Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
U.S. stock index futures were largely unchanged on Tuesday evening as markets stabilized after Wall Street retreated from record highs earlier in the session. Investors remained cautious following notable losses in major financial stocks, particularly JPMorgan Chase, while mild consumer inflation data failed to alter expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady in the near term.
By early evening trading, S&P 500 futures dipped slightly to around 6,998 points, Nasdaq 100 futures hovered near 25,899 points, and Dow Jones futures edged down about 0.1% to roughly 49,374 points. Market sentiment remained restrained ahead of a busy Wednesday that includes key bank earnings reports and the release of U.S. producer price index (PPI) inflation data.
Attention is firmly on earnings from major banks such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup, all scheduled to report before the market opens. These results are expected to provide fresh insight into the health of the U.S. economy and follow disappointing investment banking revenues reported by JPMorgan for the December quarter. JPMorgan shares slid more than 4% on Tuesday after the bank warned that proposed caps on credit card interest rates could negatively impact consumers and economic growth, dragging down the broader financial sector.
Beyond earnings, inflation remains a central theme. December’s consumer price index met expectations, with core inflation showing slight cooling, but the data did little to change market bets that the Fed will keep rates unchanged at its late-January meeting. According to CME FedWatch, traders see more than a 95% probability of rates staying within the 3.50% to 3.75% range.
Technology stocks delivered mixed signals. NVIDIA’s clearance to sell H200 AI chips in China drew limited reaction amid uncertainty over Beijing’s approval, while Salesforce shares tumbled after its new AI agent underwhelmed investors. In contrast, Intel and AMD rallied following bullish analyst upgrades. Overall, Wall Street remains cautious as earnings, inflation data, and geopolitical tensions shape near-term market direction.
