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 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
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 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
U.S. stock futures were steady Monday evening after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs, driven by optimism over a potential Federal Reserve interest rate cut and progress in U.S.-China trade talks.
As of 20:14 ET (00:14 GMT), S&P 500 Futures held near 6,676.50, Nasdaq 100 Futures traded flat at 24,543.0, and Dow Jones Futures dipped 0.1% to 46,240.0. Earlier in the session, the S&P 500 climbed 0.5% to a record 6,619.62, while the Nasdaq Composite rose nearly 1% to 22,352.25. The Dow added 0.1%.
Markets widely expect the Federal Open Market Committee to cut rates by 25 basis points at its September 16–17 meeting. Investors are closely watching whether the Fed signals this as the start of a broader easing cycle.
Sentiment also improved after President Donald Trump said a “big Trade Meeting in Europe” went “VERY WELL,” noting a deal had been reached to secure TikTok’s U.S. ownership. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed a framework was in place, with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to finalize details during a Friday call.
In corporate news, Tesla shares gained 3.6% after Elon Musk disclosed nearly $1 billion in stock purchases. Alphabet surged 4%, surpassing a $3 trillion market valuation for the first time, boosting the tech sector. Meanwhile, Nvidia closed flat as China’s regulator said it would continue an anti-monopoly probe after preliminary findings of violations.
The combination of expected Fed easing, progress in trade negotiations, and major corporate moves fueled investor confidence, keeping Wall Street on track for further momentum despite global uncertainties.
