Pre‑Nvidia Playbook: Futures Hold Firm as Fed Independence Tested — August 27 Trading Blueprint Market Overview & Sentiment News Equity futures steady ahead of AI bellwether: U.S. index futures were essentially flat as traders awaited Nvidia’s after‑hours earnings, which are expected to test the AI‑driven rally. Reuters noted Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq E‑mini contracts up around 0.05%, with options markets implying an approximately $260 billion swing in Nvidia’s market value. Investors are cautious given lofty tech valuations and recent warnings about a potential AI bubble. Fed independence questioned: Market volatility this week has centred on former President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, raising uncertainty over the Fed’s independence. Gold rallied on the headline, but prices eased overnight as the dollar firmed and traders took profits. Rates expectations skew dovish: Markets are pricing an 87% chance of a 25‑basis‑...

Auctions & Tariffs: Your July 07 Equity Futures Playbook Market Overview & Sentiment News U.S. stock futures opened lower as investors grappled with renewed trade uncertainty following President Trump’s threat of additional tariffs on BRICS-aligned nations. S&P 500 futures fell 0.3% and Nasdaq futures dropped 0.4% ahead of today’s U.S. Treasury bill auctions. Dow futures were down roughly 0.35% as markets paused after last week’s gains and awaited clarity on trade policy. Tesla shares slumped about 6.7% premarket amid CEO Elon Musk’s political announcement, weighing on tech futures. OPEC+ agreed to boost oil output by 548,000 barrels per day for August, keeping oil prices relatively steady and offering support for energy-related names in futures. Datadog’s inclusion in the S&P 500 drove its stock up 15%, adding to sector rotation into midcaps ahead of today’s session. Foundational Analysis The U.S. labor market displa...