Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Oil Prices Slide as U.S.-Iran Deal and Hormuz Reopening Ease Supply Concerns 
German Industry Employment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade 
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Signals Policy Overhaul as Hawkish Rate Outlook Rattles Markets 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low; Gold Falls and Oil Mixed 
Australia Eases Capital Gains Tax Reforms to Support Small Businesses and Startups 
Trump and Iran Sign Framework Peace Deal in France Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions 
China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
Asian Currencies Stabilize as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High After Fed Hawkish Signal 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Eases Supply Concerns 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Trump Questions USMCA Renewal as Trade Talks Continue 
Japan Signals Readiness to Intervene as USD/JPY Nears 161 Amid Yen Weakness 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
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.
