U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
U.S. stock index futures edged lower Thursday evening as Wall Street closed in the red, weighed down by renewed fears surrounding regional banks, escalating U.S.-China trade tensions, and the prolonged government shutdown.
S&P 500 Futures slipped 0.2% to 6,654.50 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures dropped 0.2% to 24,778.50 points. Dow Jones Futures declined 0.1% to 46,097.0 points. During regular trading, the S&P 500 fell 0.6%, the NASDAQ Composite lost 0.5%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated 0.7%.
Regional bank stocks were among the biggest losers after Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ: ZION) and Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL) reported significant loan losses linked to potential fraud. Zions said it would write off roughly $50 million following “misrepresentations and contractual defaults” at its California Bank & Trust unit. Western Alliance announced legal action against a borrower accused of presenting fraudulent collateral. The disclosures triggered steep selloffs, with Zions tumbling more than 13% and Western Alliance dropping nearly 10%, dragging the KBW Regional Banking Index down about 6%.
Investor sentiment also weakened amid rising geopolitical and political uncertainty. President Trump’s announcement of an additional 100% tariff on all Chinese imports, in response to Beijing’s rare earth export restrictions, further fueled concerns of deteriorating trade relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government shutdown, now entering its third week, continued to rattle markets, delaying key economic data and stoking fears about short-term growth prospects.
Despite early optimism from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE: TSM) earnings that briefly lifted tech stocks, broader market declines in industrials and financials erased those gains. JB Hunt (NASDAQ: JBHT) surged over 20% after posting strong results, while Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) fell as Trump hinted at sharp price cuts for obesity drugs.
