BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
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 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
U.S. stock futures ticked up Thursday evening after Wall Street closed at record highs, fueled by a rally in Intel and optimism over the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut since December. By 20:16 ET (00:16 GMT), S&P 500 Futures rose 0.2% to 6,704.75, Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.2% to 24,747.75, and Dow Jones Futures gained 0.2% to 46,601.
In regular trading, the S&P 500 advanced 0.5% to 6,631.95, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% to 46,142.24, and the NASDAQ Composite jumped 0.9% to 22,470.73 — all marking fresh record closes.
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) surged more than 22% after Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) announced a $5 billion investment in the chipmaker, with plans to collaborate on data center and PC processors. The partnership seeks to merge Intel’s x86 architecture and large-scale manufacturing with Nvidia’s AI and graphics platforms, easing investor worries about Intel’s competitive edge.
The deal follows a U.S. government-backed investment in Intel aimed at reviving the struggling chip giant. Nvidia’s involvement gives Intel a critical boost after years of failed turnaround efforts. The news also steadied Nvidia shares, which had dipped earlier in the week amid reports that China directed local tech firms to stop buying its AI chips, a move seen as part of Beijing’s push to strengthen its domestic semiconductor industry.
Broader market sentiment also benefited from the Fed’s 25-basis-point rate cut, lowering the benchmark range to 4.00%-4.25%. Officials projected two more cuts in 2025 and another in 2026. Fed Chair Jerome Powell described the decision as a “risk-management cut,” noting persistent inflation and uneven economic signals. He emphasized that future easing will depend on economic data rather than committing to an aggressive cutting cycle.
