U.S. equity futures declined early Tuesday as market participants awaited April’s consumer inflation data and kept a close eye on global developments. Traders responded cautiously after the S&P 500 reached a new record on Monday, with attention focused on upcoming economic reports and continued geopolitical uncertainties.
At 4:14 p.m. (Bangkok Time), futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.08%, while S&P 500 contracts retreated by about 0.36%. The Nasdaq 100 futures led the decline, losing 0.71%, following strong previous gains among technology and chip stocks.
Investors are primed for the U.S. consumer price index data for April, set for release at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time). Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expect a 3.7% year-on-year rise in headline inflation for April, with a projected month-over-month increase of 0.6%.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is set to embark on a visit to China, where he will meet with President Xi Jinping. The agenda for the talks is anticipated to center on trade relations and artificial intelligence. President Trump has also invited 16 leading U.S. corporate executives, including those of Tesla and Apple, to join the delegation.
Geopolitical tensions remain a source of concern for the market. Persistent friction between the United States and Iran has contributed to higher oil prices. President Trump described the existing ceasefire between the two nations as being in a precarious state due to stalled peace negotiations. Both West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude futures advanced, with WTI climbing 2.94% to $100.95 per barrel and Brent gaining 2.5% to $106.82 per barrel.
A raft of quarterly earnings is also due ahead of the Tuesday opening bell, including reports from Under Armour, Vodafone, On Holding, Aramark, eToro, and Tencent Music Entertainment. Investors will also monitor releases for April’s final hourly earnings, average workweek data, and the U.S. Treasury budget.
