US stocks advanced last week, with the S&P 500 adding about 1.7% as investors digested a mix of upbeat earnings and cooling macro signals.
Policy and economic moves grabbed attention in Asia and Europe. Seoul is weighing an investment fund to funnel extraordinary AI‑related profits back into the economy, part of a broader push to harness the tech boom for national growth. Spain continued to stand out among developed markets — its GDP has topped $2 trillion and the economy is forecast to expand about 2.6% in 2026.
Geopolitics edged into the spotlight as Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump discussed Ukraine in a rare bilateral exchange ahead of the NATO summit, underscoring tenuous prospects for diplomacy.
At a conference in Sintra, Portugal, most European Central Bank Governing Council members signaled that a pause in rate hikes may now be appropriate, reflecting moderating inflation pressures and the central bank’s reassessment of the policy path.
Market action was mixed in early trade: European and mainland Chinese equities were largely flat, while Japan and Hong Kong climbed about 1%. US futures pointed to a 0.5%–1% firmer open and Brent crude traded down roughly 1% near $71.50 a barrel.
Leave a Reply