Japan Warns Markets Over Yen Weakness 
Gold Holds Near Seven-Week Low as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
Asian Stocks Fall as Oil Surge, Bond Yields and AI Concerns Hit Markets 
Gold Plunges 4% as Treasury Yields Surge and Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
South Korea Exports Set for 16th Monthly Gain on AI Chip Demand 
China Industrial Profit Growth Slows as Weak Demand Offsets AI Gains 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady as AI, Rate Concerns Weigh 
Oil Prices Jump Nearly 3% as Iran Holds Firm on Hormuz Conditions 
BlackRock’s Rick Rieder Favors Bonds Over Stocks as Treasury Yields Surge 
RBA Hikes Interest Rate to 4.60% as Inflation Risks Rise 
UK Housebuilder Stocks Surge on New First-Time Buyer Loan Scheme 
Asian Chip Stocks Tumble as OpenAI Safety Pause Sparks AI Growth Concerns 
RBA Set for September Rate Hike as Inflation Stays High 
Australia Budget Deficit Narrows to A$22.3 Billion on Stronger Tax Revenue 
China, US Extend Trade Truce Through January 10 After Trump-Xi Summit 
US Stocks Face Jobs, Inflation Test as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
ECB May Stop Rate Hikes After December, Capital Economics Says 
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U.S. stock futures were largely unchanged Thursday evening after the S&P 500 closed at a record high, as softer producer inflation data eased concerns about a potential Federal Reserve interest-rate hike in September.
S&P 500 futures traded near 7,824.25, while Nasdaq 100 futures hovered around 30,178.50. Dow Jones futures were also flat at approximately 53,943 points.
Wall Street finished Thursday’s regular session higher, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.7% to a record 7,798.99. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.8%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.1%.
Technology stocks helped drive the rally. SanDisk shares surged nearly 14% following an optimistic long-term outlook, while Micron Technology climbed 4.2%. Microsoft gained almost 1%, and Meta Platforms jumped 2.8%.
Investor sentiment improved after U.S. producer price index data showed prices were unchanged in July following a revised 0.1% decline in June. On an annual basis, producer prices increased 4.7%, slowing considerably from June’s 5.5% rise.
The cooler PPI reading, combined with relatively moderate consumer inflation data and signs of weakness in the labor market, reduced expectations for a Federal Reserve rate increase in September. CME FedWatch data indicated markets were pricing in roughly a 65% probability that interest rates would remain unchanged.
Attention now shifts to Friday’s U.S. retail sales report, which could provide further insight into consumer spending and economic resilience. Investors will also monitor business inventories and the University of Michigan consumer sentiment report.
Oil prices remain another key factor for markets and the Fed’s inflation outlook. Brent crude dropped 2% to $87.07 per barrel on Thursday but remained elevated as Middle East tensions continued to threaten global energy supplies.
Concerns center on restricted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as efforts to resolve the conflict and restore normal shipping remain stalled. Persistently high energy prices could revive inflation pressures, potentially complicating the Federal Reserve’s path on interest rates.
