Retail Earnings in Focus as US Stock Futures Trade Flat
US stock futures traded flat ahead of Monday's opening bell as investors weighed the Federal Reserve's next move and awaited a fresh batch of retail earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq were all slightly lower in pre-market trading.
The market pullback came despite continued support from large-cap technology stocks and strong corporate earnings. Oil prices edged higher, with Brent crude trading around $88 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate at $82.
Traders are looking to retail earnings for clues about the health of the US consumer, with Home Depot, Target, and Walmart among the major retailers reporting results this week.
The Federal Reserve's July meeting minutes are also due out on Wednesday, which could provide more insight into policymakers' thinking.