U.S. stock futures were little changed on Tuesday, pausing after historic highs as market participants monitored President Donald Trump’s trade negotiations in Japan and braced for a string of major economic events this week.
As of 05:06 P.M. (GMT+7), Dow Jones futures increased slightly by 123.30 points, or 0.26%, to 47,667.90 points, while S&P 500 futures ticked down by 1.00 point, or 0.02%, to 6,874.10 points. Nasdaq 100 futures increased slightly by 6.80 points, or 0.03%, to 25,828.30 points.
This week sets up several catalysts for markets. A series of Big Tech earnings are on tap, alongside a critical Federal Reserve policy decision and an anticipated meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The optimism surrounding the potential for a breakthrough in U.S.-China trade discussions had fueled the S&P 500 to climb above the 6,800 mark for the first time.
Turning to Asia, President Trump signed agreements centered on rare earths and trade during a visit to Tokyo, commending Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on her leadership. Trump also praised Japan’s commitment to increasing defense spending, emphasizing the strong alliance between the nations.
Investor attention will soon shift to the Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting beginning Tuesday, with expectations rising for a second rate cut as the central bank maintains its dovish stance. Market participants are closely watching Chair Jerome Powell for guidance on the likelihood of an additional rate reduction in December, especially amid ongoing uncertainties caused by the partial U.S. government shutdown.
Meanwhile, earnings reports from Visa, UnitedHealth Group, and PayPal are due, while updates from tech titans including Alphabet, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft are scheduled for later in the week. Amazon’s forthcoming earnings will be closely watched, particularly as the e-commerce giant considers reducing its corporate workforce by up to 30,000 positions.
