Futures lower, inflation data this week, new Bitcoin high - what's moving markets
Investing.com -- U.S. stock futures point lower, suggesting a negative start to the week for equities. Markets are turning their gaze to key monthly U.S. inflation data on Tuesday, which could factor into how the Federal Reserve views the path ahead for interest rates this year. Elsewhere, gold hovers near an all-time high, while Bitcoin hits a new record peak.
1. Futures inch lower
U.S. stock futures edged lower on Monday as investors looked ahead to the release of key inflation data later in the week.
By 04:21 ET (08:21 GMT), the Dow futures contract had fallen by 0.2%, S&P 500 futures had dipped by 0.3%, and Nasdaq 100 futures had shed 0.4%.
Wall Street's three main averages ended lower on Friday, with artificial intelligence darling Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) going into reverse after a recent rally to close out a turbulent week. Stocks had initially started the trading day higher following an unexpected jump in U.S. job growth in February.
Nvidia dropped more than 5%, slipping to its worst one-day performance since late May and snapping a six-session straight winning streak. Shares in the company ended the week with gains of over 6%, however.
2. Inflation data ahead this week
Investors will be looking to Tuesday's U.S. inflation data as they try to gauge how soon the Fed could start cutting interest rates.
Economists are expecting February's overall consumer price index to rise 0.4% on a monthly basis after a faster than expected increase of 0.3% in January, due in part to an anticipated jump in gasoline prices. The so-called «core» measure, which strips out volatile items like food and energy, is seen slowing to 0.3% month-on-month, down from 0.4%.
On Thursday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said it would likely be appropriate
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