Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Asian Stocks Waver as Trump Signals Fed Pick, Shutdown Deal and Tech Earnings Stir Markets 
South Korea Industry Minister Heads to Washington Amid U.S. Tariff Hike Concerns 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Indonesian Stocks Plunge as MSCI Downgrade Risk Sparks Investor Exodus 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Asia Stocks Pause as Tech Earnings, Fed Signals, and Dollar Weakness Drive Markets 
U.S. and El Salvador Sign Landmark Critical Minerals Agreement to Boost Investment and Trade 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Wall Street Slips as Tech Stocks Slide on AI Spending Fears and Earnings Concerns 
Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on Canadian Aircraft Amid Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute 
Trump to Announce New Federal Reserve Chair Pick as Powell Replacement Looms 
Oil Prices Surge Toward Biggest Monthly Gains in Years Amid Middle East Tensions 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Retreats After Fed Decision 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Second Week as Tariff Threats and Iran Tensions Shake Markets 
U.S. stock futures were little changed Wednesday evening after Wall Street rallied on President Donald Trump’s decision to grant a one-month exemption on new 25% auto tariffs for imports from Mexico and Canada.
S&P 500 Futures held steady at 5,852.25 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures dipped 0.2% to 20,632.75, and Dow Jones Futures remained unchanged at 43,068.0 by 19:25 ET (00:25 GMT).
The White House’s move provides temporary relief to automakers, allowing them more time to adjust supply chains and mitigate immediate cost pressures. The exemption underscores the importance of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), ensuring duty-free access for compliant vehicles. Reports also suggest Trump may exclude certain agricultural products from tariffs, signaling potential negotiations for longer-term trade solutions.
Markets welcomed the announcement, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 1.1%, snapping a two-day losing streak. The S&P 500 also rose 1.1%, while the NASDAQ Composite jumped 1.5%. Automaker stocks surged, with General Motors (NYSE:GM) soaring 7.2%, Ford (NYSE:F) climbing 5.8%, Stellantis NV (BIT:STLAM) up 9.2%, and U.S.-listed Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) gaining 6.5%.
Economic data showed unexpected growth in the U.S. services sector in February, as the ISM Services PMI rose to 53.5 from 52.8, beating forecasts. However, rising input prices, fueled by new tariffs and higher raw material costs, could stoke inflation concerns.
Investors now await Friday’s jobs report, which could influence Federal Reserve policy and interest rate outlooks.
