US Dollar Slips Ahead of Fed Decision as Oil Prices Ease Inflation Fears 
Hong Kong Home Prices Extend Winning Streak With 13th Straight Monthly Gain in June 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady After Fed Decision as Dollar Finds Support 
Gold Prices Fall 1% Ahead of Fed Decision as Markets Watch Warsh, Iran Talks 
Gold Price Rallies as Fed Holds Rates, Middle East Tensions Boost Safe-Haven Demand 
China PMI Contracts in July as Weak Demand and Typhoons Weigh on Economy 
Oil Prices Head for 20% Monthly Surge as Middle East Supply Risks Persist 
Fed Holds Rates Steady as US Dollar Slides, Euro and Yen Gain 
Trump-Backed Russia Sanctions Bill Faces House Hurdles Over Tariff Powers 
Asian Stocks Tumble as Tech Selloff Deepens Ahead of Fed Decision, Big Tech Earnings 
Japan Earthquake Disrupts Auto and Chip Supply Chains 
Oil Prices Head for 21% Monthly Surge as Middle East Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Australia Inflation Cools as Core CPI Misses Forecasts, Easing RBA Rate Hike Pressure 
South Korea’s KOSPI Soars as Samsung, SK Hynix Rebound on Microsoft-Fueled AI Rally 
Oman Proposes Strait of Hormuz Plan as U.S., Iran Remain Divided Over Shipping Fees 
Japan Yen Surges on Reported FX Intervention as Dollar Slides After Fed, BoE Holds Rates 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Optimism Lifts Markets; Yen Holds Gains Ahead of BOJ Decision 
U.S. stock index futures climbed on Friday, extending Wall Street’s technology-led rebound as renewed confidence in artificial intelligence investments boosted investor sentiment despite lingering concerns over spending and supply chain challenges.
As of 05:42 ET (09:42 GMT), Dow Jones futures gained 261 points, or 0.5%, while S&P 500 futures advanced 35 points, also up 0.5%. Nasdaq 100 futures outperformed with a 317-point, or 1.1%, increase, driven by continued strength in technology stocks.
The rally followed Thursday’s sharp gains on Wall Street, where Microsoft’s stronger-than-expected earnings restored confidence that massive AI infrastructure investments could deliver long-term returns. Analysts at Vital Knowledge also pointed to reports that hedge fund Situational Awareness had significantly reduced its equity holdings, suggesting that the recent selloff in AI-related stocks was driven more by technical factors and forced selling than weakening fundamentals.
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surged 8.19%, marking its strongest daily performance since April 2025, helping the S&P 500 record its best session in seven weeks despite weakness across most of its components.
Markets also continued to digest the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged, alongside easing U.S. inflation data and second-quarter economic growth that, while slower, indicated the economy remained resilient. The positive momentum spread globally, with South Korea’s KOSPI soaring 17.91% and European markets also trading higher.
Investors remained focused on major technology earnings. Apple shares fell in premarket trading after the company projected September-quarter revenue growth of 9% to 11%, below analysts’ expectations. The iPhone maker also warned that supply chain disruptions and rising memory chip costs could pressure profitability.
Amazon, however, jumped more than 12% in premarket trading after reporting robust results fueled by Amazon Web Services, whose revenue climbed 37% year over year to $42.2 billion. CEO Andy Jassy said AWS could eventually generate $1 trillion in annual revenue, reinforcing optimism around AI-driven cloud demand despite Amazon raising its 2026 capital spending forecast to $220 billion.
Later Friday, investors will turn their attention to earnings from ExxonMobil, Chevron, and AbbVie as the busy earnings season continues.
