JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
U.S. stock futures traded narrowly higher on Wednesday evening after a volatile Wall Street session, as investors assessed the Federal Reserve’s rate decision and a fresh wave of major tech earnings.
S&P 500 futures rose 0.1% to 6,932.0 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.1% to 26,300.00 points. Dow Jones futures were flat at 47,838.0 points. Earlier, the Dow slipped 0.2%, the S&P 500 ended nearly unchanged, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.6%.
The Fed cut its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.75%–4.00%, marking its second consecutive reduction. However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized uncertainty about future moves, stating another rate cut in December was “far from” guaranteed. He noted that policymakers were “navigating in the fog” amid mixed economic signals and uneven inflation progress.
Markets, which had largely priced in another cut by year-end, adjusted expectations following Powell’s comments. Analysts at ING said they still anticipate a December cut, projecting at least two more reductions next year to bolster growth and weaken the dollar.
Investors also monitored global developments ahead of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. The leaders are expected to discuss trade, technology, and rare earth supply chains, with hopes for a temporary pause in tariffs and easing of export restrictions.
Earnings from tech giants also shaped market sentiment. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) surged over 7% in after-hours trading after exceeding revenue forecasts, while Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) slipped 3% amid cost concerns. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) fell 8% after warning of higher 2026 capital expenses and a $16 billion one-time charge. Investors now await results from Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN).
