New York, Jan 26, 2026, 06:29 EST — Premarket
- S&P 500 futures edged down 0.2% in early trading, with Nasdaq 100 futures dropping about 0.3%.
- Durable goods orders are set for release at 8:30 a.m. ET, kicking off the week’s key U.S. economic data.
- Newmont jumped about 4% in premarket after gold broke through $5,100 an ounce, hitting a fresh peak.
U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Monday, as gold miners pushed higher with bullion breaking above $5,100 an ounce. The early action suggested a cautious mood ahead of a packed week of economic reports and a key Federal Reserve announcement. S&P 500 futures fell 11.75 points, or 0.17%, while Nasdaq 100 futures dipped 88 points, or 0.34%, as of 6:09 a.m. ET.
The U.S. economic calendar opens today with durable goods orders, a crucial report known for influencing bond yields as it sheds light on business demand. Investors are digesting this data amid a packed lineup of corporate earnings and the Fed’s initial policy meeting of 2026 set for later this week.
The Fed is expected to keep rates unchanged between 3.50% and 3.75%, but questions around the central bank’s independence and leadership are back in focus. “It’s not possible to view the actions of the next Fed chair as separate from the economic environment,” noted Tim Duy, chief U.S. economist at SGH Macro Advisors. Reuters
The Commerce Department is set to publish its advance durable goods report at 8:30 a.m. ET, alongside the Chicago Fed’s national activity index. Then, at 10:30 a.m., the Dallas Fed will release its manufacturing survey. The Treasury plans a series of buyback and auction operations throughout the day.
Economists expect durable goods orders to rise by 0.5% in November, bouncing back from October’s 2.2% drop, according to IG’s weekly market calendar. Focus is also on “core” durable goods orders, which strip out transportation to reduce volatility and better reflect factory demand. IG
Newmont jumped 4.31% to $129.67 in premarket action, lifted by a sharp rally in gold prices. Freeport-McMoRan wasn’t far behind, climbing 4.20% to $62.95. Reuters reported that gold miners across the board gained ground after gold hit a record high of $5,100 an ounce, with Newmont and Barrick emerging as early leaders.
Gold jumped 2.2% to $5,089.78 an ounce, earlier touching a record high of $5,110.50, Reuters reported. Kyle Rodda, analyst at Capital.com, cited a “crisis of confidence” in U.S. assets as the key factor. Philip Newman, director at Metals Focus, said his firm forecasts gold prices to peak “around $5,500 later this year.” Reuters
Big tech painted a mixed picture ahead of a packed earnings slate that includes Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Apple, and Tesla, TipRanks reports. Investors are closely watching guidance on capital spending and margins, trying to figure out how fast AI-driven revenue can offset climbing costs.
The Fed will hold its two-day meeting on Jan. 27-28. The policy statement is scheduled for release at 2:00 p.m. ET Wednesday, with Chair Jerome Powell speaking at 2:30 p.m., per the Fed’s January calendar.
Markets are balanced on a knife’s edge of confidence. Strong durable goods data could push yields higher, undermining bets on rate cuts. But a soft report may raise growth fears just as earnings estimates and fresh policy announcements roll in.
Durable goods orders drop at 8:30 a.m. ET, kicking off the day before the Fed’s 2:00 p.m. ET decision on Wednesday.
