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 0.04%, marking another all-time closing high and building on momentum after recently breaking above the 50,000 level. The S&P 500 rose 0.5%, while the Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a 0.9% gain, supported by a rebound in major technology stocks.
Tech shares continued to recover from last week’s sharp sell-off, which had been driven by renewed concerns over artificial intelligence-related disruption, stretched valuations, and profit-taking. Investors appeared more comfortable re-entering the sector after Friday’s bounce, helping lift broader market sentiment. Outside of technology, however, trading remained relatively muted as market participants avoided large positions ahead of a busy calendar.
Attention is now shifting to upcoming corporate earnings and macroeconomic data. Coca-Cola is scheduled to report earnings before the market opens on Tuesday, while Spotify and Hasbro are also expected to release quarterly results, adding to near-term market catalysts.
On the economic front, investors are closely watching delayed U.S. labor market and inflation data that were postponed due to a recent government shutdown. The highly anticipated monthly U.S. jobs report is now scheduled for release on Wednesday, followed by the January consumer price index report on Friday. These reports are expected to play a significant role in shaping expectations for the Federal Reserve’s future monetary policy.
Evidence of cooling inflation or a softer labor market could strengthen market hopes for interest rate cuts later in 2026, while firmer data may reinforce the Fed’s cautious stance. As a result, markets are likely to remain range-bound until clearer signals emerge from this week’s economic releases.
