NEW YORK, June 19, 2026, 06:06 (EDT)
- U.S. cash equities are shut for Juneteenth. Futures kept to a shortened holiday session.
- Nasdaq 100 futures led in early trading. S&P 500 futures gained, and Dow futures moved little.
- This week saw markets swing from a hawkish Fed stance to a pause on Iran oil worries, then end with a chip-driven rally.
Nasdaq 100 futures pushed higher Friday in muted Juneteenth action, with U.S. equity futures firm even as the NYSE and Nasdaq cash markets stayed shut for the federal holiday. NYSE’s calendar shows Juneteenth National Independence Day as a 2026 market holiday, and Nasdaq’s schedule lists June 19 as closed too.
Nasdaq 100 futures rose 1.18% to 30,620.50 and S&P 500 futures added 0.62% at 7,554.75 early, as of 05:31 a.m. ET. Dow Jones futures hovered just below flat, slipping 0.01% to 51,958. Futures contracts track expected moves for the indexes but can show thinner trading and less reliable signals during holidays. Markets Insider noted its premarket numbers are indicative and may not always match prices from the exchanges.
Investors are back Monday after a fast, busy week. The S&P 500 jumped 1.1% to 7,500.58 on Thursday, the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.9% to 26,517.93, and the Dow edged up 0.1% to 51,564.70, reversing much of Wednesday’s Fed-driven losses. Over the week, the Nasdaq finished up 2.4%, the S&P 500 rose 0.9%, and the Dow was up 0.7%.
The rebound extended beyond typical holiday moves. It came after a heavy selloff earlier this week when the Federal Reserve left rates at 3.50%-3.75%. The Fed kept its focus on inflation, warning that price pressures are still high and repeating its commitment to “deliver price stability.” Federal Reserve
Fed rate worries are in focus again. Reuters said nine out of 19 policymakers see rate hikes as possible this year. The median year-end PCE inflation projection moved to 3.6%, up from March’s 2.7%. That’s the Fed’s main inflation measure.
Michael James, managing director and equity sales trader at Rosenblatt Securities, said the Fed gave a “hawkish tilt,” noting its focus on inflation. Kay Haigh, global head of fixed income and liquidity solutions at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, said the Fed shift was “not just about higher energy prices.” Reuters
Chips helped move the market. Intel jumped after President Donald Trump said Apple would partner with the company to design and make chips in the U.S. That could lift Intel’s foundry plans. Apple’s supply chain is still tied to TSMC, which is also busy making chips for Nvidia and AMD.
Broader markets aren’t as clear as the futures would suggest. Oil’s drop after the U.S.-Iran Strait of Hormuz deal gave risk appetite a boost earlier this week, with Gene Goldman, CIO at Cetera Investment Management, saying Monday saw a “classic relief rally.” But after the Fed, rate expectations moved up again and growth shares look vulnerable if yields tick higher. Reuters
Risk is if support from both sides drops at the same time. Switzerland said Friday’s U.S.-Iran talks won’t happen. The talks are part of a push to stop the fighting and get Hormuz open. New uncertainty on any deal could send energy prices up again. A strong inflation print next week would put more pressure on the Fed.
Heavy data fills next week’s calendar. The New York Fed lines up consumer confidence for June 23, new-home sales on June 24, and on June 25 a full list: jobless claims, durable goods, final Q1 GDP, and personal income with the PCE deflator. Traders will see if Thursday’s bounce was actual buying or just pre-holiday moves.
Related articles: NASDAQ:NVDA
