U.S. stock index futures showed modest gains on Sunday evening as trading volumes remained light ahead of a holiday-shortened trading week. Market participants were closely positioned for upcoming economic data and the Federal Reserve's minutes from its January meeting, both seen as potential drivers of interest-rate expectations.
Futures snapshot: S&P 500 Futures rose 0.2% to 6,863.50 points by 19:28 ET (00:28 GMT). Nasdaq 100 Futures were up 0.16% at 24,843.0 points, and Dow Jones Futures gained 0.1% to 49,608.0 points.
These small advances followed a second straight week of declines on Wall Street. Markets had little to cheer from January's consumer inflation numbers, which were mildly softer than economists had expected but did not provide a clear signal that would materially alter the outlook for interest rates.
Inflation read and market reaction: The consumer price index for January printed with headline inflation slightly below consensus and core inflation growing in line with expectations. That combination offered only limited support to equities, as market optimism about the prospect of lower long-term rates was largely eclipsed by persistent worries over disruptions tied to artificial intelligence. Those concerns have been particularly acute in technology segments and have bled into other areas of the market.
Investors observed a continued rout in technology stocks that showed spillover effects across sectors. The selloff in software and transportation names was reported to have spread into financial services, media, and even real estate companies, contributing to broad market pressure.
Index performance and weekly trends: On Friday, the S&P 500 closed flat at 6,836.17 points. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.2% to 6,836.17 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1% to 49,500.93 points. For the week, the S&P 500 declined about 1.5%, the Nasdaq slipped roughly 2.1%, and the Dow finished essentially unchanged.
Data calendar and policy focus: Attention this week centers on a slate of economic releases that could influence monetary policy expectations. Industrial production for January is scheduled for Wednesday, followed by the Federal Reserve's January meeting minutes later the same day. Additional data scheduled for release this week include January trade figures and the personal consumption expenditures price index for December - the latter being the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge and a likely input into longer-term rate expectations. Purchasing managers index data for February is also expected in the coming days.
With trading thinned by the holiday, market moves may be muted until the series of data points and central bank commentary provide clearer guidance on the trajectory for interest rates and the resilience of economic activity.