SPX: S&P 500 Futures Up as Traders Seek Fresh Start After Boiling Month (with Painful End)

Broad market index jumped on Friday as investors looked past a political kerfuffle and shrugged off tariff woes.

👨‍🍳 Futures Tick Up by 0.2%

• Futures contracts on the S&P 500 (SPX) shifted slightly higher in pre-market activity Monday morning. The moderate upside momentum — just 0.2% — came after the broad-based stock gauge logged a 1.6% gain on Friday right after the Oval Office witnessed a heated discussion like never before.
• Trump and Zelensky couldn’t reach an agreement over a ceasefire mineral-related deal. The embattled Ukrainian leader had to leave the White House as he “wasn’t ready for peace” in Trump’s words. It was a painful end to a market-rattling month in which the S&P 500 lost 0.7%.

🙄 Tariff Drama, New Episode

• To investors and traders, this meant risk was back on. Moreover, Donald Trump is this week expected to drop more news on his proposed tariff plan that threatens to upend global trade as we know it. America’s key trading partners are expected to be paying more — a lot more — on their imports into the US.
• Mexico and Canada are looking into an added tax charge of 25% rolling out this week. China is looking to start paying an additional 10% duty on top of the existing 10% levies on its imports.

👀 What to Watch for This Week

• Without much time to waste, market watchers are positioning for a jam-packed week of scheduled events, news and reports. Besides the tariff drama releasing another episode, the US will report its ISM manufacturing PMI and prices later today. Private job growth data comes tomorrow.
• The highlight of the week is Friday when traders will be watching February’s job data — the nonfarm payrolls. Analysts expect 156,000 jobs added, above the 143,000 added in January. Also, Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell will give a speech shortly after the report.