Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
China Factory PMI Seen Returning to Growth in June as AI Export Demand Supports Economy 
Asian Stocks Slip as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Lift Oil, Dollar Strength Persists 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
US stock index futures saw little movement in holiday-thinned trade on Sunday, as investors remained cautious over President Donald Trump’s tariff plans and persistent inflation concerns. Futures stabilized after a mixed Wall Street session on Friday, where the S&P 500 closed just below record highs, driven by technology stocks, while other sectors lagged.
Investor attention now turns to Federal Reserve speakers and the minutes from the Fed’s January meeting, where interest rates were held steady. Last week’s strong inflation data has tempered hopes for near-term rate cuts. S&P 500 Futures rose slightly to 6,135.50 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures inched up 0.1% to 22,212.50 points, and Dow Jones Futures remained steady at 44,646.0 points. Trading volumes were subdued with US markets closed for a holiday on Monday.
Market sentiment was weighed down by Trump’s recent 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and his executive order for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, heightening fears of a global trade war. However, Trump indicated that these tariffs would take effect in April, providing temporary relief.
On Friday, the S&P 500 ended flat at 6,114.63 points, the NASDAQ Composite gained 0.4% to 20,026.77 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.4% to 44,546.08 points.
This week, markets will closely monitor speeches from Federal Open Market Committee members Patrick Harker and Michelle Bowman. Their remarks follow mixed inflation data from last week, where core components influencing the Fed’s preferred PCE price index showed signs of easing, raising hopes for inflation nearing the central bank’s 2% target. Investors await insights on future monetary policy from the Fed amid ongoing economic uncertainties.
