Wall Street Eyes New Highs as Futures Start the Week

​Markets Push for Fresh Records
U.S. stock futures edged higher Monday morning, signaling that Wall Street is ready to keep its record-breaking streak alive. The Dow and S&P 500 were up around 0.2%, while the Nasdaq inched ahead by 0.1%, extending the market’s bullish tone into a new week.

Tech Still in the Driver’s Seat
Last week ended with the Nasdaq scoring back-to-back record closes, while the S&P 500 came within a hair of its own milestone. Tech giants fueled the surge—Apple enjoyed its best week since 2020 after a high-profile White House appearance with President Trump, and Nvidia set a fresh record on optimism it might dodge looming chip tariffs.

Politics and Policy in Play
Investors remain tuned into Trump’s evolving trade agenda. His recent tariffs on multiple trade partners are now in effect, and markets are watching for sector-specific duties on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports. A key deadline looms this Tuesday for extending a tariff pause with China.

Data-Heavy Week Ahead
This week’s calendar is loaded with inflation signals: the Consumer Price Index drops Tuesday, the Producer Price Index follows Thursday, and retail sales arrive Friday. With inflation showing signs of reaccelerating in June, traders are bracing for numbers that could sway the Fed’s next move.

Rate Cut Hopes Still Strong
Markets currently see a near 90% chance of a September Fed rate cut, with some betting on three cuts by year-end. That optimism has helped keep the rally alive, but any inflation surprise could challenge those expectations.

In the Mix
Bitcoin surged to a fresh record, Target is still struggling ahead of its August earnings report, and C3.ai plunged after slashing revenue forecasts. Still, for now, the dominant mood on Wall Street is simple—records beget more records.