Web Trader MT5 
U.S. stock futures moved higher early Thursday after technology stocks pushed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to fresh record highs. Semiconductor stocks such as Nvidia and Micron Technology remained major drivers of market gains amid ongoing optimism around AI-related growth.
During Wednesday’s session, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both closed at new record highs of 7,451 and 29,425 respectively, while the Dow Jones slipped slightly. Markets are now watching key economic data including retail sales and weekly jobless claims, alongside more corporate earnings reports.
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Thursday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.2%, while South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.4%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index advanced 1.3%. Shares of Samsung Electronics jumped more than 5% to a new record high.
In Europe, data released this morning showed that the U.K. economy grew 0.6% in the first quarter of 2026, matching expectations and accelerating from revised growth of 0.2% in the previous quarter. Growth was mainly driven by broad-based strength in the services sector, while production and construction activity also improved.
Gold prices moved slightly higher on Thursday as investors awaited the outcome of the summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing, where both sides are discussing trade relations and tariff reductions.
However, higher U.S. inflation data limited gains in gold. U.S. producer prices rose 6% on a yearly basis in April, the fastest pace in four years, driven largely by higher oil prices linked to Middle East tensions. Monthly PPI inflation also came in much hotter than expected.
The stronger inflation data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates elevated for longer to fight inflation, which weighs on gold. Investors are also watching the upcoming U.S. retail sales report for further clues on the strength of the economy and the Fed’s next policy moves.
Tags
Open Live Account
Please enter a valid country
No results found
No results found
Please enter a valid email
Please enter a valid verification code
1. 8-16 characters + numbers (0-9) 2. blend of letters (A-Z, a-z) 3. special characters (e.g, !a#S%^&)
Please enter the correct format
Please tick the checkbox to proceed
Please tick the checkbox to proceed
Important Notice
STARTRADER does not accept any applications from Australian residents.
To comply with regulatory requirements, clicking the button will redirect you to the STARTRADER website operated by STARTRADER PRIME GLOBAL PTY LTD (ABN 65 156 005 668), an authorized Australian Financial Services Licence holder (AFSL no. 421210) regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
CONTINUEImportant Notice for Residents of the United Arab Emirates
In alignment with local regulatory requirements, individuals residing in the United Arab Emirates are requested to proceed via our dedicated regional platform at startrader.ae, which is operated by STARTRADER Global Financial Consultation & Financial Analysis L.L.C.. This entity is licensed by the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA) under License No. 20200000241, and is authorised to introduce financial services and promote financial products in the UAE.
Please click the "Continue" button below to be redirected.
CONTINUEError! Please try again.
