Middle East

Key events: Australia - RBA Interest Rate Decision (Feb) USA - US President Trump Speaks European futures reached all-time highs on Tuesday, driven by a surge in defense stocks amid expectations of increased military spending. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s stock market edged closer to a three-year peak as investors reacted positively to high-profile business leaders meeting with President Xi Jinping.

Key events: UK - GDP (YoY) (Q4) UK - GDP (MoM) (Dec) UK - GDP (QoQ) (Q4) USA - Initial Jobless Claims USA - PPI (MoM) (Jan) USA - 30-Year Bond Auction The S&P 500 slipped on Wednesday as unexpected inflation data complicated the Federal Reserve's path toward potential rate cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 224 points, or 0.5%, while the S&P 500 shed 0.3%. Meanwhile, the NASDAQ Composite managed a slight gain of 0.03%.

Key events: UK - BoE MPC Member Mann Speaks USA - Fed Chair Powell Testifies USA - FOMC Member Bowman Speaks USA - FOMC Member Williams Speaks The S&P 500 closed higher on Monday as a rally in tech stocks, led by Nvidia, outweighed investor concerns over US tariff policy ahead of a pivotal week filled with economic data releases and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony.

Key events: UK - CPI (YoY) (Dec) USA - Core CPI (MoM) (Dec) USA - CPI (YoY) (Dec) USA - CPI (MoM) (Dec) USA - Crude Oil Inventories On Tuesday, the S&P 500 closed with a slight gain, supported by a cooler-than-expected Producer Price Index (PPI) report, which helped ease recent spikes in Treasury yields. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.5%, while the S&P 500 edged up 0.1%. In contrast, the NASDAQ Composite fell by 0.2%, weighed down by ongoing challenges in the technology sector.

Key events: USA - Core PCE Price Index (MoM) (Nov) USA - Core PCE Price Index (YoY) (Nov) Stocks showed minimal movement on Thursday, with a late-session dip stifling a potential recovery from the sharp losses seen the day before.

Dow Hits Record High Amid Strong Jobs Data, Fed Rate Cut Prospects Diminish | Daily Market Analysis Key events: Eurozone - ECB's Lane Speaks Eurozone - Eurogroup Meetings USA - FOMC Member Bowman Speaks USA - FOMC Member Kashkari Speaks  The Dow surged to fresh record highs on Friday, driven by a surprisingly strong jobs report that highlighted the resilience of the US economy and eased concerns about a potential recession.

Key events: USA - Average Hourly Earnings (MoM) (Sep) USA - Nonfarm Payrolls (Sep) USA - Unemployment Rate (Sep) The S&P 500 declined on Thursday as investors responded to signs of a softer labor market and ongoing geopolitical concerns in the Middle East, with a key monthly jobs report on the horizon. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 184 points, or 0.4%, while the S&P 500 fell 0.2%, and the NASDAQ Composite slipped by 0.1%.

Key events: USA - Initial Jobless Claims USA - S&P Global Services PMI (Sep) USA - ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI (Sep) USA - ISM Non-Manufacturing Prices (Sep) On Wednesday, the Dow Jones eked out a slight gain, supported by stronger jobs data, though rising tensions in the Middle East tempered the upside. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 39 points, or 0.1%, while the S&P 500 index remained flat, and the NASDAQ Composite added 0.1%.

Key events: China - Manufacturing PMI (Sep) UK - GDP (QoQ) (Q2) UK - GDP (YoY) (Q2) USA - Chicago PMI (Sep) USA - Fed Chair Powell Speaks On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached record highs, closing with a gain of 137 points (0.3%) at 42,313.00. Energy stocks surged, and signs of faster-than-expected cooling inflation buoyed investor sentiment. In contrast, the S&P 500 dipped by 0.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite, heavily concentrated with tech stocks, fell 0.4%.

Key events: Eurozone - CPI (YoY) (Jul) USA - FOMC Member Bostic Speaks USA - Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Barr Speaks The S&P 500 advanced on Monday as concerns about a potential recession continued to diminish, setting the stage for a significant week with the Federal Reserve's release of July meeting minutes. Investors are also anticipating insights from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole central bank symposium on Friday, which could offer clues on future monetary policy directions.