Hourly Briefing | 2026-06-24 14:00 CST
Trump slams oil companies, orders DOJ investigation; Goldman sees core PCE returning to 2% by 2027; ASML partners TNO on photonic chips; Alphabet joining Dow; Asian markets diverge
π° Hourly Briefing | 2026-06-24 14:00 CST
π Market Snapshot
| Asset | Price | Change | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold XAUUSD | 4076.56 | -33.12 (-0.81%) β | Bounced ~$12 from prior hour, still below 4100 |
| WTI Crude USOIL | 73.140 | -0.520 (-0.71%) β | Hit intraday low 72.68, narrowing losses |
HK: Hang Seng Tech Index up 3%+, Tencent up 5%+ leading gains; pharma outsourcing and chip stocks active. Taiwan: TAIEX closed down 2.24% at 46,043, semiconductor sector under pressure. A-shares: Turnover above Β₯2.5 trillion for 42nd consecutive session; copper cable high-speed connector sector rebounded.
π₯ Key News This Hour
1. Trump Slams Oil Companies “Ripping Off” Americans, Orders DOJ Investigation Trump publicly accused oil companies of insufficiently lowering gasoline prices and ordered the DOJ to investigate. This comes as the Republican-led Senate passed a resolution limiting presidential war powers against Iran, with Trump facing domestic pressure on both energy policy and the Iran conflict.
2. Goldman Sachs: US Core PCE Expected to Return to 2% by 2027 Goldman Sachs released its latest forecast, stating that while the “last mile” of US inflation decline has been slow, both PCE and CPI will ultimately converge toward the Fed’s 2% target, with the timeline around 2027. This implies the Fed is unlikely to rush into rate cuts in the near term.
3. ASML Partners with Dutch TNO on Photonic Chip Mass Production ASML and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) announced a collaboration to develop and industrialize photonic chips, centered around TNO’s photonic chip facility under construction in Eindhoven. Photonic chips are seen as a key technology pathway for next-generation data centers and AI compute.
4. Dow Jones to Add Alphabet, Replace Verizon The Dow Jones Industrial Average is set for an adjustment, with Alphabet replacing Verizon as a new component. This marks the first time the Dow simultaneously holds Alphabet, Nvidia, and multiple tech giants, further increasing tech weighting.
5. Samsung Electronics Reportedly Planning KRW 90 Trillion Share Buyback
Samsung Electronics is reportedly planning a massive KRW 90 trillion ($67 billion) share buyback to absorb new equity from employee compensation restructuring. Details are pending formal disclosure. If confirmed, it would be one of the largest buybacks in Korean corporate history.
π§ Market Assessment
Gold bounced slightly to 4076 this hour but remains below 4100, with bulls and bears locked in a 4050-4100 range battle.
Trump’s simultaneous pressure on oil companies and Iran creates persistent energy policy uncertainty that weighs on crude prices, though support near $72 appears solid.
Goldman’s 2027 inflation forecast signals that markets should not expect aggressive near-term Fed rate cuts β higher-for-longer may be the baseline.
ASML’s move into photonic chips is a strategic-level pivot, reflecting that as traditional silicon-based compute approaches physical limits, leading equipment makers are betting on next-generation technology.
Asian markets showed sharp divergence today: Hong Kong surged on Tencent strength while Taiwan’s TAIEX plunged over 2% on semiconductor weakness, highlighting investor disagreement on the near-term chip sector outlook.
β° Upcoming Key Data
- 16:00 Germany June IFO Business Climate Index
- 16:00 Switzerland June ZEW Investor Confidence Index
- 20:30 US Q1 Current Account Balance
- 22:00 US May New Home Sales (Annualized)
- 22:00 Fed Governor Cook Speech
- 22:00 US June Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index
- US Q1 GDP Final Estimate (Thu Jun 26)
- US PCE Price Index (Fri Jun 27) β The week’s most watched inflation data