U.S. stock futures advanced Sunday evening as Wall Street prepared for a new week after facing significant headwinds from disappointing labor data and persistent trade uncertainty.
Futures for the S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, while contracts on the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.3%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures edged up 0.1%.
These modest gains follow a sharp pullback on Friday that capped the worst week in months for all three major indexes, ending a recent positive streak. The S&P 500 fell 2.4%, its steepest drop since late May. The Dow slumped 2.9% in its worst weekly performance since early April, and the Nasdaq Composite shed 2.2%.
Market declines intensified Friday after the July jobs report came in weaker than expected and figures from previous months were revised sharply lower, challenging the narrative of a strong labor market. The report prompted criticism from President Trump against the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Investor focus also remains on the Federal Reserve. While the central bank left interest rates unchanged last week, the weak employment data has shifted sentiment, with traders now pricing in a nearly 90% probability of a rate cut in September.
Meanwhile, markets are weighing the impact of new tariffs, ranging from 10% to 41%, set to take effect this week on goods from a wide range of trading partners. This has fueled concerns about rising costs and broader inflationary pressures.
Earnings season also continues, with over 100 S&P 500 companies scheduled to report results this week, including key releases from Palantir, Eli Lilly, and Disney. Amid the economic uncertainty, gold has held its recent gains as the soft jobs data reinforced the precious metal’s appeal as a haven asset.
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