US stocks rise on Microsoft results
Microsoft results boost US stocks
US stocks rose after strong results from Microsoft reassured investors that massive AI investments are beginning to deliver returns, offsetting renewed concerns over inflation that continued to pressure long-dated government bonds.
S&P 500 futures gained 0.5%, while Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 1.1% after the index entered a technical correction.
In the UK, the BoE left interest rates unchanged at 3.75%, although three of the nine policymakers voted in favour of a 25 bps rate hike.
Markets remain almost evenly split over whether the central bank will tighten policy at its September meeting.