Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
U.S. stocks ended nearly flat on Friday after a choppy trading session, as investors remained cautious ahead of a long holiday weekend and the early stages of fourth-quarter earnings season. Despite modest daily moves, all three major U.S. stock indexes recorded weekly losses, reflecting uncertainty around earnings, policy signals, and sector rotation.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 83.11 points, or 0.17%, to close at 49,359.33. The S&P 500 edged down 0.06% to 6,940.01, while the Nasdaq Composite also lost 0.06%, finishing at 23,515.39. For the week, the S&P 500 declined 0.38%, the Nasdaq fell 0.66%, and the Dow dropped 0.29%.
Healthcare stocks led sector declines on Friday, falling 0.8%, while semiconductor stocks outperformed. An index tracking chipmakers gained 1.2%, extending momentum from the prior session and highlighting ongoing strength in the technology supply chain. Financial stocks ended Friday slightly higher, but the sector posted its steepest weekly decline since October. Bank shares faced pressure amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10%, despite mostly solid earnings results from major U.S. banks.
Markets also reacted to comments from Trump suggesting he may retain economic adviser Kevin Hassett in his current role, easing speculation that Hassett could replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Investors viewed the remarks as a stabilizing signal for monetary policy expectations.
Trading volumes were elevated, with 18.77 billion shares changing hands, above the recent 20-day average. The Russell 2000 small-cap index continued to outperform, reaching another record closing high and gaining more than 2% for the week, as money rotated out of large-cap technology stocks into undervalued mid- and small-cap names.
Looking ahead, earnings season accelerates next week with reports from major companies including Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, and Intel. With markets closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and monthly options expiration behind them, investors expect continued volatility in the near term, particularly during what has historically been a choppy period for U.S. stocks in mid-January.
