WTF Dailies September 15, 2025

US stock futures pulled back on Wednesday ahead of the release of a key inflation reading after the US and Iran exchanged strikes, damaging hopes for a Mideast peace plan.
In a post on X, US Central Command confirmed forces launched "self-defense" strikes against Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that Qaeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had been attacked with around six explosions, according to Bloomberg.
Tensions between the US and Iran ramped back up after a US Apache helicopter was downed on Monday near the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, President Trump said Iran had attacked the helicopter and vowed a response.
Stocks closed mixed on Tuesday as investors rotated out of the AI trade amid concerns the protracted war with Iran could force the Federal Reserve to hike rates in response to rapidly rising prices.
Investors will get further insight into the dynamic on Wednesday with the release of May's CPI report. Analysts expect the report to show prices rose again, which would up bets on a rate hike landing this year.
On Wednesday after the bell, Oracle (ORCL) is set to report its earnings results. Investors will pay attention to the details of the company's cloud business, which counts OpenAI as a customer, amid fluctuations in the AI trade.
The main event of the week lands Friday, with the expected IPO of Elon Musk's SpaceX (SPCX). The company's debut is expected to mark the largest public offering in history.
Asian stocks fell on Wednesday, pressured by heightened risk aversion after a renewed military flare-up between the U.S. and Iran, while a recovery in technology stocks also fizzled out.
South Korea’s KOSPI was the worst performer in the region, pressured renewed losses in heavyweight chipmaking stocks after a major wipeout on Monday. Chinese and Japanese stocks slid after local inflation data raised heightened concerns over the inflationary impact of the Iran war.
Asian markets took a middling lead-in from Wall Street, as a flare-up in U.S.-Iran tensions and renewed losses in chipmakers spurred overnight losses. S&P 500 Futures fell 0.2%, with focus turning to key U.S. consumer price index inflation data due later in the day.
Regional markets were spooked by a spike in oil prices, after the U.S. and Iran exchanged a fresh round of strikes on Tuesday evening. The renewed hostilities stemmed from Iran’s shooting down of a U.S. helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 1.1%, while the broader TOPIX index shed 0.7%.
Japanese producer price index inflation read much hotter than expected for May, driven chiefly by higher fuel costs, stemming from the Iran war.
The print spurred concerns that surging factory gate prices could spill over into the broader economy, in turn pushing the Bank of Japan into hiking interest rates further. The central bank signaled it will discuss raising interest rates when it meets next week.
Losses in tech also weighed on the Nikkei. SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:9984) tumbled nearly 10% after Bloomberg reported that the tech conglomerate’s talks with potential creditors to raise $6 billion from a margin loan backed by its OpenAI stake had stalled.
China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indexes fell 1% and 0.6%, respectively. Chinese CPI data for May read softer than expected, highlighting continued weakness in local consumer spending and demand.
Chinese PPI inflation surged in May, rising at its fastest pace in nearly four years, as disruptions in Middle East supplies pushed up the prices of oil and other key commodities.
The divergence in Chinese inflation pointed to more headwinds for the economy, especially amid a growing mismatch between supply and demand.
South Korea’s KOSPI index was the worst performer in Asia, losing 4% on renewed losses in heavyweight chipmaking stocks.
While the sector had recovered slightly on Tuesday, it was still nursing deep losses over the past week, as heightened economic uncertainty sparked a wave of profit-taking in high-flying chip stocks.
Some doubts over the long-term viability of the AI trade also weighed on the sector.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 1.1%, also pressured by local tech losses. Lenovo Group (HK:0992) slid nearly 10% on reports the PC making giant planned to hike the prices of its devices by as soon as next month.
Broader Asian stocks were mixed. Singapore’s Straits Times index shed 1%, while Australia’s ASX 200 was flat.
India’s Nifty 50 index rose 0.4% in morning trade, boosted by an over 1% gain in Reliance Industries Ltd (NSE:RELI) after it announced an AI data center tieup with Meta Platforms.

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This daily briefing is curated from a wide range of reputable sources including news wires, research desks, and financial data providers. The insights presented here are a synthesis of key developments across global markets, intended to inform and spark thought.

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