Asian Stocks Slip as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Lift Oil, Dollar Strength Persists 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
Canada Grants C$7 Million to Greenland Molybdenum Mine to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
Argentina Economy Shrinks 1.5% in April, Recovery Under Milei Loses Momentum 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Economic pessimism has set in – but there are reasons for Australians to be hopeful 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Central Banks Eye Gold, Reduce Dollar Exposure as AI Adoption Accelerates: OMFIF Survey 
Dollar Slips Ahead of Key U.S. Jobs Data as Fed Rate Outlook, ECB, and Iran Talks Shape Forex Markets 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Asian Stocks End Strong Quarter as Dollar Surges, Yen Hits 40-Year Low Ahead of US Jobs Data 
Gold Price Hits Annual Low as Fed Rate Hike Bets and Sticky Inflation Weigh on Bullion 
Gold Price Falls as Fed Rate Hike Fears and U.S.-Iran Tensions Weigh on Bullion 
Gold Prices Drop as Fed Rate Outlook and Iran Tensions Weigh on Market 
U.S. stock index futures traded steadily Thursday evening after Wall Street closed at fresh record highs, driven by strong gains in technology stocks and renewed optimism over U.S.-China relations. Investor sentiment improved significantly following reports that Nvidia received approval to sell select artificial intelligence chips to several Chinese companies, fueling another rally in semiconductor shares.
S&P 500 Futures remained stable at 7,525.25 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures gained 0.1% to 29,713.0 points. Dow Jones Futures held near 50,141.0 points after the Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed the key 50,000 level earlier in the day.
Nvidia shares surged more than 4% to a new all-time high after reports indicated the U.S. government allowed the company to sell its H200 AI chips to multiple firms in China. Although deliveries have not yet begun, investors viewed the development as a positive sign for future semiconductor exports and global AI demand. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also visited China alongside President Donald Trump this week as discussions over technology trade continued.
The broader chip sector also advanced after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) projected the global semiconductor market could exceed $1.5 trillion by 2030. U.S.-listed TSMC shares climbed 4.5%, adding momentum to the tech-heavy Nasdaq.
Markets were also closely watching the Trump-Xi summit, where both leaders expressed optimism about strengthening economic ties between the United States and China. Discussions reportedly included tariffs, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, and global trade issues. President Trump stated he hoped relations with China would become “stronger and better than ever before.”
Despite ongoing geopolitical concerns, including tensions involving Iran and disruptions to Asian energy flows, investors focused on improving diplomatic relations and strong growth prospects in the AI and semiconductor industries.
