U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Markets Brace for Jobs and Inflation Data

U.S. stock futures moved higher on Sunday evening, signaling a cautiously optimistic start to the week after Wall Street staged a strong rebound at the end of last week. Investors remain on edge, however, as markets await delayed U.S. jobs and inflation data that could shape expectations around Federal Reserve policy.

As of late Sunday, S&P 500 futures were up 0.4% at 6,978.75 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.6% to 25,319.0 points. Dow Jones futures also edged higher, gaining 0.2% to trade around 50,327.0 points. The modest gains reflect a balance between renewed buying interest and lingering macroeconomic uncertainty.

Wall Street’s rebound on Friday followed several sessions of declines, with investors stepping back into oversold technology stocks. Easing Treasury yields helped improve sentiment, encouraging bargain hunting across chipmakers and AI-related shares that had been under pressure earlier in the week. The S&P 500 rose 2% on Friday, the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.2%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 2.5%, marking its first-ever close above the 50,000 level.

Despite Friday’s rally, weekly performance was mixed. The Dow gained roughly 2.5%, supported by strength in industrial and financial stocks. In contrast, the S&P 500 slipped 0.1%, while the Nasdaq fell about 2%, reflecting continued volatility in high-growth technology names. Earlier selloffs were driven by concerns over stretched valuations and fears that rapid advances in artificial intelligence could disrupt traditional software business models and squeeze profit margins.

Looking ahead, investor attention is firmly fixed on upcoming U.S. economic data that had been delayed due to a partial government shutdown. The January U.S. employment report is now scheduled for Wednesday, after a recent private-sector jobs report showed weaker-than-expected hiring. This has raised questions about whether labor market momentum is beginning to cool. On Friday, markets will also digest the January consumer price index, which could offer critical insight into inflation trends and the Fed’s potential path toward interest rate cuts later this year.

Corporate earnings will add another layer of market drivers, with major companies such as Coca-Cola and Ford set to report results, potentially influencing broader market sentiment.