Futures Flat Ahead Of Fed's Favorite Inflation Indicator

Market Overview - US equity futures are flat as investors await the core PCE report and consider the Fed's next policy move following stronger-than-expected US data [1] - The S&P futures are unchanged while Nasdaq futures drop 0.1%, indicating a potential continuation of recent losses [1] - The Magnificent 7 stocks show mixed performance in premarket trading, with Nvidia being the largest underperformer at -0.8% [1][3] Tariff Announcements - President Trump announced a series of tariffs, including a 100% tariff on branded pharmaceuticals, 50% on housing products, 30% on furniture, and 25% on heavy trucks, impacting various sectors [1][4] - Truckmaker PACCAR saw a gain of over 5% following the tariff announcement on heavy trucks, while shares of several European peers declined [5][6] - The pharmaceutical sector is experiencing mixed reactions, with some companies like Eli Lilly and Merck rising by 1% or more, while Apellis Pharmaceuticals fell by 6.2% after a rating downgrade [5][6] Economic Data and Expectations - Today's economic data includes August personal income and spending, with expectations of a 0.4% increase in both personal income and spending [6][12] - The core PCE price index is anticipated to rise by 2.9% year-over-year, consistent with the previous month, while the headline PCE price index is expected to increase by 2.72% from a year earlier [6][12] - The upcoming inflation report and monthly jobs data are critical for market sentiment, especially in light of the recent tariff announcements [4][6] Sector Performance - Healthcare stocks underperformed following the tariff announcements, particularly in Europe, where the Stoxx Europe 600 index edged higher by 0.3% despite the tariffs [7][20] - Asian stocks fell, with significant declines in chipmakers and Chinese tech shares, as the MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped by 1% [8] - The technology sector is facing valuation concerns, contributing to a broader market selloff, particularly among large-cap tech companies [4][38] Company-Specific Movements - Concentrix shares slumped by 21% after a disappointing fourth-quarter profit outlook [5] - Intel and GlobalFoundries gained 4% and 9%, respectively, following reports of potential new plans to reduce reliance on overseas semiconductor manufacturing [5] - Wayfair's shares declined by 2% in response to the new tariffs targeting specific furniture products [5]