August 12, 2025

US stock futures kicked off the week with a cautious yet hopeful vibe on Monday, August 11, 2025. Traders are all eyes on important inflation reports coming this week and buzzing about semiconductor stars Nvidia and AMD’s fresh China chip export deal. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 futures are nudging up, while the Nasdaq-100 slips a bit, showing tech’s mixed mood. What’s cooking? Dow futures are up about 0.2%, stirred by gains in industrial and banking stocks. The S&P 500 has a modest gain of 0.1%, boosted by hopes that inflation might be cooling down. But the Nasdaq-100 fell 0.05%, dragged by semiconductor stocks facing a new twist after Nvidia and AMD agreed to give 15% of their China-related chip revenue to the US government under a new export license deal. This deal is seen as a tricky balance to keep US-China tech trade partly open but adds fresh hurdles for chipmakers already battling slow demand. Amid the chip blues, big tech stars shine! Apple rose 0.4%, helped by strong pre-orders for its new iPhones. Google (Alphabet) gained 0.3% after analysts cheered its AI-driven ad growth. Tesla zoomed up 0.6% after hitting a big production milestone at its Texas Gigafactory. These stars helped balance the Nasdaq’s chip-related struggles. Why all the fuss about inflation? The July Consumer Price Index (CPI) drops Tuesday, and the Producer Price Index (PPI) follows on Thursday. Economists expect the core CPI to edge down just a bit to 3.2% from June’s 3.3%. If inflation cools more than expected, it might push the Federal Reserve toward cutting interest rates soon, sending stocks higher. But if inflation surprises on the hotter side, watch out! Markets could wobble, especially sectors like real estate and consumer goods that feel rate changes deeply. Global markets are mixed: Japan’s Nikkei climbed, but Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slid mainly due to property troubles. Europe is quiet, waiting on US data and keeping watch on tense geopolitical winds. Oil stayed firm near $82 a barrel, and gold held steady, as investors play it safe. Market strategist James Reynolds from CapitalEdge Advisors summed it up: “This week’s CPI and PPI releases are the most important economic events of the month. If both come in soft, we could see the S&P 500 add another 2-3% by month’s end.” In short, the market is buzzing with cautious excitement. Will inflation reports open the gates for a fresh rally? Or will they bring surprises that shake things up? Investors have a thrilling week ahead full of chances and challenges!

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Tags: Us stock market, Inflation data, Nvidia, Amd, China chip deal, S&p 500,