Stock Futures Steady as Inflation Data and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Awaited

As stock futures remained relatively unchanged on Sunday, investors shifted their focus towards the upcoming release of April’s consumer price index (CPI) figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday. Despite a series of unexpectedly high inflation readings in recent months, many are optimistic that the Federal Reserve will no longer consider raising interest rates. The strong first-quarter earnings season has bolstered stock prices, with an overwhelming majority (92%) of S&P 500 companies exceeding financial projections. Analyst Venu Krishna from Barclays suggested that overly pessimistic estimates preceding Q1 results may have been a contributing factor to the recent uptick in sentiment. On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded its eighth consecutive day of gains, marking its most successful week of the year. Treasury yields also saw a decrease.