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Markets: US futures steady after Wall St rebounds
United States stock futures were little changed on Monday night (Tuesday AEDT) after a strong start to the week amid a rebound in artificial intelligence shares and optimism over a potential end to the record U.S. government shutdown. By 10:30 am AEDT (11:30 pm GMT), Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100 futures were each trading within a narrow ±0.1% range. Major indexes rallied earlier in the day as hopes grew that the historic government shutdown could soon be resolved. The Senate is expected to begin voting Monday evening (Tuesday AEDT) on a compromise funding bill designed to reopen the government through January and reverse some of the recent mass furloughs of federal workers. However, the agreement excludes Democrats’ demand to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, instead setting a separate vote on the health tax credits in December. ANZ analysts commented in a note to clients: "Once passed in the Senate, the bill will also need to pass in the House. House Speaker Johnson has asked members to begin returning to Washington, although there will be 36 hours of formal notice once the final vote takes place in the Senate. "It’s likely that the end of the shutdown is at least several days away. The proposed bill i
Stock Markets
Wall St rallies as risk returns; US shutdown nears end
United States markets rallied on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) as investors grew optimistic that Senate lawmakers were closing in on a deal to end the nation’s longest-ever government shutdown. President Donald Trump indicated his approval of the proposed Senate agreement, telling reporters in the Oval Office that he was supportive “based on everything I’m hearing” about the deal, which cleared a key procedural hurdle in the Senate on Sunday night (Monday AEDT). The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 381.5 points, or 0.8%, to close at 47,368.6. The S&P 500 advanced 103.6 points, or 1.5%, to 6,832.4, while the Nasdaq Composite surged 522.6 points, or 2.3%, to 23,527.2. Technology stocks led the rebound, with Nvidia jumping 5.8%. AI analytics firm Palantir gained 8.8%, Tesla rose 3.7%, while Microsoft advanced 1.9%, breaking an eight-day losing streak. However, airline stocks struggled as government-mandated flight cuts and staff shortages in air traffic control caused widespread travel disruption. United Airlines slipped 1.3% and American Airlines lost 2.5%. Health insurers also weighed on the market after the Senate’s deal to end the 40-day shutdown excluded an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies. Centene tum
Stock Markets
US stock futures tick up; US govt shutdown in focus
United States stock futures rose Sunday evening (Monday AEDT) as investors responded to signs of progress in Congress toward ending the historic government shutdown. By 10:40 am AEDT (11:40 pm GMT), Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 0.3%, S&P 500 futures added 0.4%, and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.6% Investors are closely monitoring negotiations over a federal funding bill intended to reopen the government and reverse recent mass federal layoffs. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Sunday that an agreement on the federal budget is “coming together”, but cautioned that a deal is not yet final. The proposed plan would restore government operations through January. However, it remains unclear how healthcare subsidies would be handled and whether sufficient Democratic support exists for the package without adjustments to those benefits. The shutdown has contributed to waning consumer confidence, which fell to its lowest level in more than three years according to a University of Michigan survey released Friday, hovering just above its worst-ever reading. Federal agencies have been unable to release many key economic reports, including the consumer price index and producer price index, adding to
Stock Markets
US benchmarks end week lower as shutdown weighs
Major United States equities ended mixed on Friday, capping a volatile week of trade dominated by Washington’s political gridlock and signs of growing economic strain. On Friday, Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 74.8 points or 0.2% to close at 46,987.1, the S&P 500 added 8.5 points or 0.1% to 6,728.8, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 74.8 points or 0.2% to 23,004.5, marking its steepest weekly percentage loss since April. The declines came as the record-long U.S. government shutdown showed little sign of resolution. Stocks briefly pared losses after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed a plan to reopen federal agencies with short-term funding in exchange for extending enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits for a year, but Republicans reportedly dismissed Schumer’s proposal, which hinges on protecting enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for at least one year. Concerns about the health of the U.S. economy deepened after a University of Michigan survey showed consumer sentiment nearing its lowest level on record, hitting 50.3 versus 53.2 expected and down from 53.6 prior. The report indicated that pessimism was widespread across demographic groups, with only wealthier households holding substantial equi
Stock Markets
US futures tick up after AI stock selloff
