Market Awaits Powell’s Jackson Hole Speech as Stock Futures Edge Higher
US stock futures nudged upward Friday ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's keynote at the Jackson Hole symposium. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures ROSE 0.2%, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 contracts ticking up marginally after Thursday's declines.
Investors brace for potential volatility as Powell's remarks could redefine rate-cut expectations and long-term monetary policy. Last week's whipsaw action saw stocks rally on benign CPI data before retreating after a hotter-than-expected PPI print.
Recent Fed minutes revealed limited dissent to July's rate pause, with policymakers prioritizing inflation containment over labor market concerns. Newly appointed officials Schmid and Hammack echoed this hawkish tilt, further dampening near-term easing hopes.
