Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Australian Household Spending Rebounds Strongly in May as Travel and Dining Drive Consumer Growth 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
U.S. Dollar Reaches One-Year High as Tech Sell-Off and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Support Demand 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
U.S. stock index futures stabilized on Thursday evening after a strong rebound in technology stocks helped Wall Street snap a two-day losing streak. The recovery was driven largely by blockbuster earnings from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), along with upbeat results from major U.S. banks such as Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. However, broader market gains remained capped as investors continued to monitor rising geopolitical tensions involving Iran, which have recently weighed on global risk sentiment.
By 18:35 ET, S&P 500 futures edged up 0.1% to 6,988.50 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures also gained 0.1% to 25,727.0 points. Dow Jones futures traded slightly higher at 49,670.0 points. The modest uptick reflected cautious optimism as investors balanced strong corporate earnings against ongoing macro and geopolitical risks.
Technology and semiconductor stocks led the advance after TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, reported a record-high profit for the fourth quarter. The company also reinforced confidence in the artificial intelligence-driven demand outlook, positioning itself as a key beneficiary of the global AI infrastructure buildout. TSMC’s U.S.-listed shares jumped 4.4%, lifting sentiment across the chip sector. NVIDIA, a major TSMC customer, climbed 2.2%, while AMD added nearly 2%. TSMC’s CEO highlighted strong customer demand and signaled a sharp increase in capital expenditure planned for 2026 to meet long-term growth needs.
The positive momentum in semiconductors spilled over into broader tech stocks, although gains were tempered by some profit-taking after a strong start to January. Meanwhile, Wall Street also drew support from the banking sector. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley surged 4.6% and 5.8%, respectively, after reporting robust December-quarter earnings, helping offset earlier mixed results from other banks.
The S&P 500 rose nearly 0.3% on Thursday, the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.25%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average outperformed with a 0.6% rise, led by financial stocks. With the fourth-quarter earnings season accelerating next week and key reports from companies like Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, and Intel ahead, investors remain focused on corporate fundamentals amid a complex global backdrop.
