Markets Poised To Open Higher As Investors Weigh China, Interest Rates

Market Overview - U.S. stocks showed mixed performance with the S&P 500 down 0.2%, Nasdaq Composite down 0.8%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.4% as investors balanced trade tensions with China against expectations for lower interest rates [2] - Stock futures for S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones are up ahead of the market open, with S&P 500 futures gaining 0.6%, Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.8%, and Dow Jones futures up 0.4% [5] Trade Relations - The ongoing trade conflict between the U.S. and China saw President Trump criticize China for not purchasing U.S. soybeans, threatening to block cooking oil imports from China as a form of retaliation [3] Federal Reserve Insights - Fed Chair Jerome Powell highlighted increased "downside risks to employment," suggesting a weaker job market could lead to another rate cut at the upcoming Fed meeting on October 28 and 29 [4] - CME FedWatch indicates a 97.8% probability of a quarter-point reduction in interest rates, an increase from 94.1% the previous week [4] Upcoming Earnings Reports - Key financial companies, including Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Synchrony Financial, are scheduled to report earnings on October 15, with ASML Holdings also set to report on Wednesday [5]