Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Australian Household Spending Rebounds Strongly in May as Travel and Dining Drive Consumer Growth 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
U.S. stock markets finished at record levels on Friday as investors digested a mixed December jobs report that still pointed to underlying economic strength. The S&P 500 closed at a fresh all-time high, reinforcing optimism around corporate earnings, economic growth, and potential future Federal Reserve rate cuts. By the end of trading at 4:00 p.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 237 points, or 0.5%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.6% to close at 6,963.21. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a 0.8% rise. For the week, the S&P 500 advanced more than 1%, while both the Dow and Nasdaq posted gains of roughly 2%.
Investor attention centered on the December U.S. jobs report, which showed the economy added 50,000 jobs, slightly below November’s revised figure of 56,000 and well under expectations of 66,000. The Labor Department also revised prior data, cutting a combined 76,000 jobs from October and November payroll estimates. Despite softer headline job growth, the unemployment rate edged down to 4.4%, beating forecasts of 4.5%. Analysts highlighted that household survey data painted a stronger picture, with employment rising by more than 230,000 and unemployment falling sharply, signaling continued labor market resilience.
Market participants are now recalibrating expectations for Federal Reserve policy. While the probability of a March interest rate cut appears lower following the data, economists note that upcoming employment and inflation reports could still support rate reductions later in the year if growth moderates and inflation remains contained.
Corporate and sector-specific news also boosted sentiment. Intel shares surged around 10% after President Donald Trump highlighted gains from the U.S. government’s stake in the chipmaker, sparking a broader rebound in semiconductor stocks. Homebuilder stocks rallied as mortgage rates dropped to their lowest level in three years, following Trump’s comments about potentially purchasing $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court did not issue an expected ruling on Trump-era tariffs. If overturned, analysts estimate the government could face up to $150 billion in refunds to importers, adding another layer of uncertainty for markets moving forward.
