South Korea GDP Surges on Chip and AI Boom 
China to Inject $45 Billion Into State Financial Institutions 
Hungary Industrial Output Beats Forecasts With 4.7% July Growth 
Canada Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Goods Take Effect 
UK Food Inflation Forecast to Hit 6.4% by Mid-2027 
European Stocks Flat as Iran Tensions, ECB Rate Hike Loom 
Gold Prices Rise as Yen Rally Weakens Dollar 
Iran Plans New Gulf Restricted Zone as Hormuz Tensions Push Oil Higher 
US Bans Canadian Alcohol, Motorcycles as Trade War Escalates 
Oil Prices Climb as Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Infrastructure 
China Exports Surge 25% in August as Trade Surplus Hits $119 Billion 
Oil Prices Rally as Brent Nears $100 on U.S.-Iran Escalation 
Japan, U.S. Stay Aligned on Yen as Currency Surges 
China Boosts Gold Reserves by 650,000 Ounces as Prices Rally 
Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Assets as U.S. Tensions Escalate 
Asian Stocks Mixed as AI Chip Rally Meets Oil Surge 
ECB Set for September Rate Hike as Energy Prices Fuel Inflation 
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Wall Street closed mixed on Thursday as investor sentiment improved slightly amid progress in U.S.-Japan trade talks, though caution prevailed ahead of the Good Friday holiday. The S&P 500 inched up 0.13% to 5,282.70, while the Nasdaq dipped 0.13% to 16,286.45. The Dow Jones slid 1.33% to 39,142.23, dragged down by UnitedHealth’s 22% plunge after the insurer cut its profit forecast due to surging medical costs.
Eli Lilly shares jumped 14% after reporting its experimental pill matched the performance of Ozempic in reducing blood sugar and weight. Apple rose 1.4%, rebounding from recent losses. However, broader sentiment remained cautious as traders eyed President Donald Trump's tariff strategy and comments on potential trade agreements with China and Japan. Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and called for rate cuts, raising concerns over central bank independence.
Market volumes were lighter than usual, with 14.6 billion shares traded versus a 20-day average of 19.2 billion. Energy and consumer staples led gains among S&P 500 sectors, up 2.3% and 2.2%, respectively.
Despite Thursday’s slight recovery, major indexes logged weekly losses: the S&P 500 fell 1.5%, the Nasdaq 2.6%, and the Dow 2.7%. Since April 2—when Trump announced global tariffs—the S&P 500 remains down roughly 7%.
In extended hours, Netflix gained 2.5% after beating earnings forecasts and issuing a bullish outlook. Meanwhile, Alphabet shares dropped 1.4% following a legal ruling that Google illegally dominated ad tech markets.
Jobless claims data showed stable labor conditions, but businesses remain cautious due to tariff uncertainties. As recession risks rise and investors demand clear trade outcomes, market volatility is expected to persist in the weeks ahead.
