Gold Falls Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Weigh on Prices 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Oil Prices Drop as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Recovers 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Wall Street futures moved slightly higher on Monday evening after major U.S. stock indexes reached new record highs, reflecting cautious optimism among investors. S&P 500 Futures climbed 0.2% to 7,217.0 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures also gained 0.2% to 27,487.75. Dow Jones Futures followed with a modest 0.1% increase to 49,397.0. The upward movement comes as market participants react to geopolitical developments and prepare for a critical week of corporate earnings and Federal Reserve updates.
During Monday’s regular trading session, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both closed at all-time highs, rising 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively, driven largely by continued strength in technology stocks. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped slightly by 0.1%. Investor sentiment remained balanced as U.S. President Donald Trump discussed a new proposal from Iran aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East. The proposal includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, while postponing more complex nuclear negotiations.
Oil prices stayed elevated near recent highs, contributing to ongoing inflation concerns and limiting broader market gains. The Strait of Hormuz remains a crucial factor, as restricted tanker traffic continues to influence global energy supply and investor confidence. Rising energy costs have weighed on equities in recent sessions, even as strong performance in AI-driven technology stocks provides support.
Investors are now closely watching a busy earnings calendar, with major tech companies such as Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms set to report results. Over one-third of S&P 500 companies will release earnings this week, with expectations for continued profit growth. Additionally, key reports from companies like UPS, General Motors, Coca-Cola, and JetBlue Airways are due.
Market attention is also turning to the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting. While interest rates are expected to remain unchanged, investors will analyze comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell for signals on future monetary policy.
