Investing.com - US stock futures rise, suggesting a possible extension to a rally in equities in the wake of Donald Trump's election win last week. Key inflation data will highlight the economic calendar this week, with investors keen to see if the figures provide any clues into the path ahead for price pressures and, by extension, Federal Reserve interest rate policy. Elsewhere, Bitcoin touches a record high as traders bet on a potentially looser regulatory environment for the crypto industry during the incoming Trump administration.
1. Futures higher
US stock futures pointed higher on Monday as investors assessed the staying power of a post-election rally and looked ahead to fresh economic data this week.
By 03:20 ET (08:20 GMT), the Dow futures contract had added 82 points or 0.2%, S&P 500 futures had jumped by 15 points or 0.3%, and Nasdaq 100 futures had gained 73 points or 0.4%.
The benchmark S&P 500 hit a fresh all-time peak and touched the 6,000 level for the first time on Friday, boosted by hopes that Donald Trump would roll out tax cuts and extensive deregulation during his second four-year term in the White House.
Sentiment was also bolstered by the Federal Reserve, which slashed interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point as anticipated last week. Policymakers at the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee said the economy was on a "solid pace" despite a slight easing in labor demand and inflation remaining "somewhat elevated."
2. Inflation data ahead
How the Fed will approach future interest rate decisions this year and into 2025 will likely depend in large part on the outlook for US price pressures.
As a result, the release of October inflation data from the Department of Labor on Wednesday will likely be a major focal point of the week for investors.
Economists expect the consumer price index to have risen at an annual rate of 2.4% last month, matching September’s pace. September's annual increase was the smallest in more than three-and-a-half years, reinforcing Fed rate-cut bets.
But the central bank may have been thrown a curveball with Trump's election, since many believe that his proposals, in particular higher tariffs, could push up consumer prices. Following the Fed's 25-basis point reduction on Thursday, Chair Jerome Powell gave little guidance on how fast and far rates will now fall.
3. Bitcoin's new record high
Bitcoin rose to a record high, extending a rally from last week as optimism around the outlook for cryptocurrencies was heightened by Trump’s victory.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency hit a peak of $81,792.4, and traded at $81,165.3 by 03:21 ET.
Gains in Bitcoin and other cryptos have been driven chiefly by wagers that Trump -- as well as a raft of new pro-crypto lawmakers in Congress -- will take a lighter touch approach to the industry. The president-elect spoke favorably about crypto during his campaign, vowing to claw away at regulatory burdens and create a reserve to hold the country's Bitcoin supply.
Traders are also betting the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has spent much of current President Joe Biden's administration pushing for crypto to follow the agency's investor-protection rules, will soften its stance.
4. Hong Kong stocks slip as Chinese stimulus underwhelms
Stocks in Hong Kong led declines in Asia on Monday, as fresh fiscal stimulus measures out of China largely underwhelmed investors.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slid 1.7%, while China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite were more volatile, rising by 0.7% and 0.6%, respectively.
After the close of Chinese markets on Friday, the National People’s Congress announced a debt swap program worth about 10 trillion yuan ($1.4 trillion) aimed at improving the finances of local governments.
But a lack of direct fiscal stimulus and targeted policies to bolster China's ailing housing market and tepid personal consumption fell short of what many traders had hoped to see, especially with the threat looming of potentially harsh US import tariffs during the upcoming Trump administration.
5. Crude prices stable
Oil prices steadied Monday as traders digested the latest stimulus plan from top importer China as well as the easing of any supply disruptions from Hurricane Rafael.
By 03:22 ET, the Brent contract gained 0.2% to $73.99 a barrel, while U.S. crude futures (WTI) were mostly unchanged at $70.39 per barrel.
Prices weakened on Friday after Beijing approved the measures, which were designed to lower government debt levels.
Meanwhile, fears over immediate disruptions in US oil output were somewhat soothed after Hurricane Rafael weakened into a tropical storm as it made landfall in Cuba.
(Reuters contributed reporting.)