U.S. Stock Futures Remain Steady Amid Ongoing Trade Uncertainty

US stock futures are little changed after the Dow logged its second losing day in three. Futures tied to the Dow rose 0.2%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.2%. The Dow closed down 0.5%, the S&P 500 ended 0.08% lower, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.4%. Investors are focusing on Trump's trade policies, which are causing uncertainty for companies' decision making, supply chains, and costs.

US stock futures are little changed after the Dow logged its second losing day in three. Futures tied to the Dow rose 0.2%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.2%. The Dow closed down 0.5%, the S&P 500 ended 0.08% lower, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.4%. Investors are focusing on Trump's trade policies, which are causing uncertainty for companies' decision making, supply chains, and costs.

Trump's recent executive order, which officially hit virtually every US trading partner with sweeping tariff hikes, has reshaped the global trade landscape. The move has led to a significant drop in stock futures and a 0.4% retreat in Dow Jones Industrial Average futures, as well as a 0.4% fall in S&P 500 futures and a 0.5% drop in Nasdaq 100 futures [2].

The tariffs, which include a hike on Canada to 35% and a range of 15% to 40% on other countries, are set to take effect in seven days. This delay provides an opportunity for further trade talks, but the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of these tariffs has left investors cautious. The delay also comes as the U.S. is set to release the July jobs report, which is expected to show hiring slowed while unemployment ticked higher [2].

Apple, which announced a $100 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing, has seen its stock rally as a result of the tariffs. The tech giant's stock rose after its earnings report beat expectations, boosted by strong iPhone sales [2]. However, the broader market sentiment remains cautious, with a significant rise in bearish individual investor sentiment toward stocks over the next six months [3].

Investors are also keeping an eye on the Federal Reserve's decision to hold benchmark lending rates steady last week. While two-thirds of individual investors believe this was the right call, a third think the Fed should have cut rates [3].

The uncertainty surrounding Trump's trade policies and the potential impact on the economy is likely to continue to influence investor sentiment. The coming weeks will be crucial as more information about the tariffs' implementation and the July jobs report becomes available.

References:
[1] https://www.morningstar.com/news/dow-jones/20250807764/dow-jones-top-markets-headlines-at-1-am-et-apple-stock-rally-pushes-nasdaq-near-a-record-chinas
[2] https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-futures-retreat-after-trump-orders-sweeping-global-tariffs-230434944.html
[3] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/06/stock-market-today-live-updates.html