Why did U.S. stock index futures remain flat despite a recent tech selloff, and what key factors are investors monitoring?

U.S. stock index futures were steady on Wednesday after a tech-driven selloff in the prior session, as investors shifted focus to geopolitical tensions—particularly the U.S.-Iran conflict—and upcoming U.S. retail earnings to assess consumer health and inflation implications. The article states: 'U.S. stock index futures were steady on Wednesday after a tech-driven selloff rocked Wall Street in the previous session as investors turned their attention to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East as well as domestic retailer earnings' and notes that 'Quarterly earnings from retailers will be scrutinized to gauge the health of the U.S. consumer amid the U.S.-Iran conflict that is seeping into inflation expectations.'

What do the latest Fed rate hike expectations reveal about market sentiment following recent inflation data?

Traders currently see at least one 25-basis-point rate hike by the end of 2026, but the odds of a hike as soon as September have decreased significantly following last week's tame inflation data—indicating that softer price pressures have temporarily eased near-term tightening expectations. As stated in the article: 'Traders currently see at least one 25-basis-point rate hike from the Fed by the end of 2026, according to data compiled by LSEG. The odds of a hike as soon as September, however, have decreased significantly following last week's tame inflation data.'

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