2025.08.2112:59:34UTC+00US Futures Hold Losses

U.S. stock futures declined on Thursday, continuing the lackluster trend for equities this week as investors weighed rate forecasts and retailers' earnings for clues on consumer strength. The futures for the three principal equity indices fell approximately 0.4%, with the Nasdaq poised for a significant decline this week due to a tech sector sell-off. The minutes from the latest Federal Open Market Committee meeting revealed that most members perceived inflation risks as outweighing labor market risks, with worries over unanchored inflation expectations. Tech companies remained under scrutiny amid doubts about the potential returns of AI investments, leading to notable losses for Nvidia, Palantir, and Meta. In parallel, Walmart was expected to open about 3% lower following second-quarter earnings that failed to meet estimates, despite the retail giant upgrading its guidance. Looking ahead, a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Powell is anticipated to provide insights into the Fed's perspective on emerging labor market risks.