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Wall Street Rallies as Trade Hopes and Tech Surge Lift Futures to New Heights

U.S. stock futures surged Monday morning, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 climbing to record highs, buoyed by renewed optimism over international trade negotiations and a tech-led rally. The momentum followed Canada’s decision to scrap its digital services tax targeting American tech giants—an unexpected move that helped thaw stalled trade talks with the U.S. Shares of major technology firms including Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, and Apple rose between 0.6% and 1.7% in premarket trading. The broader market also found support from expectations of deeper interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, fueled by soft economic data and speculation that President Donald Trump may replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell with a more dovish successor. As of early trading, S&P 500 e-minis were up 0.39%, Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.6%, and Dow futures added 0.46%. Despite the record-setting highs, analysts note that the major indexes are still on track for their weakest first-half performance since 2022. ...
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U.S. Leverages Starlink Access in Critical Minerals Negotiations with Ukraine

In a high-stakes negotiation, U.S. officials have reportedly threatened to cut off Ukraine's access to the Starlink satellite internet system, owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, if Kyiv does not agree to a deal on critical minerals. Starlink has been a lifeline for Ukraine, providing crucial internet connectivity amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The issue was raised during discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected an initial proposal from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The proposal demanded $500 billion in mineral wealth from Ukraine as repayment for wartime aid, without offering specific security guarantees.

During a recent meeting, U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg reiterated the threat of cutting off Starlink access if an agreement on critical minerals was not reached. The potential loss of Starlink would be a significant blow to Ukraine, which relies on the system for military operations and civilian communications.

Despite the pressure, Zelenskyy has remained firm in his stance, rejecting demands that he believes do not adequately protect Ukraine's interests. Negotiations are ongoing, with both sides working towards a potential agreement.




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