Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Taiwan Urges Stronger Trade Ties With Fellow Democracies, Rejects Economic Dependence on China 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
China and Uruguay Strengthen Strategic Partnership Amid Shifting Global Order 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Investors Eye Big Tech Earnings and AI Momentum 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Asian Currencies Strengthen as Indian Rupee and Australian Dollar Rally 
Japan Finance Minister Defends PM Takaichi’s Remarks on Weak Yen Benefits 
RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Japan’s Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Exports Hit Record High in 2025 Despite Tariffs 
Trump Announces U.S.–India Trade Deal Cutting Tariffs, Boosting Markets and Energy Ties 
U.S. stocks climbed on Friday, boosted by stronger-than-expected job growth and optimism over renewed U.S.-China trade talks. The S&P 500 closed above 6,000 for the first time since February, led by gains in technology stocks.
Nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, surpassing forecasts of 130,000, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%. The report eased concerns over economic slowdown and led traders to believe the Federal Reserve will likely delay interest rate cuts until September. The Fed meets later this month.
Investors were also encouraged after President Donald Trump announced that three cabinet officials will meet Chinese representatives in London on June 9 to discuss a trade agreement. Although his recent conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping left several issues unresolved, markets welcomed the diplomatic progress.
The S&P 500 gained 61.02 points (1.03%) to close at 6,000.32, while the Dow Jones rose 442.88 points (1.05%) to 42,762.62. The Nasdaq jumped 231.50 points (1.20%) to 19,529.95. For the week, the S&P rose 1.5%, the Dow 1.17%, and the Nasdaq 2.18%.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) rebounded 3.8% after plunging 15% on Thursday amid a public feud between Trump and Elon Musk. Other tech giants saw gains: Amazon rose 2.7% and Alphabet climbed 3.25%.
Wells Fargo jumped 1.9% after S&P Global upgraded its outlook to “positive.” In contrast, Broadcom fell 5% following a weak revenue forecast, and Lululemon plunged 19.8% after slashing its profit outlook due to rising tariff-related costs.
Market breadth was strong, with advancing issues outpacing decliners by over 2-to-1 on both the NYSE and Nasdaq. Trading volume remained light at 14.5 billion shares, below the 20-session average.
