US equity futures are slightly lower this morning, while European markets are trading down across the board, led by underperformance in France. Asian equities ended higher. In France, political instability is in focus as far-right leader Marine Le Pen issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Michel Barnier to negotiate a budget deal or face a potential vote of no confidence. Talks have stalled despite concessions, raising concerns over fiscal risks. In Asia, China’s official PMI data showed stronger manufacturing growth but unexpected weakness in non-manufacturing activity, highlighting ongoing challenges in the service sector.
Companies Mentioned: BlackRock (NYSE:BLK), HPS Investment Partners, OpenAI, AI Transportation Acquisition, American Resources (NASDAQ:AREC) Corp