Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
U.S. stock index futures gained on Wednesday evening, extending Wall Street’s momentum after a technology-led rally. Investors largely shrugged off mounting global and political risks, instead turning their attention to an upcoming speech by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, which could offer fresh clues on the central bank’s interest rate outlook.
S&P 500 Futures rose 0.1% to 6,806.75, Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.2% to 25,370.75, and Dow Jones Futures added 0.1% to 46,895.0 by 20:04 ET (00:04 GMT). The optimism followed a strong session for U.S. equities, powered by big tech names and expectations of further monetary easing.
The Federal Reserve’s September meeting minutes, released Wednesday, indicated that most policymakers supported more rate cuts to cushion a cooling labor market. However, there was uncertainty about how far rates should fall given that inflation remains stubbornly high. Dovish voices like Governor Stephen Miran pushed for a 50-basis-point cut, though most officials favored a smaller move.
Markets are now focused on Powell’s remarks scheduled for Thursday at 08:30 ET (12:30 GMT), as traders price in another 25-basis-point rate cut in October, according to CME FedWatch data. The ongoing partial U.S. government shutdown has delayed several key economic reports, adding to uncertainty over the strength of the economy.
Despite political gridlock and global worries — including concerns over Japan’s fiscal health and political turmoil in France — investor sentiment remained upbeat. Gold prices surged to new highs as safe-haven demand grew amid global instability.
Wall Street rallied Wednesday, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.6% to a record 6,753.72 and the Nasdaq Composite jumping 1.1% to 23,043.38. Tech shares led the charge, driven by NVIDIA’s 2% rise after CEO Jensen Huang highlighted surging AI-driven demand and confirmed an investment in Elon Musk’s xAI. The market now looks ahead to the third-quarter earnings season, with reports from PepsiCo, Delta Air Lines, and major Wall Street banks on deck.
