U.S. stock futures fell on Monday as investors brace for a week filled with significant earnings reports from major companies. Following a mixed closing on Friday, futures of major indices reflected a downward trend. Key companies set to announce their earnings this week include UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH), General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META), Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), and Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:SBUX). Investors will also focus on the decision from the Federal Open Market Committee regarding interest rates, which is expected to be revealed on Wednesday.
As of early trading, the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond stood at 4.21%, while the two-year bond was at 3.59%. According to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool, there is a 97.2% probability that the Federal Reserve will maintain the current interest rates in January. Major index futures showed the following declines: Dow Jones fell 0.12%, S&P 500 dropped 0.24%, Nasdaq 100 decreased 0.44%, and Russell 2000 was down 0.29%.
Stocks in Focus
Several stocks drew attention in premarket trading. Baker Hughes Co. (NASDAQ:BKR) surged 3.74% after reporting strong fourth-quarter results, with adjusted earnings of 78 cents per share, surpassing market expectations of 67 cents. Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT) rose 6.72% following the completion of its confirmatory trial commitment for therapies targeting ultra-rare diseases.
In contrast, Nucor Corp. (NYSE:NUE) saw a modest increase of 0.29% ahead of its quarterly earnings report, projected to reach $1.91 per share on revenue of $7.87 billion. WR Berkley Corp. (NYSE:WRB) experienced a decline of 0.18%, with analysts expecting quarterly earnings of $1.13 per share on revenue of $3.66 billion.
One notable stock to watch is Brand Engagement Network Inc. (NASDAQ:BNAI), which soared 221.60% amid renewed investor interest following a strategic partnership with Valio Technologies (Pty) Ltd. This partnership aims to create an exclusive AI licensing structure for government and commercial sectors in Africa.
Market Insights and Future Data
In the last trading session, various sectors displayed mixed results. Materials, consumer discretionary, and consumer staples stocks showed gains, while financial and industrial stocks closed lower. The Dow Jones index ended 0.58% lower at 49,098.71, while the S&P 500 edged up 0.033% to 6,915.61. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.28% to 23,501.24, but the Russell 2000 fell 1.82% to 2,669.16.
Analyst Mohamed El-Erian noted the persistence of a “2025 Paradox,” where financial markets remain resilient despite turbulent economic forecasts. While U.S. economic activity appears robust, with strong consumer spending and upward revisions of third-quarter growth to 4.4%, there remains a divergence in global economic perspectives.
Looking ahead, several key economic data releases will be closely monitored this week. On Monday, the delayed report of November’s durable goods orders will be published at 8:30 a.m. ET. Tuesday will see the release of January’s consumer confidence data at 10:00 a.m. ET. The interest rate decision from the FOMC is anticipated on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. ET, followed by a press conference with Fed Chair Jerome Powell at 2:30 p.m. ET.
On Thursday, initial jobless claims data, the delayed U.S. trade deficit report, and revised third-quarter productivity data will be released in the morning. Finally, Friday will feature the delayed producer price index data for December, along with January’s Chicago Business Barometer (PMI) and speeches from key Federal Reserve officials.
In commodities, crude oil futures dipped by 0.20% to around $60.95 per barrel. Gold prices rose by 2.15% to approximately $5,089.93 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index was 0.55% lower at 97.0630, while Bitcoin traded down 0.69% at $87,670.70 per coin.
Asian markets closed mixed, with China’s CSI 300, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, and Australia’s ASX 200 showing gains. In contrast, South Korea’s Kospi and Japan’s Nikkei 225 experienced declines. European markets were predominantly lower in early trading, reflecting ongoing global economic uncertainties.
