Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
U.S. stock futures edged higher Thursday night after Wall Street saw the S&P 500 slip into correction territory. S&P 500 Futures rose 0.5% to 5,553.0 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures gained 0.6% to 19,359.50, and Dow Jones Futures added 0.3% to 40,987.0.
The rebound followed Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s support for a Republican-backed stopgap funding bill, aiming to prevent a government shutdown as current funding expires Friday at midnight. The bill passed the House earlier this week.
February’s Producer Price Index (PPI) remained flat, easing inflation concerns after a 0.6% jump in January. Annual PPI growth slowed to 3.2% from January’s 3.7%. This follows softer Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, yet markets still tumbled. The S&P 500 fell 1.4% to 5,521.17, officially entering correction territory with a 10% drop from its recent peak. The Dow slid 1.3%, and the Nasdaq lost 2%.
Trade war fears drove the sell-off, with investors worrying that rising tariffs could fuel inflation and recession risks. Tech stocks suffered, with Tesla falling 2.4%, Meta losing 4.7%, and Apple dropping 3.4%. Intel, however, surged 14.6% after naming Lip-Bu Tan as CEO.
Adding to concerns, President Donald Trump threatened 200% tariffs on European alcohol in response to the EU’s planned 50% tariff on American whiskey. The EU move, effective April 1, follows recent U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump vowed retaliatory action unless the EU withdraws its levy, potentially increasing consumer prices in both regions.
With trade tensions escalating and economic uncertainty looming, markets remain on edge despite a temporary recovery in futures trading.
