Global Stock Market Awaits Key Earnings Amid Trade Hopes and Rate Speculation

U.S. stock futures hovered near flatline as investors braced for a deluge of corporate earnings reports. Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100 contracts all inched up less than 0.1%, reflecting cautious Optimism following Monday's broad rally. Tech giant Apple spearheaded gains, hitting record highs after an analyst upgrade.

The earnings season takes center stage, with Netflix, Tesla, and other bellwethers set to report. Notably, 75% of early S&P 500 reporters have surpassed expectations, though elevated valuations leave room for volatility on any disappointments. Market focus remains sharply trained on the Magnificent Seven's performance as these tech titans continue driving overall market profits.

Federal Reserve policy looms large over markets, with traders pricing in a 25-basis-point October rate cut. Friday's CPI data could prove decisive—cooling inflation figures might cement expectations that the Fed's tightening cycle has concluded, potentially providing fresh momentum for risk assets.