Gold and Silver Prices Slip After Strong U.S. Jobs Data, Fed Rate Cut Bets Fade 
India–US Trade Deal: Digital Tax Removal and $500 Billion Purchase Commitment Signal Major Policy Shift 
Gold Prices Slip in Asian Trade as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Nikkei 225 Surges Past 58,000 as Japan Stocks Rally on Takaichi Stimulus Boost 
Dollar Slips Ahead of Key U.S. Data as Yen Holds Post-Election Gains 
ASX Shares Slide as 2026 Cost Outlook Jumps Amid CEO Exit and ASIC Probe 
Asian Stocks Rise as Japan Rally, AI Optimism and Fed Outlook Shape Markets 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady as Investors Await Key Jobs and Inflation Data 
Japan Warns on Yen Volatility as Currency Surges Against Dollar 
China CPI Growth Slows While Producer Deflation Eases in January 
Oil Prices Dip as Hormuz Tensions, Iran Talks, and Russia Sanctions Shape Market Outlook 
Oil Prices Hold Firm as U.S.–Iran Talks and Inventory Data Shape Market Sentiment 
House Votes to End Trump’s Canada Tariff Emergency, Senate Showdown Looms 
Japan Weighs Using Foreign Exchange Reserve Surplus to Fund Food Tax Cuts 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as US-Iran Tensions and Strong Payroll Data Shape Market Sentiment 
British Retail Sales See Strong Start to 2026 as Food and In-Store Spending Rise 
Asian Currencies Rise as Dollar Weakens Ahead of U.S. Payrolls Data; Aussie Hits Three-Year High 
U.S. stock futures were little changed Wednesday evening following a muted session on Wall Street, as investors weighed a stronger-than-expected jobs report that dampened expectations for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts. Market participants are now turning their attention to upcoming inflation data for further direction.
By 8:04 p.m. ET, S&P 500 futures edged up 0.1% to 6,963.75, Dow Jones futures gained 0.1% to 50,228.0, while Nasdaq 100 futures slipped 0.1% to 25,262.75. The modest moves came after major U.S. indexes closed nearly flat in regular trading. The S&P 500 ended unchanged, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1%, snapping a three-day winning streak, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.2%.
Investor sentiment shifted after fresh labor market data showed the U.S. economy added 130,000 nonfarm payrolls in January, surpassing economist expectations. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate dipped to 4.3%, signaling continued economic resilience. While strong employment growth supports the broader economic outlook, it also reduces the likelihood of imminent interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Traders have since scaled back bets on monetary policy easing in the coming months.
However, revisions to prior months’ data pointed to softer underlying job trends, suggesting pockets of weakness beneath the headline numbers. Analysts noted that outside of sectors such as leisure and hospitality, private healthcare, and government, job growth has been less consistent. This mixed picture keeps the debate over future Fed policy moves open, with some economists still forecasting potential rate cuts later this year.
Markets are now closely watching Friday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which could provide critical insight into inflation trends and shape expectations for future Federal Reserve decisions.
In corporate news, McDonald’s reported quarterly earnings that beat revenue and sales estimates, though its stock showed limited after-hours movement. Meanwhile, Cisco Systems shares fell 7% in extended trading after issuing disappointing earnings and guidance, adding pressure to technology stocks.
