US Stocks Rise, OPEC+ to Halt Hike Cycle

US equity-index futures advanced on Monday, suggesting that the seven-month rally in global stocks may still have room to run as strong tech earnings and easing US-China trade tensions lifted sentiment. Contracts for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 indexes rose 0.4% after gains on the underlying gauges Friday, with earnings optimism outweighing worries about a rally that's heavily concentrated on tech giants. The gains were driven by a 0.4% increase in the S&P 500 futures, while the Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.5%. This followed a 0.4% gain in the S&P 500 on Friday, with the index closing at 4,143.75. The Nasdaq 100 also rose 0.4% on Friday, closing at 13,351.25. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, fell 0.2% on Friday, closing at 34,325.35. Asian shares rose 0.3% on Monday, with South Korea's Kospi index climbing to a new peak. The MSCI Asia ex-Japan index rose 0.3%, while the Nikkei 225 in Japan was closed due to a holiday. Indexes in China, however, dropped, with the Shanghai Composite falling 0.2% and the Shenzhen Component falling 0.3%. The rally in global stocks has been driven by strong earnings from tech companies, as well as easing US-China trade tensions. The US and China have been engaged in trade talks, with the US lifting some tariffs on Chinese goods in recent weeks. This has lifted sentiment in the tech sector, with companies such as Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet (Google) reporting strong earnings in recent weeks. The tech sector has been a major driver of the rally in global stocks, with the Nasdaq 100 index rising 12.6% over the past seven months. The S&P 500, however, has risen 6.3% over the same period, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 4.5%. The rally has been driven by a combination of strong earnings, low interest rates, and easing trade tensions. The rally in global stocks has also been driven by a shift in investor sentiment, with investors becoming more optimistic about the outlook for the global economy. The US economy has been growing steadily, with GDP rising 2.1% in the second quarter. The European economy has also been growing, with GDP rising 1.5% in the second quarter. Looking ahead, the outlook for global stocks remains positive, with many analysts expecting the rally to continue in the coming weeks. The US Federal Reserve has signaled that it will keep interest rates low for the foreseeable future, which should support the rally in global stocks. The easing of US-China trade tensions has also lifted sentiment in the tech sector, which should continue to drive the rally in global stocks. However, there are also risks to the rally in global stocks, including the potential for a trade war between the US and China to escalate. The US presidential election in 2024 could also impact the rally in global stocks, with some analysts expecting a shift in policy if a new administration takes office. Despite these risks, the outlook for global stocks remains positive, with many analysts expecting the rally to continue in the coming weeks.