United States stock futures edged higher on Thursday night (Friday AEDT), recovering slightly from a sharp selloff in major technology and artificial intelligence names that rattled Wall Street earlier in the day. By 10:45 am AEDT (11:45 p.m. GMT), Dow futures were up 0.2%, while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures each added about 0.3%. In extended deals, Take-Two Interactive Software shares tumbled 6.7% after its Rockstar Games unit delayed the release of Grand Theft Auto VI to November 2026, marking the game’s second postponement. Airbnb rose 5.4% after delivering stronger-than-expected third-quarter results. The company earned $2.21 per share on revenue of $4.1 billion, beating estimates and issuing upbeat fourth-quarter guidance between $2.66 billion and $2.72 billion. Block plunged 11.5% after a double miss on earnings and revenue for the sixth consecutive quarter, reporting adjusted earnings of 54 cents a share on $6.11 billion in revenue versus estimates of 67 cents and $6.31 billion. Expedia surged 14.8% after its third-quarter results exceeded expectations. The company earned $7.57 per share on $4.41 billion in revenue, handily beating forecasts. It also guided for fourth-quarter revenue growth of 6–8%,

Stock Markets
US benchmarks finish lower; AI stocks resume declines
United States equities fell sharply on Thursday (Friday AEDT) as artificial intelligence-linked stocks resumed their decline, dragging major indexes lower amid renewed concern about stretched valuations and mounting signs of economic weakness. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 398.7 points or 0.8% to finish at 46,912.3, the S&P 500 dropped 76 points or 1.1% to 6,720.3, while the Nasdaq Composite tumbled 445.8 points or 1.9% to finish at 23,054.0. The heaviest drags came from Nvidia, down 3.7%, Microsoft, which fell 2%, Palantir Technologies, down 6.8% - all key beneficiaries of the AI boom that have recently faced valuation pressures. Qualcomm slid 3.6% despite posting stronger-than-expected quarterly results, as the company warned it may lose future business with Apple. AMD, which surged on Wednesday after upbeat earnings, lost 7.3%, while Oracle lost 2.6%. The market’s downturn was compounded by fresh data showing widespread layoffs across the U.S. economy. According to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, employers announced 153,000 job cuts in October - nearly triple September’s total and up 175% from a year earlier. The report marked the highest October layoff figure in 22 years and put 2025 on pace for the wor
Stock Markets
US futures steady; AI bounce, tariff hopes give boost
United States stock futures were little changed on Wednesday evening (Thursday AEDT) as investors grew more confident about the outlook for artificial intelligence stocks and awaited developments from the Supreme Court’s review of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. By 10:30 am AEDT (11:30 pm GMT), Dow futures, S&P 500 futures, and Nasdaq 100 futures were each trading within ±0.1%. Investors increasingly expect the Supreme Court to rule against the Trump administration’s broad use of trade powers after justices in Wednesday’s hearing expressed scepticism over the legality of the tariffs. A potential ruling to curb or reverse the duties could provide an additional boost to equity markets. Meanwhile, AI-related stocks continued to recover after earlier valuation-driven sell-offs. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) rose 2.5% on Wednesday following stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings, helping to lift other semiconductor names. The rebound in AI names helped the major indexes rebound midweek after a sluggish start that left all three benchmarks lower on the week so far. Earnings season remains in focus, with investors set to parse reports from travel firms Expedia and Airbnb, alongside AI data centre operator Vis
Stock Markets
US benchmarks scope higher finish as tech rebounds
United States benchmark averages advanced on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), after Supreme Court justices questioned President Donald Trump’s authority to impose tariffs under emergency powers, while a rebound in artificial intelligence-related shares also boosted sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 225.8 points or 0.5% to close at 47,311.0, the S&P 500 gained 24.8 points or 0.4% to 6,796.3, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 151.2 points or 0.7% to settle at 23,499.8. Among individual stocks, McDonald’s rose 2.2% after reporting better-than-expected same-store sales, helped by affordable meal promotions that boosted customer demand. Johnson Controls jumped 8.8% after issuing stronger-than-expected profit guidance for fiscal 2026, and Amgen surged 7.8% on a quarterly earnings beat. By contrast, health insurer Humana slumped 6% after weaker-than-expected third-quarter results, while Match Group rose 5.2% even as its revenue forecast fell short of estimates. The Supreme Court hearing, which probed the legality of Trump’s sweeping tariff powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), appeared to tilt against the administration’s argument. Both conservative and liberal justices pressed
Stock Markets
Markets: US futures mixed after Wall Street declines
United States stock futures ticked higher on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT), as investors looked to stabilise after another volatile trading session that saw all three major indexes finish in the red. By 10:30 am AEDT (11:30 pm GMT) Dow futures 0.2%, S&P 500 futures were flat, and Nasdaq 100 futures 0.2%. In extended trading, AMD fell 3.8% after Amazon disclosed in a securities filing that it had dissolved its stake in the chipmaker during the third quarter. The semiconductor giant, however, delivered better-than-expected quarterly results, posting adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.20 on revenue of $9.25 billion. Markets had expected earnings of $1.17 per share on $8.76 billion in revenue. Pinterest plunged 20.2% after reporting weaker-than-expected third-quarter results. The image-sharing platform reported adjusted EPS of $0.38 versus $0.42 expected, while revenue was in line with expectations at $1.05 billion. Super Micro Computer dropped 9% after missing expectations for both revenue and earnings, while also issuing disappointing guidance. The AI server manufacturer reported adjusted EPS $0.35 on $5.02 billion in revenue, compared with expectations of $0.37 on $5.083 billion. Rivian Automotive bucked