Trump Delays Tariff Increases on Furniture and Cabinets for One More Year 
Asian Markets Slip as Precious Metals Cool, Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment 
U.S. Dollar Slides Toward Biggest Annual Loss Since 2017 as 2026 Risks Loom 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Weakens in Thin New Year Trading 
Gold Prices Rebound in Europe as Geopolitical Tensions and Fed Outlook Support Bullion 
Oil Prices Stabilize at Start of 2026 as OPEC+ Policy and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
South Korea Inflation Rises to 2.3% in December, Matching Market Expectations 
U.S. Stocks Slip as Gold Rebounds Ahead of Year-End, Markets Eye 2026 Outlook 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
South Korea Factory Activity Returns to Growth in December on Export Rebound 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
U.S. Dollar Starts 2026 Weak as Yen, Euro and Sterling Hold Firm Amid Rate Cut Expectations 
Asian Stock Markets Start New Year Higher as Tech and AI Shares Drive Gains 
South Korea Factory Output Misses Forecasts in November Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Ahead of Fed Minutes as Markets Eye Policy Divisions 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
U.S. stock futures rose slightly on Sunday evening, extending Wall Street’s upbeat momentum after a strong October driven by optimism around artificial intelligence, robust corporate earnings, and easing U.S.-China trade tensions.
As of 19:30 ET (00:30 GMT), S&P 500 futures climbed 0.3% to 6,896.50 points, Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.4% to 26,107.0, and Dow Jones futures edged up 0.3% to 47,846.0.
The positive trend followed a strong close to October, where the S&P 500 advanced 2.3%, marking its sixth consecutive monthly gain. The Nasdaq Composite surged 4.7% during the month, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 2.5%. Market confidence was fueled by renewed enthusiasm for AI innovation and better-than-expected earnings from major tech firms.
Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) rallied nearly 10% after strong cloud division growth and an upbeat forecast. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) also posted solid gains after reporting robust quarterly results, reinforcing investor faith in the technology sector’s resilience.
Adding to the optimism, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%–4.00%, its first reduction in months. Although Chair Jerome Powell cautioned that future cuts are uncertain, markets viewed the move as a positive sign of support for economic growth amid moderating inflation.
Investor sentiment was further lifted by signs of easing trade friction between Washington and Beijing. Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to scale back certain tariffs and delay export restrictions, signaling progress in U.S.-China relations.
Looking ahead, traders are watching upcoming corporate earnings from major firms including Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD), Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR), Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM), Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER), and McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD), which could provide key insights into tech and consumer sector performance.
