South Korea Central Bank Set to Raise Interest Rates as Inflation Stays Elevated 
Dollar Rises as Middle East Conflict Fuels Inflation and Rate Hike Fears 
Iraq PM Visits Washington as U.S. Oil, Gas Deals Take Center Stage 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
EU Weighs New Trade Restrictions on Israeli West Bank Settlements 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
South Korea’s KOSPI Triggers Trading Curb as AI Chip Stock Selloff Deepens 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Dollar Eases as Middle East Conflict, Fed Outlook and Japan Pension Policy Drive FX Markets 
U.S. stock index futures moved higher Wednesday evening as investors remained optimistic about technology and semiconductor stocks ahead of a highly anticipated meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The positive momentum followed another strong session on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs thanks to renewed strength in artificial intelligence and chip-related shares.
By late evening trading, S&P 500 Futures gained 0.1% to 7,480.25, while Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.5% to 29,631.0. Dow Jones Futures also edged up 0.2% to 49,905.0. Investor sentiment improved after reports suggested the Trump-Xi discussions could ease tensions between the United States and China, particularly regarding technology exports and trade restrictions.
Market attention is now centered on Thursday’s summit in Beijing, where Trump arrived alongside major U.S. business leaders including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla chief Elon Musk. Analysts expect talks to address tariffs, Taiwan, artificial intelligence cooperation, and broader economic relations between the two global powers.
Chipmaking stocks rallied strongly after hopes emerged that Washington may soften export controls on semiconductor sales to China. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surged 2.6%, recovering losses from the previous session and nearing record territory once again. Nvidia and other AI-linked companies continued to attract strong investor interest amid growing optimism surrounding the global AI industry.
Despite concerns over inflation and geopolitical risks linked to the Iran conflict, investors largely favored growth and technology sectors. Earlier this week, hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data raised expectations that the Federal Reserve could maintain higher interest rates for longer. Adding to market focus, the U.S. Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chairman, replacing Jerome Powell whose term ends this week.
