Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Australian Household Spending Rebounds Strongly in May as Travel and Dining Drive Consumer Growth 
Oil Prices Drop as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Recovers 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs Wednesday, driven by strong gains in Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and GE Vernova amid signs of a potential U.S.-EU trade agreement. The deal, expected to mirror President Trump’s prior accord with Japan, could introduce a broad 15% tariff on EU imports, including cars, according to diplomats.
The S&P 500 rose 0.78% to 6,358.91, while the Nasdaq added 0.61% to 21,020.02. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 1.14% to 45,010.29, just shy of a record close. Year-to-date, the S&P 500 has advanced about 8% and the Nasdaq nearly 9%, buoyed by optimism over trade and robust corporate earnings.
GE Vernova surged 14.6% after boosting revenue and free cash flow forecasts, benefiting from soaring AI and cryptocurrency data center energy demand. Nvidia gained 2.25%, continuing its leadership in the AI chip market. Thermo Fisher (NYSE: TMO) also jumped 9% on strong earnings, while Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN) plunged 13% after weak guidance signaled soft demand for analog chips, dragging peers like NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ: NXPI) and Analog Devices (NASDAQ: ADI) lower.
Market volatility eased, with the CBOE Volatility Index hitting a five-month low. Investors now await U.S. jobless claims and PMI data for further economic signals. Fed rate cuts are viewed as unlikely next week, with September odds around 58%, per CME FedWatch.
Trading volume was heavy at 19.1 billion shares, above the 20-day average. Advancing stocks outnumbered decliners in the S&P 500 by more than 2-to-1, with 50 new highs recorded.
