US pre-open: Stocks mostly higher ahead of CPI report, bank earnings

(Sharecast News) - Wall Street futures were mostly higher ahead of the bell on Tuesday as market participants patiently awaited the release of key inflation data and Q2 earnings from a number of US banks. As of 1225 BST, Dow Jones futures were down just 0.02%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 had the indices opening 0.40% and 0.60% higher, respectively.

The Dow closed 88.14 points higher on Monday despite news that Donald Trump had slapped fresh tariffs on imports from both the EU and Mexico.

Tuesday's primary focus will undoubtedly be last month's consumer price index report at 1330 BST, with market participants expecting to see a 0.3% monthly uptick and a 2.7% year-on-year increase. An upside surprise in the CPI reading may very well spook investors, who have yet to really see any tariff-related impacts on inflation.

Trade Nation's David Morrison said: "Even as President Trump kept tariffs in the spotlight, this time targeting the EU and Mexico, volatility gauges remained low, reflecting investor confidence that trade deals will be agreed before their respective deadlines, and keeping the broader bull trend intact.

"While volatility could return quickly should inflation data or earnings disappoint, the current mood suggests investors are still in a buy-the-dip mentality, with few signs of panic beneath the surface."

Elsewhere on the macro front, July's Empire State manufacturing index will be released at 1330 BST.

In the corporate space, Q2 earnings season gets underway on Tuesday, with quarterly figures from the likes of JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Bank of New York Mellon, and BlackRock all due for release.





Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com