Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
U.S. stock index futures ticked higher Thursday evening, extending optimism after record closes for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq fueled by Alphabet’s strong quarterly results and upbeat AI outlook. However, broader gains were capped by steep declines in Tesla, IBM, Honeywell, and UnitedHealth following lackluster earnings and guidance.
S&P 500 Futures rose 0.1% to 6,408 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures added 0.1% to 23,393 points, and Dow Jones Futures climbed 0.1% to 44,947 points as of 19:34 ET. Paramount Global gained 1.4% in after-hours trading after the FCC approved its $8 billion merger with Skydance Media.
Alphabet’s second-quarter earnings surpassed expectations, signaling continued investment in artificial intelligence. The results boosted AI-linked stocks, with NVIDIA rising 1.8%. Sentiment was further supported after President Donald Trump signed three executive orders and unveiled a 90-part plan to accelerate U.S. AI development.
The S&P 500 closed 0.1% higher at 6,363.39, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.2% to 21,957.96—both new record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged, dropping 0.7% to 44,694.09, pressured by losses in IBM, Honeywell, and UnitedHealth. Tesla plunged 8% after CEO Elon Musk warned of “rough quarters” ahead as vehicle sales continued to decline. Intel also slid 3.7% and extended losses in after-hours trade following a disappointing forecast and new cost-cutting measures.
Investor caution persisted ahead of Trump’s August 1 tariff deadline, with hopes for additional trade deals tempered by weaker-than-expected manufacturing PMI data showing U.S. factory activity contracted in July. Nonetheless, overall business activity remained resilient, supported by a stronger services sector.
