U.S. stock futures remained largely steady on Tuesday after a strong start to the week, as investors looked ahead to the Federal Reserve’s impending policy announcement and a wave of major corporate earnings. Market participants also weighed new tariff actions and ongoing legislative uncertainties.
As of 4:22 P.M. (GMT+7), S&P 500 futures edged up by 0.25%, or 17.20 points, to 6,967.50 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures added slightly by 0.56%, or 143.00 points, to 25,856.20 points. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures, however, slipped by 0.10%, or 48.10 points, to 49,364.30 points.
Tuesday’s earnings calendar features reports from major companies including General Motors, American Airlines, and Boeing. In the healthcare sector, shares of leading insurers saw sharp declines after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed a modest average payment increase of 0.09% for Medicare Advantage plans in 2027. UnitedHealth, Humana, and CVS Health each dropped between 8% and 13%.
The earnings season intensifies in the coming days, with over 90 companies in the S&P 500 scheduled to disclose results this week. Reports from key technology firms, including Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla, are expected on Wednesday, with Apple’s results following on Thursday.
Attention is also turning to the Federal Reserve, which starts its two-day meeting later today. Markets widely anticipate the central bank will maintain interest rates at current levels, but investors are keenly watching for any indications regarding the future path of rate cuts. Scheduled updates on consumer confidence and home prices could further inform economic expectations ahead of the Fed’s announcement.
Adding to market uncertainty, President Donald Trump on Monday signaled an increase in tariffs applied to South Korean goods such as vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and lumber, raising the reciprocal tariffs rate to 25% from 15%. The president attributed the move to delays in the approval of a bilateral trade agreement by the South Korean legislature.
Political risks also remain elevated as the U.S. faces the prospect of a government shutdown. Senate Democrats moved to reject funding legislation for the Department of Homeland Security, a dispute arising after a recent incident involving federal law enforcement in Minneapolis.
