US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Gold Price Falls as Fed Rate Hike Fears and U.S.-Iran Tensions Weigh on Bullion 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Canada Grants C$7 Million to Greenland Molybdenum Mine to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply 
US Stock Futures Rise as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Market Sentiment 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
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 
U.S. stock index futures edged higher Thursday evening following modest Wall Street gains, driven by corporate earnings from Apple and Microsoft. Investors now focus on Friday’s personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index for insights into the Federal Reserve’s next move after maintaining a hawkish stance.
S&P 500 Futures rose 0.1% to 6,104.75, while Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.3% to 21,695.50. Dow Jones Futures ticked up 0.1% to 45,076.
Tech earnings fueled market sentiment. Microsoft stock dropped 6% despite surpassing estimates, as its cloud revenue and AI-related expenses disappointed. Apple stock gained 3% in after-hours trading despite missing iPhone sales estimates. Meta rose 1.6% on strong Q4 revenue but warned of weaker current-quarter sales. Tesla shares climbed nearly 3% on cost-cutting measures and plans for an affordable EV model.
Outside tech, Caterpillar shares fell 4.6% on weak Q4 revenue and a lackluster 2025 outlook. UPS plunged over 14% after cutting 2025 guidance and slashing Amazon deliveries by over 50%.
The NASDAQ Composite gained 0.3% to 19,681.75, the Dow Jones rose 0.4% to 44,881.64, and the S&P 500 advanced 0.5% to 6,071.18.
Friday’s PCE inflation report is expected to show a 0.3% month-over-month increase, signaling persistent inflation. The Fed’s stance remains cautious, with Chair Jerome Powell emphasizing strong labor markets and ongoing price pressures.
Meanwhile, trade policy uncertainties linger. President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs, including a 25% levy on Canadian and Mexican oil imports, have fueled investor concerns. Markets await clarity on exemptions before the tariffs take effect Saturday.
