US stock index futures muted, inflation data on tap - The Economic Times

Market Overview - All three major indexes are on track for their worst week since November due to AI-related concerns affecting various sectors, including brokerages and trucking [1] - U.S. stock index futures were trading flat after an AI-led selloff, with investors cautious ahead of inflation data that may influence the Federal Reserve's rate-cut outlook [9] Economic Indicators - The Consumer Price Index report for January is expected to show steady price increases, following a stronger-than-expected jobs report that raised concerns about prolonged interest rates [2] - Fed fund futures indicate a 70% chance of a rate cut in June and a total easing of 60 basis points this year [4] Company Performance - The S&P 500 and Dow dropped over 1% on Thursday, while the Nasdaq fell 2%. In premarket trading, Dow E-minis fell 103 points (0.21%), S&P 500 E-minis were down 6 points (0.09%), and Nasdaq 100 E-minis lost 9.25 points (0.04%) [5][6] - Applied Materials saw an 11.5% increase in premarket trading after forecasting second-quarter revenue and profit above Wall Street expectations [10] - Networking equipment provider Arista Networks gained 11% after forecasting annual revenue above expectations [8] Investment Trends - AI capital expenditures (capex) are a significant theme among the "Magnificent Seven" companies, with cumulative investments projected to reach approximately $650 billion [6][10] - Investors are increasingly demanding tangible returns as they react to fears of competition impacting certain sectors [10] - The upcoming earnings report from chip leader Nvidia is anticipated to be a critical test for the AI investment narrative [7][10] Trade Developments - The U.S. and Taiwan signed a reciprocal agreement confirming a 15% levy on imports from Taiwan while committing to eliminate or lower tariffs on nearly all U.S. goods [9][10] - U.S. President Donald Trump plans to reduce some tariffs on steel and aluminum goods, as reported by the Financial Times [9]