Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
U.S. stock index futures edged higher Thursday evening after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs, driven by upbeat tech earnings and strong retail sales, signaling continued economic resilience. Hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts also lifted sentiment, especially following comments from Fed Governor Christopher Waller supporting a 25 basis point cut. However, Waller remains among the few central bankers favoring immediate action.
S&P 500 Futures rose 0.1% to 6,350.25, Nasdaq 100 Futures gained 0.1% to 23,281.50, and Dow Jones Futures added 0.2% to 44,818.0 by 20:17 ET.
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) shares dipped 2% to $1,250.15 in after-hours trading despite strong Q2 results and upgraded annual revenue guidance. Hits like Squid Game Season 2 fueled growth, but investors had anticipated a more aggressive outlook for 2025. Analyst Thomas Monteiro noted markets had priced in a sharper upward revision.
Wall Street closed sharply higher Thursday, brushing aside concerns over upcoming tariffs set to take effect August 1 under President Donald Trump. The Nasdaq rallied on robust earnings from chip giant TSMC (NYSE:TSM), which flagged ongoing AI-driven demand. U.S.-listed TSMC shares surged 3.4%, lifting broader tech and semiconductor sectors.
The S&P 500 rose 0.5% to 6,297.48, the Nasdaq Composite jumped 0.8% to 20,885.65, and the Dow gained 0.5% to 44,485.10.
Investors now brace for a major earnings wave next week. While Friday’s earnings slate includes American Express (NYSE:AXP), 3M (NYSE:MMM), and Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW), next week brings reports from Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO), Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), setting the tone for Q2 earnings season.
