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Wall Street Futures Surge as Fed Hints at More Cuts, Nvidia’s $5B Intel Bet Lifts Tech

  U.S. stock futures climbed on Thursday, with the Nasdaq leading gains, after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.25 percentage points and signaled two more reductions could follow in 2025. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.7%, S&P 500 futures gained 0.8%, and Nasdaq 100 futures jumped 1.2%, buoyed by a sharp rally in tech stocks. Intel shares surged nearly 30% in premarket trading after Nvidia announced a $5 billion investment in the struggling chipmaker, though the deal stops short of a manufacturing partnership. The Fed’s move, aimed at supporting a slowing economy amid high inflation and a weakening labor market, initially sparked caution, but optimism returned as investors bet on a more accommodative policy path. If gains hold, the S&P 500 is set to open above 6,700 for the first time, extending September’s unexpected rally. Traders are now watching weekly jobless claims for further clues on the labor market, while corporate earnings — including ...

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Gaza Truce and Hostage Deal Faces Last-Minute Crisis

 

In a dramatic turn of events, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that a last-minute crisis with Hamas is delaying the approval of a highly anticipated ceasefire and hostage release agreement. The deal, which was set to be approved by the Israeli Cabinet, has been put on hold as Netanyahu accused Hamas of reneging on parts of the agreement in an attempt to gain further concessions.

The ceasefire, brokered by U.S. President Joe Biden and key mediator Qatar, was expected to bring a temporary halt to the 15-month conflict in the Gaza Strip and facilitate the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas. However, Netanyahu's office stated that the Cabinet would not convene to approve the agreement until Hamas backs down from its new demands.

Hamas, on the other hand, has denied the allegations, with senior official Izzat al-Rishq asserting that the militant group remains committed to the ceasefire agreement. The delay has raised concerns about the implementation of the deal, which was scheduled to go into effect on Sunday.

The conflict, which began with a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Israeli airstrikes have killed over 46,000 Palestinians, while Hamas' initial attack claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 Israelis. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with widespread displacement and shortages of essential supplies.

A Fragile Hope for Peace in Gaza

The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the ceasefire and hostage release agreement can be salvaged. As negotiations continue, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a resolution that will bring much-needed relief to the war-torn region.


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