Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Fed’s Dovish Tone Sends Dollar Lower as Markets Price In More Rate Cuts 
Indonesia–U.S. Tariff Talks Near Completion as Both Sides Push for Year-End Deal 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Global Forex Markets Brace for Fed Decision as Yen Extends Weakness 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
U.S. stock futures held steady Thursday night as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed just shy of record highs following strong performances from tech and banking stocks.
S&P 500 Futures remained flat at 6,197.50, while Nasdaq 100 Futures rose 0.1% to 22,683.75. Dow Jones Futures also gained 0.1%, reaching 43,764. Market sentiment was supported by easing geopolitical tensions, with a ceasefire between Israel and Iran—brokered by President Donald Trump—still in effect.
Investors digested key economic data ahead of Friday’s release of May’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. U.S. GDP contracted by an annualized 0.5% in Q1, the first drop since 2022, reinforcing expectations of a potential rate cut later this year. Weekly jobless claims fell by 10,000, though June's unemployment rate may rise as job seekers face challenges.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell said more time was needed to evaluate the inflationary impact of recent tariffs before making a rate decision. However, pressure is mounting, with Trump publicly urging immediate cuts and signaling he may replace Powell by September.
On Wednesday, the S&P 500 rose 0.8% and the Nasdaq gained 1%, while the Dow climbed 0.9%, driven by surging tech and bank stocks. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) hit new highs, up 40% since Trump’s tariff announcement in April. Micron (NASDAQ:MU) advanced after beating earnings expectations. Banking stocks like JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) and Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) also saw strong gains.
With inflation data due and policy uncertainty looming, investors are eyeing clues on when the Fed might act, as the market hovers near historic highs.
