US Futures Rise, Brent Crude Falls

Global stocks rebounded as Anthropic’s planned IPO and strong semiconductor results revived optimism about AI demand, lifting technology shares in the United States and driving sharp gains in South Korea and Japan. U.S. futures were mixed to higher as oil prices retreated on hopes for renewed diplomacy in the U.S.-Iran conflict, though crude remained elevated and geopolitical risks continued to unsettle markets. Investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s policy decision, with rates widely expected to remain unchanged, and results from Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon for clues about AI spending. Strong results or guidance from companies including SK Hynix and UPS added support, but concerns about high AI valuations and the scale of investment remained. The rebound was uneven, with some markets and AI-linked shares lagging as investors weighed those risks.