The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by a quarter point Wednesday to support a weakening labor market, marking its first policy shift of the year after tariff-driven inflation concerns kept it on hold. Fresh projections due with the decision are expected to signal one or two more cuts this year, though dissent among policymakers looms. ""Every cut is more difficult than the previous cut unless the labor market shows signs of continued deterioration," said Aditya Bhave, senior US economist at Bank of America.

Institutional investors, including pension funds, hedge funds, and asset managers, are expected to strongly oppose President Donald Trump's proposal to end quarterly earnings reports. Many rely on frequent disclosures to closely monitor company performance and manage risk. Investors argue that quarterly updates are essential for tracking developments and making informed decisions, especially during volatile periods.

The UK and the US have unveiled a "Tech Prosperity Deal" during President Donald Trump's state visit, with Microsoft, Google, and other US firms pledging £31 billion in UK investments. The pact covers AI, quantum computing, and civil nuclear projects, and is aimed at boosting growth and research ties while positioning the UK as a top destination for global tech investment. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, under pressure to revive the UK economy, hailed the deal as transformative for both countries.

Foreign investors are increasingly hedging their exposure to the dollar due to concerns about US President Donald Trump's policies, with Deutsche Bank reporting that hedged investments in US bonds and equities have surpassed unhedged holdings for the first time in four years. The trend has contributed to a more than 10% decline in the dollar this year, even as US stocks have surged, highlighting a shift in investor strategy to mitigate currency risk.

CME Group has clarified the purpose of its futures commission merchant, F&O Financial, through a partnership with FanDuel to offer event-based contracts on market-related events. F&O Financial will operate as a nonclearing FCM, alleviating concerns about competition and conflicts of interest.

BlackRock has reportedly added 20 leaders, including Europe head Sarah Melvin and strategy chief Mike Pyle, to its global executive committee as part of a leadership overhaul aimed at supporting its growth push. The firm also formalized a senior management council featuring COO Rob Goldstein and CFO Martin Small, seen as potential successors to CEO Larry Fink. The moves come as BlackRock targets doubling its market value over five years and deepens its focus on private markets following major acquisitions.

Nvidia and Microsoft recently crossed the $4 trillion valuation mark, underscoring how the AI boom is reshaping markets. Analysts say Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta are among the contenders to join them, with surging demand for AI infrastructure and cloud computing driving momentum. Market watchers caution, however, that valuations remain volatile and heavily tied to tech sentiment.

Nigerian chef Hilda Baci has set a Guinness World Record by cooking an 8,780-kilogram pot of jollof rice, surpassing the previous requirement of 4,700 kilograms. The event, which took nine hours and involved a pot collapse during weighing, drew hundreds of spectators.