Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
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 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
China Factory PMI Seen Returning to Growth in June as AI Export Demand Supports Economy 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
U.S. stock futures remained stable on Thursday evening as investors reacted to new tariff threats from President Donald Trump and cautious Federal Reserve signals on interest rate cuts.
S&P 500 Futures held at 6,138.50 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures edged up 0.1% to 22,166.25 points. Dow Jones Futures saw slight gains, reaching 44,293.0 points.
Trump reiterated his intent to impose 25% tariffs on key sectors, including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumber, heightening fears of a trade war. He also warned of reciprocal tariffs on major trading partners, with some duties possibly taking effect by early April. The uncertainty over whether these threats are a negotiation strategy or a real policy shift kept investors cautious.
The stock market saw losses on Thursday, driven by weak corporate earnings and Fed concerns. Walmart (NYSE: WMT) dropped 6.5% after reporting lower-than-expected quarterly earnings, raising worries about slowing consumer spending. The decline affected other retail stocks. Block Inc (NYSE: XYZ) also fell 6% in after-hours trading due to disappointing results.
Additionally, recent Fed statements reinforced expectations that interest rates will remain unchanged in the near term. Policymakers expressed concerns about persistent inflation, partly influenced by Trump’s trade policies. The Fed’s January meeting minutes highlighted these inflation risks, dampening investor sentiment.
On Thursday, the S&P 500 slipped 0.4% to 6,117.63 points, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.5% to 19,962.36 points, and the Dow Jones fell 1% to 44,176.90 points. With economic uncertainty mounting, traders will closely watch developments on tariffs, interest rates, and corporate earnings.
