U.S. stock futures showed little movement on Monday evening after major benchmarks ended the regular session with modest gains and the Dow registered a record closing level. Market participants pared back risk-taking as attention shifted to postponed U.S. labour and inflation releases due later this week.
Futures snapshot: S&P 500 Futures inched 0.1% lower to 6,977.0 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures dipped 0.1% to 25,333.75 points by 19:43 ET (00:43 GMT). Dow Jones Futures also traded 0.1% lower at 50,177.0 points.
Market action during regular hours
On the cash market, moves were modest but generally positive. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.04% to a fresh record close, extending a recent run that included the index surpassing the 50,000 mark the prior week. The S&P 500 advanced 0.5%, while the NASDAQ Composite gained 0.9%, paced by a rebound in technology shares.
Technology names recovered ground after last week’s sharp sell-off, which had been driven by renewed concerns about artificial intelligence disruption and valuation pressures. The sector continued to build on sizeable gains recorded on Friday, when investors began re-entering positions after substantial declines. Outside of tech, trading was comparatively subdued as many investors remained hesitant to place large bets ahead of a busy calendar for earnings and economic data.
Corporate and economic calendar
Corporate reporting that could influence market direction begins to pick up this week. The Coca-Cola Co is scheduled to release earnings before the market opens on Tuesday. Spotify and Hasbro are also set to report results in coming sessions.
On the macro front, the monthly U.S. jobs report was postponed and is now due on Wednesday, while the January consumer price index report has been rescheduled for release on Friday. Both reports are expected to play a central role in shaping expectations around the Federal Reserve’s policy path, especially regarding the timing and pace of any interest rate cuts later this year.
Market participants will be closely watching the data for any signs of easing inflation or a softer labour market, either of which could bolster hopes for easier monetary policy later in 2026.
Investment commentary included in the session
Some market commentary highlighted the influence of AI-related investment strategies. Year to date, two out of three global portfolios referenced in that commentary were reported to be outperforming their benchmark indexes, with 88% in positive territory. The referenced flagship strategy was described as having substantially outperformed the S&P 500 over an 18-month span, citing specific winners as examples.
What to watch next
- Wednesday: Monthly U.S. jobs report (rescheduled).
- Friday: January consumer price index report (rescheduled).
- Tuesday morning: Coca-Cola earnings; Spotify and Hasbro to report in their scheduled windows.
With several high-impact data points and corporate reports due this week, market participants are poised for potentially increased volatility as these releases arrive.