US pre-open: Futures higher as markets steady after Dow's third weekly loss

(Sharecast News) - Wall Street futures were in the green ahead of the opening bell on Monday, with markets looking to stabilise after the Dow closed out a third straight week of losses. As of 1230 BST, Dow Jones futures were up 0.77%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures had the indices opening 0.67% and 1.05% firmer, respectively.

The Dow closed 95.40 points lower on Friday after a volatile week marked by big swings in the oil and bond markets and three major central bank decisions, including the Federal Reserve's first rate hike in three years.

Monday's pre-market gains came against a tense geopolitical backdrop following a fresh flare‑up in Middle East hostilities over the weekend. Iran‑backed Houthi forces said they had launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia on Saturday, while Washington later urged Americans to reconsider travel to the region as the US and Iran traded warnings over potential renewed strikes.

Attention this week will also turn to a high‑profile meeting between Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping, with talks expected to cover tariffs, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and broader economic ties. Ahead of the summit, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Chinese vice‑premier He Lifeng to prepare the ground for discussions.

On the macro front, August's Chicago Fed national activity index will be published at 1330 BST.

No major corporate earnings were slated for release on Monday.





Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com