U.S. stock futures inched higher early Wednesday following a turbulent trading session driven by President Donald Trump’s evolving trade policies. Investors now turn their attention to the upcoming inflation report, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy.
Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2%, while the S&P 500 futures edged up by the same margin. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Composite futures advanced 0.3%, reflecting a slight rebound in the technology sector.
Trump Pushes Forward With Tariff Plans
Despite mounting economic uncertainty, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to imposing sweeping tariffs. “I don’t see it at all. I think this country’s going to boom,” he said at the White House when asked about the possibility of a recession.
The administration confirmed that 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from all countries would take effect at midnight, marking the latest move in Trump’s aggressive trade policy.
Markets Eye Inflation Data Amid Rate Cut Speculation
Investor focus now shifts to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for February, scheduled for release at 8:30 a.m. ET. The report is expected to provide key insights into inflation trends and influence expectations for potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts at a time of heightened market uncertainty.
After-Hours Stock Movers
Several high-profile stocks saw significant movement in after-hours trading:
- Groupon (GRPN) surged 23% after issuing stronger-than-expected full-year revenue guidance. The company now projects revenue between $493 million and $500 million.
- Finance of America (FOA) plummeted 17% in extended trading following a disappointing financial update, weighing on investor sentiment.
- Stitch Fix (SFIX) soared 19% after announcing its earnings and unveiling plans to integrate AI-driven styling algorithms into its personalized fashion services. The company projects total fiscal-year sales between $1.225 billion and $1.240 billion.
With Wall Street still reeling from recent market volatility, all eyes remain on the CPI report and its potential impact on the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.
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