Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
U.S. stocks fell Thursday for the third consecutive session, with the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and NASDAQ all closing lower as stronger-than-expected economic data tempered hopes for aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts. At the close, the Dow dropped 173 points, or 0.4%, the S&P 500 fell 0.5%, and the NASDAQ slipped 0.5%, extending a pullback from recent record highs amid concerns over valuations and Fed policy.
Investor sentiment weakened after Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned earlier this week that there is “no risk-free path” as the central bank balances inflation risks with a softening labor market. The remarks came just days after the Fed’s 25-basis-point rate cut, leaving markets uncertain about how many more reductions will follow this year.
Fresh data reinforced the picture of U.S. economic resilience. Weekly jobless claims dropped to 218,000, well below expectations, while the final reading of second-quarter GDP showed growth of 3.8%, up from earlier estimates of 3.3% and 3.0%. The strong growth data and low unemployment filings pushed Treasury yields higher, weighing heavily on technology stocks.
Fed projections last week indicated another half-point in cuts may be on the table before year-end, but several policymakers signaled fewer moves could be likely. Analysts noted that hawkish implications from the data may pressure equities, especially given that expectations of Fed easing had fueled much of the rally. Traders now await Friday’s release of the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the PCE price index, for further clarity.
Markets are also grappling with political risk as a potential U.S. government shutdown looms. A Senate rejection of a stopgap spending bill has left federal agencies preparing contingency plans that could trigger mass layoffs if no agreement is reached.
On the corporate front, Nvidia gained nearly 1% as investors bought into recent weakness, while Intel rose on reports it approached Apple for a potential investment. Earnings news was mixed: Stitch Fix and CarMax plunged after weak results, while Accenture beat revenue forecasts and announced an $865 million restructuring to focus on digital and AI demand.
