U.S. stock futures dropped on Sunday evening as investors took time over the weekend to digest the February jobs report. The focus is now shifting to a busy week ahead, with key economic data on inflation dominating the headlines. Concerns over inflation’s potential resurgence under President Trump’s volatile trade policies continue to impact the market.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) fell by 0.5%. S&P 500 futures (ES=F) slipped 0.7%, following the index’s worst week since September. Meanwhile, Nasdaq futures (NQ=F) declined by 1%. All three major indexes are set to build on losses of more than 2% from the previous week.
Ongoing Trade War Concerns and Political Uncertainty Weigh on Markets
The market’s struggles in March continue to be driven by ongoing trade war fears. Negotiations over tariffs between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada remain in focus. In an interview with Fox News, President Donald Trump addressed concerns about a potential recession, describing the economy as going through “a period of transition.”
Meanwhile, Mark Carney, poised to become Canada’s new prime minister, faces the challenge of leading his country amid tough economic conditions, further complicated by Trump’s continued tariff threats.
Key Economic Data to Drive Market Movements This Week
Political uncertainty is expected to continue influencing the market, especially with several important economic reports scheduled for release this week. The Federal Reserve’s consumer inflation expectations survey will be released on Monday, followed by the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment report on Friday.
Inflation remains a focal point, with the February Consumer Price Index (CPI) due on Wednesday, and the Producer Price Index (PPI) set to follow on Thursday.
Earnings Reports: A Slower Week for Corporate Releases
While earnings reports continue, this week will see fewer corporate updates. Notable earnings releases include Oracle (ORCL) and BioNTech (BNTX) on Monday, and Adobe (ADBE) on Wednesday.
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