U.S. Stock Futures Steady as AI, Rate Concerns Weigh

U.S. stock futures were little changed Monday evening after Wall Street fell under pressure from elevated Treasury yields, concerns about slowing artificial intelligence development and persistent geopolitical tensions involving Iran.

S&P 500 futures slipped 0.08% to 7,740.25 points by 20:19 ET, while Dow Jones futures declined 0.08% to 51,796.0. Nasdaq 100 futures edged 0.05% lower to 30,548.0.

Technology stocks faced renewed pressure following reports that OpenAI had halted training of new AI models and abandoned plans to release an upcoming model. The news weighed on chipmakers and data center-related companies as investors considered whether slower AI development could weaken demand for semiconductors and computing infrastructure.

Treasury yields added to market caution. The benchmark U.S. 10-year yield remained above 5.2%, hovering near levels last seen in 2007. Higher borrowing costs have weighed on growth stocks and fueled concerns about the Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook.

Investors are now awaiting fresh U.S. labor market data and comments from Fed officials. August JOLTS job openings are due Tuesday, while Michelle Bowman, Austan Goolsbee and John Williams are scheduled to speak.

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points earlier in September and maintained a hawkish stance amid persistent inflation. Strong labor market readings could provide policymakers with additional room to tighten monetary policy.

Wall Street ended Monday lower, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 0.9%, the S&P 500 losing 0.77% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declining 0.67%.

Geopolitical risks also remained in focus after President Donald Trump denied a report that Washington was prepared to offer Iran sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear assurances. Qatari and Pakistani mediators continued efforts toward an agreement, but signs of progress remained limited.

Tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz also persisted, while Trump said he had rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal. Iranian officials, meanwhile, expressed hope that an agreement could be reached in the coming days.