Overview
- U.S. stock futures firmed, led by the Nasdaq 100, as traders awaited Nvidia’s Wednesday results alongside reports from Walmart, Home Depot and Target.
- Recent Fed commentary and this week’s FOMC minutes have lowered the market’s probability of a December rate cut, with pricing now favoring a hold.
- The return of official data brings Thursday’s long-postponed September payrolls report, which is expected to provide a backward-looking read on hiring.
- Bitcoin hovered near $94,000 after its steepest weekly slide since March, reinforcing risk-off sentiment in technology and crypto-linked equities.
- Alphabet rose in premarket trading after Berkshire Hathaway revealed a $4.3 billion stake, even as investors scrutinized elevated tech valuations.