U.S. stock index futures traded with little net direction during a holiday-thinned session on Monday evening, as investors turned their attention to a concentrated calendar of economic reports and upcoming Federal Reserve commentary for fresh guidance on interest rates.
Trading activity was muted by the market holiday, which kept volumes subdued. Market participants were also parsing last week's mixed consumer inflation figures as they prepared for another round of data that could influence expectations for policy makers.
Technology shares remained a focal point after a pronounced pullback that has continued to weigh on sentiment. The sector's decline has been driven in part by investor worries over potential disruptions arising from developments in the artificial intelligence industry. Separately, forthcoming nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran contributed to a more cautious risk tone across markets.
Market snapshot
- S&P 500 Futures traded flat at 6,852.50 points.
- Nasdaq 100 Futures moved slightly lower to 24,788.50 points by 20:29 ET (01:29 GMT).
- Dow Jones Futures were unchanged at 49,554.0 points.
Economic calendar and Fed minutes
The spotlight this week is squarely on a series of key economic indicators and the minutes from the Federal Reserve's January meeting, which are due on Wednesday. In addition to the minutes, several Fed officials are scheduled to speak in the coming days, providing further opportunities for guidance on the outlook for rates.
Outside of the minutes, the release schedule includes industrial production and durable goods data on Wednesday, trade data for December on Thursday, and the personal consumption expenditures price index - the Fed's preferred inflation gauge - on Friday. The PCE reading is expected to be watched closely for clearer signals about the likely path of policy.
Recent market context
Wall Street finished mostly flat last Friday after mixed inflation readings for January failed to produce a decisive market reaction. Consumer price index data showed a mild cooling in the headline figure, while core CPI eased roughly in line with expectations. Despite the softer prints, the data did not provide a definitive signal on inflation, and markets broadly maintained their bets that interest rates will remain unchanged in the near term.
Equity benchmarks posted notable declines over the prior week as technology stocks led the downdraft amid AI-related concerns. The S&P 500 fell 1.4% over the week, the NASDAQ Composite lost 2.1%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gave up 1.2%.
What to watch
Investors will be watching the Fed minutes on Wednesday and the PCE price index on Friday for clearer direction on inflation and policy. In the near term, the interaction of subdued volumes, lingering tech-sector weakness, and geopolitical developments tied to U.S.-Iran talks are likely to shape market dynamics.