South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Sunday evening as investors prepared for a pivotal week marked by a Federal Reserve policy decision and a heavy slate of corporate earnings. The cautious tone followed a volatile prior week on Wall Street, where geopolitical tensions and renewed trade concerns weighed on market sentiment.
S&P 500 futures slipped about 0.3% to around 6,926 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures declined roughly 0.5% to near 25,618 points. Dow Jones futures were also modestly lower, down about 0.3% at approximately 40,140 points. The pullback reflects lingering risk aversion after last week’s losses, when the S&P 500 finished down about 0.4%, the Nasdaq Composite closed marginally lower, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell around 0.5%.
Markets were unsettled by fresh geopolitical developments tied to former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on trade and foreign policy. His renewed focus on Greenland, alongside tariff-related threats linked to strategic influence in the Arctic, raised fears of a broader transatlantic trade conflict. Global trade anxiety intensified further after Trump warned he could impose a 100% tariff on Canada should Ottawa proceed with a proposed trade agreement with China. These developments pushed investors toward safer assets, with gold prices surging to record highs above $5,000 an ounce, highlighting the prevailing risk-off mood.
Attention now shifts to the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting, set to conclude on Wednesday. While markets widely expect the Fed to keep interest rates unchanged after three consecutive cuts, investors will closely parse the policy statement and Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference for guidance on the future path of monetary policy, particularly amid sticky inflation and slowing global growth signals.
Adding to the week’s importance is a wave of corporate earnings, with roughly one-fifth of the S&P 500 reporting results. Several mega-cap technology companies from the “Magnificent Seven” are in focus, including Tesla, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms on Wednesday, followed by Apple on Thursday. Investors will be watching these earnings closely for insights into consumer demand, artificial intelligence investments, revenue growth, and margin pressures in an uncertain geopolitical and economic environment.
