US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
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.
