Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
U.S. stock futures held steady Tuesday evening following a positive close for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, driven by easing inflation and optimism over the U.S.-China trade deal. S&P 500 Futures edged up 0.1% to 5,908.0, Dow Jones Futures gained 0.1% to 42,265.0, while Nasdaq 100 Futures hovered near flat at 21,290.50.
Earlier in the day, the S&P 500 climbed 0.7% and the Nasdaq surged 1.6%, fueled by a softer-than-expected April CPI reading. Meanwhile, the Dow dipped 0.6%, pressured by an 18% drop in UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH) after it withdrew its full-year outlook and CEO Andrew Witty announced his resignation amid rising medical costs.
The consumer price index rose 2.3% year-over-year in April, slightly below forecasts of 2.4%. Month-over-month inflation came in at 0.2%, under the expected 0.3%, and core inflation also rose just 0.2%, easing pressure on the Federal Reserve to tighten policy.
Adding to market cheer, the U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day reduction in tariffs. The U.S. will slash tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China will cut its own from 125% to 10%. Lower trade tensions are seen as supportive of economic growth and may reduce inflationary risks.
Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) jumped 5.6% after confirming a major AI chip sale to Saudi firm Humain for a planned 500 MW data center. Boeing (NYSE:BA) rose 2% as China lifted a ban on plane deliveries. Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) surged ahead of its May 19 inclusion in the S&P 500, while Under Armour (NYSE:UAA) gained on strong quarterly revenue.
