JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
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 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
U.S. stock futures showed little movement on Wednesday evening after Wall Street closed lower, with investors awaiting crucial economic data that could shape the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook. By 20:18 ET (00:18 GMT), S&P 500 futures rose 0.1% to 6,701.0 points, Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.1% to 24,768.75 points, and Dow Jones futures added 0.1% to 46,504.0 points.
In regular trading, major indexes slipped as technology stocks weighed on sentiment. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3% each, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.4%. The weakness came as investors grew cautious ahead of weekly jobless claims and the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation report, the Fed’s preferred measure of price growth.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, speaking earlier in the week, reiterated that there is “no risk-free path” in balancing inflation and labor market risks. He also warned that asset prices remain “fairly highly valued” and cautioned against assuming recent inflation progress ensures a smooth decline toward the Fed’s 2% target. His remarks reinforced expectations that the central bank will remain cautious in shifting monetary policy.
Markets are now focused on Thursday’s release of jobless claims, expected to show 233,000 initial claims for the week ended Sept. 20, slightly above the prior week’s 231,000. On Friday, the August PCE price index is forecast to reveal core inflation at 2.9% year-on-year, still above the Fed’s goal.
Meanwhile, sector performance highlighted ongoing market volatility. AI-related stocks including Nvidia and Oracle extended declines for a second day, while Micron Technology slipped despite reporting strong demand from artificial intelligence developers. In contrast, Intel surged over 6% following reports it approached Apple regarding a potential investment, offering a bright spot in the otherwise subdued session.
With key economic data ahead, investors remain reluctant to take big positions, waiting for clearer signals on the Fed’s next policy steps heading into year-end.
