FX.co ★ U.S. Futures Flat as Markets Weigh Fed Outlook and Data

U.S. stock futures remained relatively unchanged on Monday following modest gains in the last trading session of November. The previous session's activity was characterized by light holiday trading on Friday, as investors turned their attention to forthcoming economic data and speculations of another potential Federal Reserve rate cut. Major indices experienced their most considerable weekly rise since June; however, the Nasdaq saw its first monthly decline since March due to concerns about overvalued AI and technology stocks, leading investors to cash in on profits. Following a service interruption at a central data center, CME derivatives markets reopened, contributing to already low trading volumes on what was anticipated to be among the year's quietest sessions. Retail stocks saw positive momentum with consumers eagerly participating in Black Friday sales, as anticipated by the National Retail Federation, which projected a record-breaking 186.9 million shoppers between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. Intel's shares surged by 10.2%, emerging as the top performer in the S&P 500 amid optimism that it might become a processor supplier for Apple. Conversely, some AI-focused stocks, such as Nvidia, faced challenges due to heightened risks.