China Factory PMI Seen Returning to Growth in June as AI Export Demand Supports Economy 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Japan Targets 1%+ Real Economic Growth With ¥370 Trillion Investment Plan 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
US Stock Futures Rise as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Market Sentiment 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Asian Stocks Slip as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Lift Oil, Dollar Strength Persists 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
U.S. stock futures edged higher Thursday night after a sharp decline on Wall Street, driven by Nvidia’s steep losses despite strong earnings. Investors remain cautious ahead of the upcoming PCE inflation report.
S&P 500 Futures rose 0.2% to 5,888.75, Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.4% to 20,678.25, and Dow Jones Futures inched up 0.1% to 43,331.0. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) plunged 8.5% to $120.15, despite beating earnings estimates, as concerns over narrowing margins and AI chip market challenges weighed on sentiment. Increased production costs tied to the Blackwell chip rollout fueled investor worries.
Tech stocks followed Nvidia’s downturn, dragging the Nasdaq Composite 2.8% lower to 18,544.52. The S&P 500 lost 1.6% to 5,861.70, while the Dow dipped 0.4%. Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) slid 7.1%, and AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) fell 5%. Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) dropped over 4% after issuing a weak revenue forecast.
Economic data signaled a slowdown, with initial jobless claims rising amid layoffs and winter weather disruptions. The U.S. GDP grew at a slower 2.3% annual rate in Q4, down from 3.1% in Q3. Weak services PMI and consumer sentiment data strengthened expectations for 2025 rate cuts, though the Fed is likely to hold rates steady for now.
Investors now await the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the PCE price index, set for release Friday. Analysts forecast a 0.3% monthly increase and a 2.5% year-over-year rise, indicating a slowdown in inflation. However, persistent high costs in housing and healthcare continue to pressure consumers.
