- Nasdaq Futures Edge Up as S&P Flat Dow Slips
- S&P Steady Nasdaq Gains Russell Dow Dip in Futures
- Nasdaq Leads Futures Higher S&P Flat Dow Weakens
US Pre-Market Briefing | August 31, 2026
Market Commentary
U.S. equity futures trade flat to slightly lower in early Monday trading as mixed global cues and geopolitical tensions temper risk appetite. S&P 500 futures edge up 0.01%, while Nasdaq 100 futures gain 0.13% on strength in tech stocks following OpenAI's revenue milestone. Dow futures slip 0.09%, pressured by energy stocks as U.S.-Iran tensions escalate after strikes near strategic oil facilities.
India’s better-than-expected 7.8% GDP growth bolsters emerging market sentiment, while China’s manufacturing PMI contraction (though less severe than feared) keeps concerns about global demand alive. Investors await Chicago PMI data (forecast: 57.8) for clues on U.S. manufacturing resilience, with weak results potentially reinforcing the Fed's cautious stance after Goncalves noted "no urgency" for hikes.
Bank of England warnings about AI-driven financial instability and Anthropic’s looming IPO plans weigh on sentiment, though AI-exposed stocks may see volatility. PG&E and Edison International plummet premarket on wildfire liability risks, while Chevron benefits from Middle East supply concerns.
Today’s sparse earnings calendar features small caps (SSAIC, CCANG), with focus shifting to midweek labor data. The 10-year Treasury yield holds steady near 4.25% as markets digest softer German inflation and position for potential BOJ policy signals during Japan’s JGB auction.
Key Question: Can tech sustain gains amid rising rates and geopolitical heat, or will rotation into defensives accelerate?
US Index Futures
| Future | Price | Change (%) |
|---|
| S&P 500 Futures | 7,693.75 | +0.01% |
| Nasdaq 100 Futures | 29,391.75 | +0.13% |
| Dow Jones Futures | 53,385.00 | -0.09% |
| Russell 2000 Futures | 2,966.40 | -0.09% |
Economic Data Released Today
| Time | Cur | Imp | Event | Actual | Forecast | Previous |
|---|
| 06:30 | INR | Med | GDP Quarterly (YoY) (Q1) | 7.8% | 7.1% | 7.8% |
| 07:30 | BRL | Med | Gross Debt-to-GDP ratio (MoM) (Jul) | 82.5% | 82.2% | 81.9% |
| 08:00 | EU | Med | German CPI (YoY) (Aug) | 2.9% | 3.0% | 2.8% |
| 08:00 | EU | High | German CPI (MoM) (Aug) | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
Upcoming Economic Releases
| Time | Cur | Imp | Event | Forecast | Previous |
|---|
| 09:45 | US | High | Chicago PMI (Aug) | 57.8 | 57.6 |
| 19:50 | JP | Med | Capital Spending (YoY) (Q2) | -0.2% | 0.0% |
| 21:30 | AU | Med | Building Approvals (MoM) (Jul) | -4.8% | 7.2% |
| 21:30 | AU | Med | Current Account (Q2) | -29.7B | -27.1B |
| 21:45 | CN | Med | RatingDog Manufacturing PMI (MoM) (Aug) | 51.5 | 50.9 |
| 23:35 | JP | Med | 10-Year JGB Auction | | 2.840% |
Earnings Today
Before Market Open (BMO)
| Ticker | Company | Market Cap |
|---|
| SSAIC | Science Applications International Corp | $6.0B |
| SSY | So-Young International Inc ADR | $228M |
| LLX | LexinFintech Holdings Ltd ADR | $139M |
| PPLSM | Pulsenmore Ltd | $17M |
| BBLRX | Bioline Rx Ltd ADR | $12M |
| CCFND | C1 Fund Inc | $nan |
After Market Close (AMC)
| Ticker | Company | Market Cap |
|---|
| CCANG | Cango Inc | $96M |
| PPXS | Pyxis Tankers Inc | $56M |
FX Snapshot
| Pair | Price | Change (%) |
|---|
| EUR/USD | 1.16 | +0.10% |
| GBP/USD | 1.35 | +0.04% |
| USD/JPY | 159.85 | -0.16% |
| USD/CHF | 0.81 | -0.10% |
| AUD/USD | 0.72 | -0.01% |
| USD/CAD | 1.39 | -0.15% |
Gold, Oil and Gas
| Commodity | Price | Change (%) |
|---|
| Gold | 4,491.00 | +0.42% |
| Silver | 67.39 | +0.82% |
| WTI Crude | 85.74 | +0.73% |
| Brent Oil | 88.23 | -2.17% |
| Natural Gas | 2.88 | +0.07% |
Crypto
| Crypto | Price | Change (%) |
|---|
| Bitcoin | $78,050.01 | +0.51% |
| Ethereum | $2,453.28 | +1.54% |
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