The Daily

U.S. stock futures moved higher on Monday, led by gains in major technology stocks, even as investors remained cautious amid rising oil prices linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Shares of Meta Platforms rose about 3% in premarket trading after reports the company is preparing large-scale layoffs as part of a push to improve efficiency while investing heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure,

 » Read more about: Wall Street futures rise as tech stocks gain  »

March 16 (Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures rose on Monday with shares of Meta among top gainers after a report said the megacap was prepping for sweeping AI-related layoffs, even as elevated crude prices due to the raging Middle East conflict kept risk-taking in check.

Meta gained 3% in premarket trading after a Reuters report said it was planning to shrink 20% or more of its workforce to offset costly artificial intelligence infrastructure bets and prepare for greater efficiency brought about by AI-assisted workers.

 » Read more about: Futures rise as tech stocks gain; Middle East conflict in focus  »

Yahoo Finance’s Jake Conley takes a look at the pivotal events for markets this week:

In the week ahead, all eyes will be on the Fed meeting — and what Chair Jerome Powell does or doesn’t say about the impact of the war in Iran on inflation in his second-to-last meeting as chair.

 » Read more about: Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq future rise as Wall Street keeps watch on Hormuz  »

Yahoo Finance’s Jake Conley takes a look at the pivotal events for markets this week:

In the week ahead, all eyes will be on the Fed meeting — and what Chair Jerome Powell does or doesn’t say about the impact of the war in Iran on inflation in his second-to-last meeting as chair.

 » Read more about: Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq future rise as Wall Street keeps watch on Hormuz  »

 » Read more about: Stock futures rise as U.S. crude slips back below $100 per barrel: Live updates  »

The AI revolution has minted a new generation of scorching-hot tech stocks. You know them as the Magnificent 7. Investors also know them as the elite, market-cap-heavy group capable of moving the entire market.

But which company stands above the rest?

 » Read more about: Market Madness: Vote in our bracket to decide which stock rules all  »

Stock futures pointed higher Monday after the three major equities indexes all finished in the red for a third consecutive week. Meanwhile, U.S. oil futures hovered near $100 a barrel as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to weigh on crude prices. 

Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up a respective 0.7%,

 » Read more about: Stock Market Today: Futures Point Higher After Major Indexes Close Lower for 3rd Straight Week; Oil Hovers Near $100/Barrel  »

 » Read more about: India's trade deficit narrows before Iran war impact shows on economy  »

Two women from the Iranian Red Crescent Society stand as a thick plume of smoke from a U.S.-Israeli strike on an oil storage facility late Saturday rises into the sky in Tehran. (AP Photo)

US-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: The US jets have reportedly struck military facilities near the Chabahar Free Trade Zone,

 » Read more about: US-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: All Indian seafarers in Persian Gulf area safe, says govt  »

Nvidia (NVDA 1.56%) has been a cornerstone of the artificial intelligence (AI) trade since it became a popular investment theme following OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in late 2022. The stock has advanced 1,100% since January 2023, but shares have added just 1% in the past six months.

 » Read more about: Nvidia Stock Investors Just Got Great News From CEO Jensen Huang. It's Time to Buy.  »