U.S. Stock Futures Edge Lower as Markets Brace for Inflation Data

U.S. stock futures dipped slightly on Friday, with investors remaining cautious amid Trump’s aggressive trade tariffs and upcoming inflation data.

Stock Index Futures Performance

• Dow Jones Futures: ↓ 25 points (-0.1%)
• S&P 500 Futures: ↓ 8 points (-0.1%)
• Nasdaq 100 Futures: ↓ 48 points (-0.2%)

Trade Tensions Weigh on Markets

• Wall Street closed lower for a second consecutive session on Thursday.
• The S&P 500 (-0.3%), Nasdaq Composite (-0.5%), and Dow Jones (-0.4%) all fell, nearing six-month lows.
• Trump’s 25% auto tariffs (effective April 3) and auto parts duties (May 3) have raised concerns over inflation and economic slowdown.

PCE Inflation Data in Focus

• The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index—the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge—is set for release later today.
• Economists expect core PCE to accelerate slightly, fueling concerns over prolonged high inflation.
• The Fed recently paused rate hikes, citing uncertainty around Trump’s trade policies.

Corporate Sector Highlights

• Lululemon (LULU) shares dropped in premarket trading, as weak future guidance overshadowed strong holiday earnings.
• The EU is reportedly imposing minimal fines on Apple (AAPL) and Meta (META) under the Digital Markets Act, aiming to avoid escalating tensions with Trump.

With global trade uncertainty and inflation risks dominating sentiment, investors remain risk-averse heading into the weekend.