South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
U.S. stock futures edged higher Thursday night after Wall Street saw the S&P 500 slip into correction territory. S&P 500 Futures rose 0.5% to 5,553.0 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures gained 0.6% to 19,359.50, and Dow Jones Futures added 0.3% to 40,987.0.
The rebound followed Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s support for a Republican-backed stopgap funding bill, aiming to prevent a government shutdown as current funding expires Friday at midnight. The bill passed the House earlier this week.
February’s Producer Price Index (PPI) remained flat, easing inflation concerns after a 0.6% jump in January. Annual PPI growth slowed to 3.2% from January’s 3.7%. This follows softer Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, yet markets still tumbled. The S&P 500 fell 1.4% to 5,521.17, officially entering correction territory with a 10% drop from its recent peak. The Dow slid 1.3%, and the Nasdaq lost 2%.
Trade war fears drove the sell-off, with investors worrying that rising tariffs could fuel inflation and recession risks. Tech stocks suffered, with Tesla falling 2.4%, Meta losing 4.7%, and Apple dropping 3.4%. Intel, however, surged 14.6% after naming Lip-Bu Tan as CEO.
Adding to concerns, President Donald Trump threatened 200% tariffs on European alcohol in response to the EU’s planned 50% tariff on American whiskey. The EU move, effective April 1, follows recent U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump vowed retaliatory action unless the EU withdraws its levy, potentially increasing consumer prices in both regions.
With trade tensions escalating and economic uncertainty looming, markets remain on edge despite a temporary recovery in futures trading.
