The Economic Times·2025-09-10 10:56Market Overview - U.S. stock futures showed mixed signals, with Dow Jones futures down 0.2%, S&P 500 contracts up 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures slightly above flat, indicating a cautious start after a record-setting rally driven by optimism about Federal Reserve rate cuts [1][7] - The next 48 hours are critical, with the Producer Price Index (PPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) releases expected to influence Federal Reserve policy decisions regarding potential rate cuts [3][8] Company Movements - Oracle's stock surged over 30% after forecasting its cloud backlog could exceed $500 billion due to significant deals with OpenAI, Meta, and xAI [10] - Synopsys experienced a significant decline, dropping more than 21% following disappointing guidance [14] - Other tech stocks, including AMD, Arista Networks, and NVIDIA, showed gains, reflecting ongoing demand in the AI and digital infrastructure sectors [11][12] Sector Performance - Defensive sectors, such as utilities and energy, demonstrated strength, with companies like Constellation Energy and GE Vernova benefiting from energy infrastructure demand [13] - The tech sector remained robust, with several chipmakers and infrastructure companies seeing positive movements, indicating sustained interest in AI-driven demand [11][12] Commodity Insights - Gold prices continued to rise, trading around $3,642.93 per ounce, supported by a weaker dollar and safe-haven demand amid inflation concerns and geopolitical uncertainty [15][21] - Analysts predict a near-term trading range for gold between $3,600 and $3,900, with potential for prices to reach $5,000 if concerns over Federal Reserve independence grow [16] Economic Context - The S&P 500 has increased nearly 30% year-to-date, driven by strong earnings, the AI boom, and expectations of monetary easing, although risks related to inflation and geopolitical tensions remain [18][22]