Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 1.84%, Shanghai Composite up 0.76% Hang Seng up 1.73% ASX up 0.50%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,129.40 (-0.27%) Silver at $60.280 (0.13%), Brent Oil at $76.66 (0.47%), WTI Oil at $72.41 (0.43%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.540, UK 10-year yield at 4.8985, Germany 10-year yield at 3.0528
News & Data:
- (USD) Unemployment Claims 215K to 218K expected
Markets Update:
U.S. stock futures slipped slightly on Thursday night after a strong Wall Street session that kept the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite on track for weekly gains. S&P 500 futures fell 0.12%, Nasdaq 100 futures lost 0.18%, while Dow futures were little changed.
On Thursday, the Nasdaq climbed 1.3%, the S&P 500 gained 0.8%, and the Dow advanced 0.3%. Investor sentiment improved as oil prices eased after President Donald Trump said Iran had reached out to negotiate. Reports also indicated that Qatar and Pakistan are working to revive talks between Washington and Tehran.
Asian markets followed Wall Street higher, led by South Korea. The Kospi surged more than 4.6%, while the Kosdaq jumped 5.7%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 2.4%, Australia’s ASX 200 added 0.44%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.45%, and China’s CSI 300 advanced 0.33%.
Technology shares led the rally, driven by optimism surrounding semiconductor companies. SoftBank climbed over 11%, while Advantest, Renesas Electronics, and Tokyo Electron posted solid gains. In South Korea, Samsung Electronics, Samsung SDI, LG Display, Seoul Semiconductor, and SK Hynix all traded higher.
Market strategist Ed Yardeni said strong corporate earnings continue to support equities despite concerns over AI-related optimism fading. Investors are now focused on SK Hynix’s U.S. listing and Delta Air Lines’ second-quarter earnings. For the week, the Nasdaq and S&P 500 remained higher, while the Dow stayed slightly negative.
Upcoming Events:
- 02:00 PM GMT – CAD Employment Change
- 02:00 PM GMT – CAD Unemployment Claims
