HG MARKETS: 

U.S. stock index futures traded near the flat line on Wednesday as investors awaited key inflation data that could provide further clues about the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate path, while attention also turned to Micron Technology’s upcoming earnings report.

Dow futures had gained 50 points, or 0.1%, while S&P 500 futures rose 5 points, or 0.1%. Nasdaq 100 futures were largely unchanged.

Market focus this week remains on several major economic releases, with August’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index due on Wednesday. The PCE index is the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation and is expected to show price pressures remaining above the central bank’s 2% annual target.

Investors will also monitor September employment data due Friday for further insight into the strength of the U.S. labor market. Inflation and employment remain key factors in the Fed’s interest-rate decisions. The central bank raised rates by 25 basis points this month while maintaining a relatively hawkish stance amid persistent inflation

The renewed hostilities underscored escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran after President Donald Trump declared last week that the ceasefire had collapsed. Despite the escalation, Trump said Iran had expressed interest in reopening diplomatic talks.

Crude oil prices climbed sharply on Monday after renewed attacks in the Middle East intensified concerns over energy-driven inflation, potentially strengthening the case for a more hawkish Federal Reserve.

Steep declines in Nasdaq futures signaled significant weakness in technology stocks on Monday, as a broad selloff in Asian semiconductor shares looked set to spill over into U.S. markets. SK Hynix led the losses, tumbling as much as 14% in Seoul trading after its American Depositary Receipts had surged nearly 13% during their Nasdaq debut on Friday.

The sharp reversal reflected profit-taking and persistent concerns that artificial intelligence-driven optimism had pushed semiconductor valuations to unsustainable levels.

U.S. equities ended Friday’s session on a positive note, with the S&P 500 closing within reach of an all-time high, supported by the robust Nasdaq debut of SK Hynix’s American Depositary Shares. The Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones Industrial Average each gained roughly 0.3%.

Markets are now turning their focus to the start of the second-quarter earnings season, with leading lenders including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup due to report quarterly earnings on Tuesday.