Noor Trends News, Technical Analysis, Educational Tools and Recommendations
U.S. stock index futures opened the week on a positive note Monday, with investors focusing on upcoming economic data and Federal Reserve commentary.
Market Performance as of 06:15 ET (11:15 GMT)
- Dow Jones Futures: Up 40 points (0.1%)
- S&P 500 Futures: Up 30 points (0.5%)
- Nasdaq 100 Futures: Gained 180 points (0.9%)
Key Events to Watch This Week
- Federal Reserve Meeting Minutes (Wednesday)
- Minutes from the Fed’s Dec. 17–18 meeting will shed light on the central bank’s monetary policy approach.
- Fed speakers this week include Thomas Barkin, Jeffrey Schmid, and Patrick Harker, offering insights on the economic outlook and rate trajectory.
- December Jobs Report (Friday)
- Expected highlights:
- 154,000 jobs added in December
- Unemployment rate steady at 4.2%
- Expected highlights:
- Additional Economic Data
- December ISM Services PMI
- Final S&P Global PMIs
- ADP Employment Report
- JOLTS Job Openings
- November Factory Orders and Trade Figures
- Weekly Jobless Claims
Market Dynamics
- Federal Reserve Rate Outlook:
- The Fed has signaled fewer rate cuts in 2025, balancing sticky inflation with economic resilience. This week’s data will help shape market expectations.
- Tech Sector Momentum:
- Following strong gains last week, the tech sector remains in focus.
- Among the “Magnificent Seven” megacaps, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) jumped 4.5%, and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) surged over 8% on Friday.
Corporate Earnings to Watch
- Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ)
- Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ: WBA)
- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL)
Goldman Sachs Market Outlook
Goldman Sachs projects an 11% return for the S&P 500 in 2025, with the index rising to 6,500 by year-end, driven primarily by earnings growth.
Outlook
While the market enters a holiday-shortened week (with the NYSE closing Thursday to honor former President Jimmy Carter), the packed economic calendar and tech sector activity will likely drive market sentiment. Investors will closely monitor the Fed’s commentary and jobs data to gauge the economic trajectory and potential market performance in early 2025.
