US Stock Futures Rise as Investors Await Key Economic Data
US stock futures edged higher Monday as investors braced for a busy week of economic reports and corporate earnings releases, following a volatile stretch that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average close above 50,000 for the first time on Friday.
Futures linked to the S&P 500 rose 0.1% while Nasdaq 100 futures climbed about 0.2%. Dow futures also edged up 0.1%.
The gains follow a strong rebound on Friday, February 6, when Wall Street recovered from earlier losses triggered by a sell-off in technology and software stocks. The Dow surged more than 1,200 points, or 2.5%, to close above 50,000. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both finished up around 2%, marking a significant turnaround from the week’s earlier struggles.
Last week’s market pressure stemmed largely from concerns surrounding substantial investments in artificial intelligence. Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft have collectively pledged approximately $650 billion towards AI development in 2026, sparking investor skepticism about potential impacts on earnings and cash flow. Amazon shares fell 12% for the week, while Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet also experienced declines.
Looking ahead, investors are keenly focused on a series of key economic data releases. The January jobs report, originally scheduled for release last Friday, will now be published on Wednesday, February 11, following a delay due to the partial government shutdown. Expectations for the report are muted, particularly after a recent ADP report indicated a modest increase of just 22,000 private-sector jobs last month, a significant drop from the 140,000 added in the same period last year.
January’s consumer price index (CPI), also delayed by the shutdown, is set to be released on Friday. These reports will be closely scrutinized for clues about the future path of Federal Reserve monetary policy.
Several major corporations are also scheduled to report earnings this week, including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Cisco, and ON Semiconductor. These earnings reports will provide further insights into the health of the US economy and corporate performance.
The markets’ reaction to the nomination of former Fed governor Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Fed Chair has been limited. While Warsh is widely considered a policy hawk, the dollar index has remained relatively stable, falling 10% since President Trump took office.
Elsewhere, Asian markets experienced gains Monday. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 surged 4.7% following a parliamentary election victory for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s governing party. Takaichi is expected to pursue market-friendly policies. South Korea’s Kospi also rose, climbing 4.3%, with other benchmarks across Asia also showing positive momentum.
Oil prices, meanwhile, declined as easing tensions in the Middle East reduced concerns about potential supply disruptions.
