U.S. Futures Flat as Markets Await Big Bank Earnings and CPI Data
Summary
U.S. Futures Flat as Markets Await Big Bank Earnings and CPI Data
U.S. stock futures hovered just above the flatline early Tuesday as investors braced for a high-stakes trading day. Wall Street will digest a wave of major bank earnings and key inflation data, both of which may shape expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next steps. Meanwhile, China posted stronger-than-expected GDP growth, and Nvidia eyes a return to AI chip sales in the Chinese market.
- Futures Hold Steady Amid High-Stakes Catalysts By 03:35 ET (07:35 GMT):
Dow futures: Flat
S&P 500 futures: +0.3%
Nasdaq 100 futures: +0.4%
The gains come after a modest uptick on Monday, helped by positive momentum in the AI sector, including Meta Platforms' announcement to pour “hundreds of billions” into supercomputing infrastructure. President Trump also plans to announce $70 billion in AI and energy investments, adding fuel to the tech rally.
Markets, however, remain cautious amid continued tariff threats against the EU and Mexico. These trade tensions could eventually weigh on global growth and push up input costs for U.S. businesses.
- Big Bank Earnings on Deck Earnings from major financial players including JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and BlackRock are expected before the bell. Analysts predict low-to-mid single digit net interest income (NII) growth, driven by:
Solid loan books
Stable consumer spending
Steady labor demand
Investors are watching for any forward guidance on credit quality, consumer delinquencies, and tariff risks, which could be crucial for sentiment in the second half of 2025.
Use the Earnings Calendar API to track all upcoming earnings in real-time and align your trading or investment strategies.
- CPI Inflation Data in Focus Inflation data for June is also due today, with expectations as follows:
Headline CPI YoY: 2.6% (vs. 2.4% in May)
MoM CPI: 0.3% (vs. 0.1% in May)
Core CPI YoY: 3.0%
Markets have so far shrugged off concerns about the inflationary impact of Trump’s tariff proposals. But if core CPI surprises to the upside, the Fed may stay on hold longer than markets currently expect.
Get detailed breakdowns of U.S. inflation and macroeconomic trends with the Economics Calendar API.
Final Thoughts With earnings and inflation dominating the conversation today, markets are at an inflection point. Positive earnings surprises from banks could reinforce the resilience of the U.S. economy — but any hawkish CPI reading or renewed tariff escalation may quickly shift the narrative.