Market Preview: Futures Price Action and Economic Indicators

Stock futures struggle to turn positive as we approach the opening bell on Monday, March 17, 2025. Investors are focused on this week's Federal Reserve meeting and the FOMC’s latest Summary of Economic Projections.

Monday morning’s report on retail sales show they rose less than expected in February. There were revisions for January, which contributed to investors' concern that the U.S. economy may be slowing. According to Census Bureau data, headline retail sales rose 0.2% in February, less than the 0.6% increase economists had expected. Retail sales in January were revised lower to a decline of 1.2% from a prior reading that showed a 0.9% decrease in the month.

Nvidia, the tech giant known for its groundbreaking AI and graphics processing advancements, faces significant challenges in 2025. The company's recent financial results, while impressive, highlight the intense market pressures and competition it must navigate to maintain its leadership position. CEO Jensen Huang delivers the keynote address on Tuesday, March 18. Nvidia is expected to update investors on its Blackwell Ultra chips. The AI chipmaker is also expected to unveil its more affordable RTX 50 Series GPUs.