U.S. Stock Futures Ease After Wall Street Record Highs on Fed Rate Cut Hopes

U.S. stock index futures dipped slightly on Sunday evening, easing after Wall Street surged to record highs last week on optimism over Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. By 19:37 ET (23:37 GMT), S&P 500 Futures slipped 0.1% to 6,715.25, Nasdaq 100 Futures dropped 0.1% to 24,849.50, and Dow Jones Futures edged 0.1% lower to 46,587.0.

Last week, the S&P 500 closed at a record 6,664.36, up 0.5%, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.7% to 22,631.48. The Dow Jones advanced 0.4% to 46,315.27. The rally followed a 25-basis-point Fed rate cut, with policymakers signaling more easing ahead to support the labor market despite concerns over persistent inflation. Markets welcomed the shift, seeing lower rates as a cushion against slowing U.S. economic growth.

Technology stocks led the rally, with Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) surging on strong early demand for its iPhone 17 lineup. Chipmakers and cloud computing firms also benefited from sustained enthusiasm around artificial intelligence. Delivery giant FedEx (NYSE:FDX) posted upbeat earnings, further boosting sentiment as it is often viewed as a barometer of U.S. economic health.

This week, investor focus shifts to fresh economic data and Federal Reserve commentary. Several Fed officials, including Chair Jerome Powell, are scheduled to speak, with markets seeking further clues on monetary policy direction. September’s Purchasing Managers Index is expected to shed light on business activity, while the final second-quarter GDP reading will offer insight into economic momentum.

The key highlight will be Friday’s release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index—the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. Core PCE inflation remains above the 2% target, with investors watching closely for signs of tariff-driven price pressures that could influence the central bank’s rate path.