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Futures Slip as Geopolitical Tensions Overshadow Strong Bank Earnings

  US stock futures edged lower as investors balanced upbeat bank earnings against rising geopolitical unease tied to escalating tensions involving Iran. Contracts tied to the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all traded in the red, signaling a cautious start to the trading day. Major banks delivered solid quarterly results, with strong trading revenue and resilient consumer activity helping lift sentiment in the financial sector. Yet the optimism was tempered by concerns that potential US responses to developments in Iran could inject fresh volatility into global markets. Energy prices climbed as traders braced for possible disruptions. The pullback comes at a moment when investors are already navigating a crowded landscape of economic data, inflation readings, and policy uncertainty. With markets on edge, even strong corporate performance wasn’t enough to counter the broader risk-off mood.

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China Urges Dialogue Over Trump's Tariff, Avoids Immediate Escalation


Beijing has sharply denounced the Trump administration’s imposition of a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, calling the measure a breach of international trade rules that undermines the global economic order. While the Chinese finance and commerce ministries confirmed plans to challenge the tariff at the World Trade Organization and hinted at taking "countermeasures" to protect national interests, they stopped short of launching an immediate retaliatory strike.

In its measured response, China's foreign ministry underscored that the issue of fentanyl—the potent opioid cited by Washington as justification for the tariff—is fundamentally an American problem. Officials stressed that extensive cooperation in anti-narcotics efforts has already been in place between the two nations, implying that the tariff would not spur a hasty escalation. Instead, Beijing expressed a willingness to engage in frank dialogue with U.S. counterparts in hopes of resolving the dispute through negotiations rather than further confrontation.


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