South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Micron Earnings 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Australian Household Spending Rebounds Strongly in May as Travel and Dining Drive Consumer Growth 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
Gold Falls Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Weigh on Prices 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
U.S. stock index futures traded mostly flat on Monday evening as investors remained cautious ahead of the latest U.S. consumer inflation report and ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Market sentiment was also influenced by expectations surrounding a potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week.
S&P 500 Futures held near 7,438 points, while Dow Jones Futures stayed relatively unchanged at 49,802 points. Nasdaq 100 Futures posted slight gains, supported by continued optimism surrounding artificial intelligence and semiconductor stocks. Wall Street closed at fresh record highs on Monday, with chipmakers once again leading the rally.
The S&P 500 finished up 0.2% at a record 7,412.87, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average also gained 0.2%. The Nasdaq Composite edged 0.1% higher as investors continued to favor technology and AI-related companies.
Attention is now firmly focused on Tuesday’s U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which could provide important clues about inflation trends and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook. Economists expect headline CPI inflation to rise sharply to 3.7% year-over-year, while core inflation is projected to remain stable at 2.7%.
Rising oil prices linked to the Iran conflict have increased concerns about inflationary pressure. Crude prices remain near four-year highs due to supply disruption fears and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. Higher energy prices have already started impacting domestic fuel costs and investor expectations for future Fed rate cuts.
Geopolitical tensions also weighed on sentiment after President Trump reportedly rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the conflict. Comments suggesting possible renewed U.S. involvement in securing the Strait of Hormuz further increased market uncertainty.
Investors are now closely monitoring inflation data, oil prices, and geopolitical developments for direction on Wall Street and global financial markets in 2026.
