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US futures edge lower; M.East tensions remain in focus
United States futures traded slightly lower on Monday night (Tuesday AEST) as investors weighed signs of progress towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz against lingering doubts over whether the U.S. and Iran can reach a broader resolution to the conflict. By 10:20 am AEST (12:20 am GMT), Dow futures, S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures had each declined around 0.1%. The moves followed slight declines for major benchmark averages on Monday as uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict continued to weigh on markets. Iran said it was nearing an agreement with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but Tehran has continued to resist direct negotiations with the U.S. until several conditions are met. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday there was “no possibility of restarting negotiations” as long as the U.S. continued violating the June memorandum of understanding and failed to compensate Iran for those violations. Oil prices jumped on Monday as uncertainty over the conflict persisted. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled 5.1% higher at $82.13 a barrel, while international benchmark Brent crude rose 5% to $87.72. Investors will next turn their attention to key inflation data, with t
Stock Markets
Wall St ticks lower as Hormuz hopes fade
Major United States benchmark averages closed slightly lower on Monday (Tuesday AEST) as investors became less optimistic about a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 61 points, or 0.1%, to 53,976.0. The S&P 500 declined 4.5 points, or 0.1%, to 7,753.1, while the Nasdaq dropped 85.3 points, or 0.3%, to 26,605.4. U.S. President Donald Trump demanded that Iran pay compensation for people he said had been killed in wars, attacks and protests. Iran earlier called on Washington to meet conditions including compensation for damage caused since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on its territory more than five months ago. U.S. crude oil prices reflected renewed pessimism about the reopening of the Strait, settling 5.1% higher at US$82.13 per barrel. Reopening oil flows through the Strait could ease concerns over elevated energy prices that have fuelled inflation worries and raised fears that central banks may need to increase interest rates. Intel shares fell 4.1% after the chipmaker said it planned to raise $15 billion through a share sale. Nvidia shares also declined 2.9% after a person familiar with the matter told Reuters that a group of financial firms, including Apollo Gl
Stock Markets
US futures slip; traders monitor Hormuz developments
Unite States stock futures edged lower on Sunday night (Monday AEST) as doubts grew over whether the U.S. and Iran will soon reach an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. By 10:10 am AEST (12:10 am GMT), Dow futures were down 0.3%, S&P 500 futures had slipped 0.2%, while Nasdaq-100 futures were 0.1% lower. Optimism that the U.S. and Iran were close to an agreement allowing vessels to freely transit the strategic waterway weakened over the weekend after Iran denied holding direct negotiations with Washington over reopening the strait. Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested in comments to CNBC that a deal was imminent. However, President Donald Trump told Axios on Sunday that the U.S. was "semi-negotiating” with Iran and wanted to maintain economic pressure on the country. The three major U.S. indexes are coming off their strongest weekly performances since April, with the S&P 500 ending last week at a record closing high. Stocks received a boost on Friday after July nonfarm payrolls unexpectedly declined, raising expectations that the Federal Reserve could hold off on raising interest rates. Fed funds futures are now pricing in a 44.4% chance of a rate hike at the Fed's September meeting, do
Stock Markets
US markets rise after soft jobs report
United States benchmark averages advanced on Friday (Saturday AEST), with the S&P 500 closing at a record high as the major indexes posted strong weekly gains after data showed the economy unexpectedly shed jobs last month, reducing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike in September. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 151.8 points, or 0.3%, to 54,036.9, while the S&P 500 gained 47.7 points, or 0.6%, to 7,757.6. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 342.3 points, or 1.3%, to 26,690.6. For the week, the Dow gained 3%, the S&P 500 advanced 3.6%, and the Nasdaq rose 5.2%. The Labor Department reported that nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 last month, well below economists' expectations for an increase of 80,000 jobs. Previously reported job gains for the prior two months were also revised sharply lower. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% from 4.2% in June, largely as workers left the labour force. Market expectations for a Fed rate hike at its next meeting fell to 44.4%, according to the CME Group FedWatch Tool, down from 55% in the previous session and 67% a week earlier. Progress towards a potential peace deal in the Iran war has helped lower oil prices, easing inflation concerns that could otherwise prompt the F
Stock Markets
US futures mixed as investors await July jobs report
