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Futures Slip as Traders Eye Fed and Tech Data

A fresh week opens with markets treading carefully. U.S. stock futures edged lower Monday as investors digest last week’s record highs and brace for a heavy slate of catalysts. Micron’s earnings are in the spotlight, alongside a torrent of Fed speeches and inflation data that could shape the policy path.

Beyond Wall Street, gold has notched fresh records, Bitcoin has slipped after its rebound, oil remains stuck in a range as geopolitics collide with oversupply concerns, and Indian IT shares face pressure from U.S. visa fees. Even Warren Buffett’s BYD exit added a jolt to global sentiment. Here’s what’s moving markets.

Futures Edge Lower After Record Highs

Wall Street’s rally cooled as futures pointed south, with traders consolidating after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted a third straight weekly gain. The backdrop remains bullish, thanks to last week’s Fed rate cut and hints of further easing, but investors are cautious ahead of Powell’s remarks and new economic readings.

Volume spiked on Friday to its highest since April, underscoring just how much momentum has been in play. Now the focus shifts from the Fed’s big-picture easing story to the granular details of inflation, consumer demand, and growth. This week could determine whether the rally keeps powering higher or pauses for breath.

Micron and Tech Earnings on Deck

If Wall Street were a stage this week, tech stocks would be the headliners. Micron reports Tuesday after the bell, and traders are circling it like hawks. The chipmaker has become a proxy for AI enthusiasm, with investors eager to see if demand for high-powered memory keeps pace with the hype. Broadcom and Oracle have already dazzled with blockbuster numbers, raising the stakes for Micron.

Later in the week, Jabil and Accenture step up. Jabil’s tied closely to Apple’s supply chain and the AI-fueled boom in data centers, while Accenture’s results could test how consulting firms weather AI’s disruption. The earnings stage is set, and sentiment is running high, but the real question is whether AI profits can keep up with AI promises.

  • Micron earnings: due Tuesday after market close
  • Jabil & Accenture earnings: due Thursday

Visa Shock Hits Indian IT

President Trump’s order slapping a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas rattled Indian IT stocks, which rely heavily on the program to place workers in the U.S. Shares of Tech Mahindra, Infosys, and Tata Consultancy fell as investors recalibrated expectations for margins and growth.

U.S. tech giants were steadier, though they too face rising labor costs. Analysts warn the move could shrink the pipeline of skilled workers, forcing firms to hike wages and eat into profitability. For Indian firms, already facing pressure from tariffs, the new rules pose another headwind.

Berkshire Walks Away from BYD

In Hong Kong, EV darling BYD lost some sparkle. Shares dropped after confirmation that Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has completely exited its stake in the electric carmaker. The position, built more than a decade ago, generated billions in profit for Berkshire, but its final sale now leaves BYD without one of its most famous backers.

The move pressured broader markets, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng sliding as BYD stock shed more than 3%. Berkshire had already been trimming its position since 2022, but the clean break still landed as a symbolic blow for the Chinese EV champion.

  • BYD Hong Kong shares: -3.5% to HK$109.50
  • Hang Seng Index: -0.76%

Gold Breaks Records

Gold’s safe-haven shine brightened as prices surged to new all-time highs. Lower rates cut the opportunity cost of holding bullion, and the Fed’s dovish stance has only reinforced demand. Traders now see bullion as one of the clearest beneficiaries of the easing cycle.

With the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge due Friday, investors are watching for confirmation that real yields remain under pressure. Add in steady central bank buying and safe-haven flows, and the case for gold at elevated levels looks strong.

Oil Balances Geopolitics & Oversupply

Crude is playing a balancing act, caught between oversupply jitters and geopolitical tensions. Prices edged slightly higher on Monday after EU sanctions targeting Russia’s energy revenues and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries tightened supply risks. But growing OPEC+ output and questions about future demand continue to cap gains.

For now, oil remains range-bound, with traders watching whether geopolitics or fundamentals take control of the narrative.

Crypto Pullback: Bitcoin Slips, Alts Slammed

Bitcoin fell back under $113K as traders cooled on Fed cut optimism. While still positive for September, BTC’s retreat reflects cautious positioning ahead of Powell’s speech and fresh inflation data.

Altcoins were hit harder, with Ether, XRP, and meme tokens like Dogecoin all sliding double digits. Sentiment also took a knock from news of a major crypto fraud case in the U.S., raising questions about investor confidence in the sector.

Conclusion: Volatility Is Opportunity

This week, traders face a storm of catalysts: Fed speeches, Micron’s earnings, inflation data, and geopolitical flashpoints across oil and crypto. Markets may be shaky, but that’s exactly when opportunities open.

At BullRush, we believe moments like these define great traders. Volatility isn’t noise; it’s the arena. Don’t just watch markets swing. 

Step in, compete, and sharpen your edge with BullRush.

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