China Keeps Loan Prime Rate Unchanged as Focus Shifts to Fiscal Stimulus 
Wall Street Rebounds Slightly as Tariff Concerns Ease and Fed Stays Patient 
Greenland Tourism Booms After Trump Comments and New Airport Openings 
India Ends $23B Manufacturing Push as Payout Delays and Red Tape Stall Progress 
Bank of England Likely to Hold Interest Rates Amid Inflation and Global Uncertainty 
Dollar Slips as Fed Signals Rate Cuts, Pound Hits Four-Month High 
Trump’s China Ship Fees Disrupt U.S. Exports, Triggering Economic Concerns 
Japan’s Exports Rise for Fifth Month Amid U.S. Tariff Concerns 
Asian Stocks Rise as Wall Street Gains; China Slips on Profit-Taking 
Gold Glitters Near Record Highs Amid Fed Cuts and Global Tensions. 
China’s Restaurant Meltdown: Price Wars, Closures, and a Struggling Economy 
Asian Stocks Mixed as China’s Rally Stalls, Japan Gains on BOJ Outlook 
Japan Inflation Stays Sticky in February, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Bets 
Dollar Strengthens as Fed Holds Rates and Market Eyes Trump Tariff Moves 
Aussie Supermarkets Under Fire as Prices Soar and Profits Rise 
Fed Holds Rates Steady Amid Economic Uncertainty and Tariff Concerns 
Fed Posts $77.5B Loss in 2024 as High Interest Rates Persist 
The S&P 500 closed lower Thursday as investor optimism over the Federal Reserve’s outlook for two rate cuts in 2025 faded. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 11 points (0.03%), while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite each fell 0.3%. Despite a strong rally Wednesday, uncertainty over Trump’s tariffs and economic slowdown fears kept all three indexes near six-month lows.
Labor market data showed resilience as initial jobless claims inched up to 223,000 from a revised 221,000, slightly below economists' forecast of 224,000. The Fed held interest rates steady at 4.25%-4.5% for a second straight meeting, reaffirming its plan for two cuts by year-end. However, it raised its 2025 inflation forecast to 2.8%, exceeding the 2% target, while trimming its GDP outlook. Fed Chair Jerome Powell cautioned that Trump’s trade policies could impact inflation and growth.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) saw a 0.5% decline amid reports that CEO Tim Cook is revamping its AI strategy, tapping Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell to lead Siri improvements. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) ended flat after recalling nearly all Cybertrucks in the U.S. due to a defect that could cause exterior panels to detach. Microchip Technology (NASDAQ:MCHP) dropped 6.5% following plans to sell $1.35 billion in convertible stock to reduce debt.
Earnings reports are in focus, with FedEx (NYSE:FDX), Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU), and Nike (NYSE:NKE) set to release results. Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE) rose 0.6% on strong Q4 earnings, while Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) surged over 5% after posting better-than-expected fiscal Q3 results.
