U.S. stock index futures steadied on Tuesday evening after the S&P 500 climbed to a record high of 6,129.62 points, as investors remained cautious ahead of key economic cues from the Federal Reserve and February’s purchasing managers index (PMI) data. Nasdaq 100 Futures edged up to 22,245.50 points, while Dow Jones Futures held flat at 44,655.0 points. The Fed is set to release minutes from its late-January meeting on Wednesday, which could offer further insight into its plans amid concerns over sticky inflation and trade tariff uncertainties stemming from President Donald Trump’s policies. Additional speeches from Fed Governor Philip Jefferson and Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee later this week are expected to provide more policy clarity. Meanwhile, Friday’s preliminary PMI data is anticipated to show whether January’s business activity momentum has carried into February. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 0.3% on Tuesday, driven by strong sentiment in technology stocks, while the Nasdaq Composite ticked up 0.1% to 20,041.26 points, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average stayed flat at 44,556.16 points. Enthusiasm around artificial intelligence and a solid fourth-quarter earnings season have bolstered tech stocks, with major retailers set to report results this week. Investors also kept a watchful eye on U.S.-Russia talks over a potential peace deal for Ukraine, although Kyiv remains excluded from discussions. Overall, markets are treading cautiously, awaiting these critical economic and policy developments.
