U.S. equity futures posted modest gains early Tuesday, with market participants focused on a significant release of economic indicators and corporate earnings. The S&P 500 futures advanced 0.08%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbed 45 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.03% ahead of the opening bell.
Economic Data Takes Center Stage
Investor attention is fixed on the delayed advance retail sales figures for December 2025 and November's monthly retail trade data, both scheduled for release at 8:30 a.m. ET. This report, rescheduled after a federal funding lapse, will be critical for assessing consumer demand. Concurrently, the Labor Department will publish the Employment Cost Index and import/export price data, offering further insight into wage pressures and inflation trends.
The week's economic calendar remains packed, with January payroll figures due Wednesday and the Consumer Price Index for January set for Friday. These reports are pivotal for shaping expectations around the Federal Reserve's potential interest rate path for the year.
Corporate Earnings and Premarket Moves
On the corporate front, Coca-Cola is slated to report its fourth-quarter 2025 results before the market open. After the close, Ford Motor Company will provide its quarterly update, putting the automotive sector in focus. In premarket trading, megacap technology stocks showed mixed performance. Nvidia gained approximately 2.5%, Meta Platforms advanced 2.4%, and Tesla edged up 1.5%. Apple, however, declined around 1.2%.
Global Sentiment and Commodities
International markets displayed firm risk appetite, with Japan's Nikkei index reaching another record high. Treasury yields retreated slightly from recent levels. In the commodity space, energy markets remained subdued. Brent crude oil futures dipped to near $68.80 per barrel, while U.S. crude hovered around $64.06. Analysts noted that despite geopolitical tensions, a lack of concrete supply disruptions has kept price pressures in check.
Market analysts caution that stronger-than-expected data on retail sales or wages could reignite a rise in Treasury yields, potentially renewing concerns about prolonged higher interest rates—a scenario that historically pressures long-duration growth stocks.
