South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
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.
