UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
Asian Stocks Waver as Trump Signals Fed Pick, Shutdown Deal and Tech Earnings Stir Markets 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Wall Street futures edged higher on Thursday evening after a sharp selloff during the main session, as traders reacted to fading expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in December and a continued rotation out of major technology stocks. The market also showed little reaction to the U.S. government’s re-opening after its longest shutdown, even though the move clears the way for official economic data to resume.
By 19:35 ET (00:35 GMT), S&P 500 Futures were up 0.2% at 6,773.0, while Nasdaq 100 Futures gained 0.2% to 25,137.50. Dow Jones Futures also rose 0.2% to 47,640.0. Some relief came from reports suggesting the Trump administration was weighing tariff exemptions aimed at reducing food prices.
Earlier in the day, U.S. equities tumbled as traders scaled back bets on a December rate cut. According to CME FedWatch, markets now see only a 45.8% chance of a 25-basis-point cut, down sharply from 67.8% a week earlier. A 54.2% probability is now priced in for rates to remain unchanged, reflecting increased uncertainty over the economic impact of the nearly 43-day government shutdown. President Trump estimated the shutdown cost the government roughly $1.5 trillion.
The shift has left the Federal Reserve with limited visibility heading into its next meeting, especially with officials warning that October employment and inflation data may never be released. This uncertainty weighed heavily on stocks: the S&P 500 fell 1.7% to 6,737.54, the Nasdaq Composite slid 2.3% to 22,980.36, and the Dow dropped 1.7% to 47,456.98.
Technology stocks were hit hardest as concerns mounted over inflated AI-driven valuations. Nvidia sank 3.6%, while CoreWeave plunged 8.3% after fresh scrutiny over its business model and reliance on Nvidia. CoreWeave’s disappointing revenue forecast earlier in the week sparked a broader AI-related selloff, with the stock losing nearly 25% in five days. Other major decliners included Tesla (-6.7%), Broadcom (-4.3%), and Palantir (-6.5%), the latter pressured by news that investor Michael Burry purchased put options targeting a far lower share price by 2027.
Growing skepticism around AI spending, shrinking margins in tech earnings, and fears of an overheated valuation cycle continue to drive volatility across the sector, fueling one of the steepest tech pullbacks in recent months.
