US stock index futures advanced on Wednesday, following a day of generally subdued trading in the previous session, as investors awaited fresh signals on inflation and monetary policy.
Futures for the S&P 500 (ES=F) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) both rose by 0.3%. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) saw a modest increase of about 0.2%, after major US indices closed slightly higher on Tuesday.
Investors are currently focused on the release of the Federal Reserve's January meeting minutes, scheduled for Wednesday, seeking further insight into the policymakers' perspectives. The key macroeconomic data point for the week will be the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, due on Friday.
Technology stocks, particularly within the software sector, may face renewed pressure as investors continue to assess the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on business models and the competitive landscape for enterprises.
On the corporate earnings front, DoorDash (DASH), eBay (EBAY), and Analog Devices (ADI) are set to report their quarterly results on Wednesday.