Investor Pause After Record: U.S. Stock Futures Slightly Down

After an impressive surge of the US stock markets on Friday, which propelled the major indices to new record highs, the week began with a slight decline in stock futures. Uncertainties surrounding the visa policy of the US President hung like dark clouds over investor sentiment. The technology-driven upward movement ensured that the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq closed in positive territory three consecutive times, while investors now eagerly awaited clarity on the announced new visa guidelines for highly skilled workers. The increase of the visa fee to $100,000 particularly caused discord among many companies that heavily rely on specialists from India and China. Technology giants like Microsoft and Amazon remained stable in pre-market trading, whereas J.P. Morgan Chase recorded a slight decline of 1.5%. Analysts expressed that the increased costs for companies dependent on these specialists could be partially passed on to the end consumers. The recent rise in indices was also fueled by the prospect of a quarter-point interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve, which, combined with a revival of AI stocks, provided positive momentum. Even smaller companies benefited as the Russell 2000 hit an intraday record high on Friday. Despite the often challenging perception of September, the major Wall Street indices remain in positive territory. This week promises additional insights into the economic situation, with a series of upcoming releases such as personal consumption expenditures and gross domestic product. Additionally, comments from key Fed officials, including John Williams and Stephen Miran, could provide further insights into future monetary policy.