UK Grocery Inflation Slows to 3.1% as Supermarket Price Pressures Ease in May 2026 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
Dow Hits Record High as Healthcare and Consumer Stocks Lead Wall Street Rally 
US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
Tokyo Inflation Cools in May, Supporting BOJ’s Cautious Rate Hike Path 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
European EV Sales Surge in April 2026 as Tesla and Chinese Automakers Gain Ground 
Canada and Germany Advance Major LNG Supply Partnership 
Oil Prices Fall as Markets Await U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Decision 
U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
New World Screwworm Found Near U.S. Border Raises Threat to Cattle Industry and Beef Prices 
Mega IPOs Like SpaceX and OpenAI Could Reshape S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Portfolios in 2026 
Wall Street Hits New Highs as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
Nikkei Hits Record High as AI Chip Stocks Power Japan Market Rally 
U.S. stock futures traded slightly lower on Wednesday evening as investors assessed mixed corporate earnings and renewed concerns over U.S.-China trade relations. By 8:18 p.m. ET (00:18 GMT), S&P 500 futures dipped 0.2% to 6,726.25, Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.2% to 24,986.75, and Dow Jones futures slid 0.3% to 46,641.0.
Major indexes ended the regular session in the red, with the S&P 500 down 0.5%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 0.7%, and the Nasdaq Composite losing 0.9%. Tech stocks were among the biggest drags, led by Tesla’s post-earnings slump. The electric vehicle giant (NASDAQ: TSLA) reported record revenue of $28.1 billion, slightly above expectations. However, net income plunged 37% as higher research spending and tariff-related costs eroded margins. The sales boost came largely from consumers rushing to claim the $7,500 federal EV tax credit before its expiration on September 30. Tesla shares fell 1% during the session and slid another 4% after hours.
General Electric’s spinoff GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV) disappointed investors with weaker-than-expected profits, while IBM (NYSE: IBM) reported earnings that exceeded forecasts but warned of slowing growth in its hybrid-cloud business. IBM shares fell about 5% in extended trading. Meanwhile, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) dropped 1.7% after reports from Nikkei indicated it is sharply cutting production of its iPhone Air model.
Investors now await U.S. consumer inflation data due Friday, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s next policy decision.
Adding to market pressure, Reuters reported that the Trump administration is considering new export restrictions on goods made with U.S. software bound for China. The move, aimed at countering Beijing’s rare earth export curbs, could impact industries from semiconductors to aerospace, signaling a potential escalation in trade tensions ahead of President Trump’s expected meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
