U.S. stock index futures declined Tuesday evening, reflecting investor unease after June inflation came in slightly hotter than expected and President Donald Trump reiterated his plan to impose sweeping trade tariffs by the end of the month.
The selling pressure follows a choppy day on Wall Street, where a tech-led rally was offset by broad weakness across most other sectors.
Market Snapshot
As of 19:26 ET (23:26 GMT), the futures market showed:
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S&P 500 Futures: ▼ 0.3% to 6,268.0
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Nasdaq 100 Futures: ▼ 0.3% to 22,991.5
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Dow Jones Futures: ▼ 0.2% to 44,147.0
While chipmakers gained on news that NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) can resume selling its H20 AI chip in China, the broader market lost momentum. Traders remain cautious amid tariff volatility and uncertain inflation trajectory.
To track sector-specific movements amid these developments, use the Sector Historical API, which helps monitor rolling performance data across market segments.
Tariffs and Inflation Dominate Market Narrative
The June Consumer Price Index (CPI) edged up slightly above estimates, intensifying concerns that inflation may remain sticky—especially with additional cost pressures from tariffs on the horizon.
President Trump reaffirmed that 200% tariffs on pharmaceutical imports will go into effect by the end of the month, joining an already aggressive trade stance that includes levies on goods from the EU, Mexico, and potentially China.
The CPI surprise and tariff uncertainty have tempered expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts, with traders now pricing in a prolonged hold.
For a closer look at how inflation is impacting corporate performance, explore recent earnings through the Earnings Calendar API, which details upcoming reports from key U.S. companies across sectors.
Outlook: Volatility Ahead
With more corporate earnings due this week and Trump’s tariffs entering their final negotiation window, markets may remain volatile. Investors will likely toggle between risk-on and risk-off depending on inflation expectations, Fed commentary, and further trade policy signals.
Stay tuned for earnings from major tech, pharma, and banking names that could offer clarity on how corporate America is preparing for a potentially turbulent Q3.
