South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
U.S. stock index futures steadied Wednesday evening as Wall Street closed higher for the fourth consecutive session, with investors betting that the ongoing government shutdown will have limited economic fallout. Despite weak labor market signals and subdued manufacturing data, markets gained on optimism that the Federal Reserve will deliver another interest rate cut at the end of October.
S&P 500 Futures held flat at 6,759.50 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures stabilized at 25,018.75 points. Dow Jones Futures also remained steady at 46,712.0 points by 19:16 ET (23:16 GMT). The S&P 500 itself ended at a record high of 6,711.20 points, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.4% to 22,755.16 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.1% to 46,411.10.
The U.S. government officially entered a shutdown after lawmakers failed to approve new funding. The closure is set to disrupt critical services, including air traffic control and disaster relief. Key economic data, such as the nonfarm payrolls report due Friday, is also expected to be delayed. The deadlock stemmed from disputes over healthcare subsidies, with Democrats rejecting a Republican-backed bill. President Donald Trump further escalated tensions by threatening to withhold funding from Democrat-leaning states and cut federal jobs permanently.
Markets, however, looked past political uncertainty. Healthcare stocks led gains, supported by expectations of favorable regulation, while technology shares extended their rally on ongoing enthusiasm around artificial intelligence. Netflix lagged, sliding 2.3% after Tesla CEO Elon Musk urged his social media followers to cancel subscriptions.
Historically, government shutdowns have had minimal long-term effects on markets. The last one, in late 2018 and early 2019, lasted 35 days and cost the economy about $11 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
This time, weak ADP payroll data for September and PMI figures confirming continued contraction in manufacturing signaled labor market softness. Yet, these indicators strengthened expectations of further Fed rate cuts, providing key support for equities amid ongoing uncertainty.