United States equity futures were trading mixed on Thursday night (Friday AEST) as investors awaited the release of the closely watched July jobs report for further clues on the strength of the labour market. By 10:20 am AEST (12:20 am GMT), Dow futures were down 0.1%, S&P 500 futures were little changed, while Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.3%. In extended trading, Airbnb shares climbed 8.2% after the vacation rental company reported second-quarter earnings and revenue above expectations. Airbnb posted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.37 on revenue of $3.61 billion, beating forecasts of $1.26 on revenue of $3.58 billion. Twilio shares surged 16.6% after the communications software company issued stronger-than-expected guidance for the current quarter. Twilio expects adjusted earnings of $1.42 to $1.47 per share on revenue of $1.51 billion to $1.52 billion, compared with analyst expectations of $1.39 per share and $1.46 billion in revenue. Trade Desk shares plunged 23.9% after the digital advertising company reported quarterly earnings and revenue below market expectations. Adjusted EPS came in at $0.34, missing forecasts of US$0.40, while revenue of $715.06 million fell short of estimates for $752.59 million. Akamai

Stock Markets
US markets slip; focus on M.East, earnings
United States benchmark averages finished lower on Thursday (Friday AEST) as investors assessed another wave of corporate earnings while monitoring developments surrounding potential peace talks between the United States and Iran. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 464.0 points, or 0.9%, to 53,885.1. The S&P 500 fell 13.5 points, or 0.2%, to 7,710.0, while the Nasdaq Composite edged down 15.1 points, or 0.1%, to 26,348.4. The declines followed a strong week that saw both the Dow and S&P 500 reach record highs, supported by better-than-expected corporate earnings, easing concerns over heavy artificial intelligence-related spending and growing optimism that the conflict involving Iran could move towards a resolution. Oil prices rebounded after earlier losses this week. U.S. crude settled 2.75% higher at US$77.29 a barrel, while Brent crude climbed 3.83% to settle at $82.49 a barrel. Earlier signs of progress towards a peace agreement had weighed on crude prices, helping to ease inflation concerns, reduce expectations of another Federal Reserve rate hike and push U.S. Treasury yields lower. Among individual stocks, data storage company Western Digital tumbled 13% following its quarterly results, while memory chip
Stock Markets
US futures mixed; memory stocks slide after earnings
United States equity futures traded near flat on Wednesday evening after the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record high, with investors turning their attention to another busy session of corporate earnings. By 10:10 am AEST (12:10 am GMT), Dow futures and S&P 500 futures were both up 0.2%, while Nasdaq 100 futures edged 0.1% lower. In after-hours trading, memory chip stocks came under pressure following mixed earnings updates and cautious guidance. Western Digital shares dropped 11% after its current-quarter outlook disappointed investors. The company forecast adjusted earnings of US$4 per share, plus or minus 15 cents, on revenue of $4.1 billion, plus or minus $100 million, compared with analyst expectations of $3.81 per share on revenue of $4.04 billion. For the latest quarter, Western Digital reported earnings per share (EPS) of $3.56, above expectations of $3.31, while revenue reached $3.75 billion compared with forecasts of $3.7 billion. Sandisk shares declined 7% after its revenue guidance raised concerns among investors. The company expects first-quarter revenue between $10.3 billion and $10.8 billion, compared with the LSEG consensus estimate of $10.47 billion. However, Sandisk’s fourth-quarter
Stock Markets
US markets mixed as Dow extends record highs
Major United States benchmark indices closed mixed on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), with the Dow Jones Industrial Average finishing at a record high as optimism over progress towards a peace deal with Iran outweighed weakness in technology stocks following a fresh round of corporate earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 263.2 points, or 0.5%, to 54,349.1. The S&P 500 slipped 13.0 points, or 0.2%, to 7,723.5, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 221.6 points, or 0.8%, to 26,363.4. Sentiment was supported after a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters that a proposed agreement between Iran and Oman would give Tehran control over vessels entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, marking one of the most significant concessions yet offered to Iran. SpaceX shares tumbled 13.6% after the Elon Musk-led company reported its first earnings since listing. Revenue nearly doubled and operating losses narrowed, driven by strong growth in its Starlink satellite communications and artificial intelligence businesses. However, investors questioned how long the company could sustain heavy spending on AI-related investments, including data centres. Advanced Micro Devices also came under pressure, fallin
Stock Markets
US futures mixed; AMD sheds 8.2% post earnings
United States stock futures were little changed on Tuesday evening (Wednesday AEST) following a strong rally that pushed the S&P 500 and the Dow to fresh record closes. By 10:25 am AEST (12:25 am GMT) Dow futures and S&P 500 futures gained 0.2% apiece while Nasdaq-100 futures slipped 0.1%. In after-hours trading, SpaceX shares fell 7.7% after the company released its first quarterly results since going public in June. SpaceX reported a loss of 9 cents per share, narrower than expectations for a 23-cent loss, while revenue reached US$7.81 billion, ahead of forecasts for $6.83 billion. The company reported capital expenditure of $18.37 billion in the second quarter, largely driven by artificial intelligence investment and representing a 550% increase from the same period a year earlier. AMD shares declined 8.2% despite the chipmaker reporting slightly better-than-expected earnings and revenue. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.66, compared with expectations of $1.62, while revenue came in at $11.54 billion versus forecasts of $11.31 billion. Arista Networks climbed 11.2% after second-quarter results exceeded market expectations. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.02, above forecasts of $0.