U.S. stock index futures were little changed Tuesday, with investors holding back ahead of the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole Symposium and a wave of retail earnings later this week.
At 05:50 ET (09:50 GMT), Dow Jones Futures edged up 10 points, or 0.1%, while S&P 500 Futures dipped 3 points, or 0.1%, and Nasdaq 100 Futures slipped 8 points, or 0.1%.
The major indices closed Monday in narrow ranges as markets digested the outcome of U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders, focused on advancing peace efforts in Ukraine.
Investors Assess Zelensky Talks
Trump described the discussions as productive, noting that he would seek a meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin that could pave the way for trilateral negotiations on a potential peace deal. He also pledged U.S. support for Ukraine’s security but provided no details on possible guarantees.
Despite this, a breakthrough remains unlikely given Putin’s reluctance to agree to a ceasefire. The central sticking point remains the territory occupied by Russia, with Moscow reportedly seeking control over the wider Donbas region—an outcome Zelensky is unlikely to accept.
Jackson Hole in Focus
Beyond geopolitics, investors are looking to the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole Symposium later this week for policy guidance from Chair Jerome Powell. Fed Governor Michelle Bowman, one of two dissenters pushing for a rate cut at last month’s meeting, is scheduled to speak Tuesday.
Markets are currently pricing in an 83% probability of a quarter-point rate cut at the September meeting. Attention will also turn to July housing starts and building permits, offering insight into the health of the housing market.
Retail Earnings Take the Spotlight
Earnings reports from major retailers will be closely monitored, beginning with Home Depot (HD) later in the session. Results from Lowe’s (LOW), Walmart (WMT), and Target (TGT) are due in the coming days. These updates will provide a clearer view of consumer demand heading into the second half of the year.
According to LSEG data, Home Depot is expected to post a 5.1% revenue gain for the second quarter ended July, compared with a 0.6% rise in the same period a year earlier. Still, tariffs remain a risk. While Home Depot sources most of its goods in North America and has pledged not to raise prices, management warned last quarter that some items could be removed from shelves if supply pressures persist.
Tech Earnings Also in Focus
Elsewhere, Palo Alto Networks (PANW) shares jumped in premarket trading after the cybersecurity firm posted strong quarterly results and issued an upbeat fiscal 2026 outlook, citing growing demand for its AI-driven security solutions.
Upcoming earnings from Baidu (BIDU), Workday (WDAY), and Analog Devices (ADI) are also on investors’ radar.
Oil Eases on Ukraine Headlines
Crude prices retreated Tuesday as traders weighed the possibility of three-way peace talks involving the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia, which could ease sanctions on Russian oil.
At 05:50 ET, Brent crude futures fell 1% to $65.94 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures dropped 1% to $62.08.
Both benchmarks had gained nearly 1% Monday after U.S. Trade Adviser Peter Navarro criticized India’s discounted purchases of Russian crude, fueling concerns over supply flows. Trump’s suggestion of including Putin in future talks has sustained expectations for potential negotiations.
