Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
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 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
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 
Wall Street futures ticked up slightly on Monday evening, offering a modest rebound after major U.S. indexes slid earlier in the day on rising caution surrounding Nvidia’s upcoming earnings and a highly anticipated U.S. labor market update. The move came as Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller signaled support for additional rate cuts aimed at stabilizing employment, though most traders still expect the Fed to maintain current rates in December.
S&P 500 futures gained 0.2% to 6,702.75, while Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.2% to 24,924. Dow Jones futures added 0.1% to reach 46,724.
Major tech stocks weighed heavily on the broader market as investors trimmed exposure ahead of Nvidia’s quarterly report due Wednesday. Nvidia shares fell nearly 1.9%, extending a multiday decline as traders locked in profits from the company’s massive AI-driven rally over the last several years. Questions about the sustainability of its rapid growth have increased recently, adding to investor unease.
Other AI-focused and tech-related stocks also declined amid growing skepticism about the long-term returns from substantial industry investments. Palantir dropped 1.6%, pushing its five-day losses to nearly 10%. Alphabet was a rare standout, climbing 3.1% after Berkshire Hathaway revealed a $4.3 billion stake, and as markets anticipated the potential release of Google’s Gemini 3.0 AI model.
Despite Alphabet’s strength, losses across technology and cyclical sectors pushed all major U.S. indexes lower. The S&P 500 slipped 0.9%, the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.8%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.2%.
Looking ahead, investors are awaiting earnings from major retailers including Walmart, Target, and Home Depot. Additionally, attention is focused on Thursday’s release of delayed September nonfarm payrolls data. While Waller argued for rate cuts to protect the labor market, market expectations for a December cut have weakened. CME FedWatch now shows a 40.8% probability of a 25 basis-point cut, down sharply from last week, with nearly a 60% chance the Fed will hold rates steady.
