Stock Market Today: Amid a lack of any significant domestic triggers, market is on a wait-and-watch mode on Thursday, June 26. Investors await key economic data from the United States (US), hoping to get some clarity on Federal Reserve’s potential direction on interest rates.
Earlier, on Wednesday, June 25, domestic benchmark indices staged a smart recovery as easing tensions in the West Asia and subsequently moderation in crude oil prices calmed investors nerves.
Key Stock Market Cues To Watch Today, June 26
US Economic Data: The first cue is expected from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), which is set to release the country’s final gross domestic product (GDP) growth data for the first quarter of 2025. According to the preliminary and second estimates, the US economy contracted at 0.3 per cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively, in the first quarter of 2025. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the economy grew at 2.4 per cent.
Following the GDP data, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation numbers are set to come on Friday, June 27. Both the data could influence Federal Reserve’s stance on interest rates.
Iran-Israel Tensions: At the same time, investors will be keeping a close eye on any fresh developments in West Asia’s geopolitical situation. Earlier on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said he plans to ask Iran to drop its nuclear ambitions during talks scheduled for next week.
He also claimed that US airstrikes had played a decisive role in ending the recent Israel-Iran conflict.
Powell’s Speech At Senate: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told a US Senate panel on Wednesday that while the Trump administration’s tariffs might lead to a one-time spike in prices, there is a real risk they could lead to longer-lasting inflation. That’s why, he said, the central bank is being careful in considering further rate cuts.
How Global Markets Are Trading Today, June 26
Asian markets were mixed in early trade on Thursday, June 26. The Hang Seng index was down 0.42 per cent, while China’s SSE Composite was 0.11 per cent up. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.11 per cent, however, South Korea’s Kospi fell 2.10 per cent in early trade.
Previously, in the US, on June 25, the Dow Jones slipped 106.59 points, or 0.25 per cent, to close at 42,982.43 on Wednesday. The S&P 500 ended flat, down just 0.02 points at 6,092.16, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite outperformed, rising 61.02 points, or 0.31 per cent, to settle at 19,973.55.
