US Stock Futures Steady Amid Tariff Concerns and Fed Focus

US stock index futures saw little movement in holiday-thinned trade on Sunday, as investors remained cautious over President Donald Trump’s tariff plans and persistent inflation concerns. Futures stabilized after a mixed Wall Street session on Friday, where the S&P 500 closed just below record highs, driven by technology stocks, while other sectors lagged.

Investor attention now turns to Federal Reserve speakers and the minutes from the Fed’s January meeting, where interest rates were held steady. Last week’s strong inflation data has tempered hopes for near-term rate cuts. S&P 500 Futures rose slightly to 6,135.50 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures inched up 0.1% to 22,212.50 points, and Dow Jones Futures remained steady at 44,646.0 points. Trading volumes were subdued with US markets closed for a holiday on Monday.

Market sentiment was weighed down by Trump’s recent 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and his executive order for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, heightening fears of a global trade war. However, Trump indicated that these tariffs would take effect in April, providing temporary relief.

On Friday, the S&P 500 ended flat at 6,114.63 points, the NASDAQ Composite gained 0.4% to 20,026.77 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.4% to 44,546.08 points.

This week, markets will closely monitor speeches from Federal Open Market Committee members Patrick Harker and Michelle Bowman. Their remarks follow mixed inflation data from last week, where core components influencing the Fed’s preferred PCE price index showed signs of easing, raising hopes for inflation nearing the central bank’s 2% target. Investors await insights on future monetary policy from the Fed amid ongoing economic uncertainties.