U.S. Stock Futures Slip as PCE Inflation Report Looms - Market Braces for Impact on September 22, 2025
Wall Street holds its breath ahead of critical inflation data that could reshape Fed policy.
Market Jitters Intensify
Futures dip across major indices as traders position for potential volatility. The PCE report—the Fed's preferred inflation gauge—threatens to disrupt recent market stability.
Inflation's Shadow Lengthens
With memories of 2022's runaway inflation still fresh, institutional money moves cautiously. Another hot print could force the Fed's hand on rate hikes—exactly what this aging bull market doesn't need.
Trading desks prepare for whipsaw action as algorithmic systems stand ready to amplify any surprise. Because nothing says 'efficient markets' like computers triggering flash crashes over decimal-point deviations.
The real question: will Main Street's economic reality finally decouple from Wall Street's spreadsheet fantasies? Place your bets—the casino opens at 8:30 AM sharp.
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During Friday’s regular trading session, all three major indexes closed higher, with the Dow and S&P 500 extending their record-breaking rallies. The Dow Jones ROSE 0.37%, the S&P 500 gained 0.49%, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.72%.
The Federal Reserve delivered the widely expected quarter-point rate cut, fueling renewed investor optimism. The central bank signaled two more rate cuts this year, pointing to a softening labor market, modest economic growth, and inflation that remains above the Fed’s 2% target.
For the week, all three major indexes finished in positive territory. The Dow gained 1%, the S&P 500 rose 1.2%, and the Nasdaq 100 advanced 2.2%, marking a third consecutive weekly increase.
There are no major economic releases scheduled for today. However, investor attention will turn to Friday’s release of the August PCE report, a key inflation indicator that influences the Fed’s monetary policy decisions. Other key data due this week include September’s S&P Global Manufacturing and Services PMIs, August figures on new and existing home sales, and the final estimate of second-quarter GDP.
With the second-quarter earnings season largely behind us, a handful of notable companies are set to report this week. The focus will be on Micron (MU), AutoZone (AZO), Accenture (ACN), CarMax (KMX), and Costco (COST).
Meanwhile, the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield was down, floating NEAR 4.12%. WTI crude oil futures were trending higher, hovering near $63.04 per barrel as of the last check. Additionally, the Gold Spot U.S. dollar price increased to nearly $3,756 per ounce on Monday.
Elsewhere, European stocks opened mostly lower on September 22 as traders reacted to President Donald Trump’s new H-1B visa order, which requires companies to pay a $100,000 application fee per worker.
Asia-Pacific Markets Traded Mixed Today
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Monday amid the WHITE House’s increased H-1B visa fee. Meanwhile, the People’s Bank of China (PBC) left its lending prime rate (LPR) unchanged at 3.0%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropped 0.76%. In China, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.22%, while the Shenzhen Component added 0.68%. Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei advanced 0.99%, and the Topix gained 0.49%.
