Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Oil Prices Surge Toward Biggest Monthly Gains in Years Amid Middle East Tensions 
Wall Street Slips as Tech Stocks Slide on AI Spending Fears and Earnings Concerns 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Wall Street futures steadied on Tuesday evening as investors grew increasingly cautious ahead of Nvidia’s highly anticipated earnings report and a key U.S. labor market update. After a session marked by broad declines, especially across major technology names, traders appeared hesitant to make big moves amid concerns about stretched valuations and shifting expectations for Federal Reserve policy.
Tech stocks remained under pressure as skepticism over the sustainability of artificial intelligence-driven valuations continued to rise. Nvidia, a central force behind the AI boom, slipped 2.8% as markets await its earnings due Wednesday after the bell. While analysts expect another strong quarter from the chipmaker, investors are watching closely to see whether the company can justify its near-$5 trillion valuation and deliver encouraging guidance on AI demand. Growing concerns of a potential AI valuation bubble have weighed heavily on the broader tech sector in recent weeks.
Other tech giants also retreated. AMD dropped 4.3%, TSMC fell 1.5%, and Amazon slid 4.4%. Microsoft and Palantir declined between 2% and 3%, deepening the sector’s pullback. Retail stocks were also under pressure after Home Depot posted weaker-than-expected results, sending its shares down 6%. Lowe’s slipped 2.3%, Walmart fell 1.5% ahead of its own earnings, and Target closed flat.
During the main session, the S&P 500 fell 0.8%, the Nasdaq dropped 1.2%, and the Dow slid 1.1%. Futures showed modest stabilization afterward, with S&P 500 futures edging up less than 0.1%, Nasdaq 100 futures remaining flat, and Dow Jones futures rising 0.1%.
Meanwhile, bets on a Federal Reserve rate cut in December continued to fade. According to CME FedWatch, the probability of a 25 basis-point cut dropped to 43.4%, down sharply from 61.9% last week. With several economic reports delayed due to a prolonged government shutdown, the Fed could enter its December meeting with limited data, increasing the likelihood of maintaining current rates. Investors now turn their attention to Thursday’s September nonfarm payrolls report for insight into labor market conditions and inflation pressures.
