US stock futures edged higher Sunday evening as investors prepared for a pivotal week packed with market-moving events — including Big Tech earnings, a Federal Reserve policy decision, fresh inflation data, and a looming trade deadline set by President Trump.
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4%, while S&P 500 futures also climbed 0.4%. Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 0.5%, continuing momentum from last week’s gains. All three major indexes ended Friday higher, with the S&P 500 logging its fifth consecutive record close.
Investor sentiment improved after the U.S. and European Union reached a trade agreement to reduce tariffs on EU goods to 15%, easing tensions with a key trading partner. The deal came just ahead of Trump’s August 1 deadline, when tariffs were set to jump to 30% without progress.
The coming days are expected to be the busiest stretch of earnings season, with over 150 S&P 500 companies set to report. Meta Platforms (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) lead off on Wednesday, followed by Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL) on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve will begin its two-day policy meeting Tuesday, with a rate decision due Wednesday. While interest rates are widely expected to remain in the current 4.25%–4.50% range, investors will be listening closely for any signals that a rate cut could come as early as September. The meeting comes amid growing political pressure on the Fed, including calls for greater transparency and scrutiny of Chair Jerome Powell.
On the data front, Thursday’s release of the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index — the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation — is expected to show a slight increase in both monthly and annual figures.
Labor market data will also be in focus. Key reports include Tuesday’s JOLTS job openings, Wednesday’s ADP private payrolls, and Friday’s official July employment report, which could provide further insight into the strength of the U.S. economy.
