Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Wall Street closed higher on Friday, lifted by technology shares, as optimism over a potential easing of U.S.-China trade tensions buoyed markets. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) surged 1.7% after surpassing earnings expectations and reaffirming its AI investment plans, helping push the S&P 500 technology, consumer discretionary, and communication services sectors up more than 1% each.
Investors are closely watching corporate earnings calls, cautious of any reduced forecasts amid ongoing uncertainty over President Donald Trump's tariff strategies. Trump claimed in a Time magazine interview that trade talks with China were progressing, though Beijing denied any negotiations, adding to the mixed signals over the global trade outlook. Tariffs imposed since April 2 had raised fears of slowed economic growth.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 20.10 points (0.05%) to 40,113.50, the S&P 500 rose 40.44 points (0.74%) to 5,525.21, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 216.90 points (1.26%) to 17,382.94. Globally, MSCI’s stock index advanced 0.60%, while Europe’s STOXX 600 added 0.35%. Japan’s Nikkei jumped 1.8%, fully recovering from tariff-related losses.
The dollar logged its first weekly gain since March, rising 0.07% against a currency basket. It strengthened 0.67% against the yen to 143.555, while the euro edged down 0.11% to $1.1377. Gold prices dropped 1.7% to $3,292.99 an ounce, despite the dollar’s recovery.
U.S. Treasury yields slipped, with the benchmark 10-year note yield falling to 4.268%, reflecting hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut. Oil prices edged higher but posted weekly losses, with Brent closing at $66.87 and WTI at $63.02 per barrel.
