Key Events Driving Stocks and the Economy Today

Stock futures pointed to a modestly higher opening on Wall Street on Friday, while the US dollar weakened ahead of key economic updates.

Investors are closely watching the release of the February jobs report, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech, and the ongoing impact of trade policy shifts.

The US labor market remains a focal point for investors, with the February nonfarm payrolls report set to be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. Economists expect payroll growth of 170,000 jobs, an increase from January’s 143,000, while the unemployment rate is projected to hold steady at 4%. A stronger-than-expected report could influence Federal Reserve policy decisions and market sentiment.

Futures indicated a positive start to trading, with:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average futures up 63 points (0.15%)
• S&P 500 futures gaining 0.28%
• Nasdaq 100 futures rising 0.42%

This follows a volatile week where concerns over trade policy and economic uncertainty led to significant swings in stock prices. The S&P 500 is down 3.6% for the week, the Dow Jones has lost 2.9%, and the Nasdaq Composite has underperformed with a 4.1% decline.

Markets continue to react to shifting US trade policies. On Thursday, the White House announced a temporary suspension of tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods under the USMCA agreement until April 2. Despite this concession, investors remain cautious as the broader impact of tariffs on economic growth and corporate earnings is still unclear.

Investors are also awaiting comments from Federal Reserve officials. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is set to speak at 12:30 p.m. ET about the economic outlook. Additionally, Governors Michelle Bowman and Adriana Kugler are scheduled to make remarks. Market participants will be looking for any signals regarding interest rate policy, particularly as expectations for future rate cuts have increased amid recent economic data.

Overseas markets mirrored Wall Street’s volatility:

• Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 2.17%, leading losses in Asia.
• South Korea’s Kospi and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also traded lower.
• European bond yields surged due to Germany’s spending plans, while the euro strengthened for its biggest weekly gain in nearly five years.

Meanwhile, safe-haven assets like gold and the Japanese yen saw increased demand, reflecting investor uncertainty.

Bitcoin prices fell nearly 2% to around $88,427, even as President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a US strategic bitcoin reserve. In the corporate sector, AI-focused stocks saw mixed reactions, with Marvell Technologies (MRVL) dropping 20%, while Nvidia (NVDA) and Palantir (PLTR) also declined amid uncertainty about the sustainability of the AI investment boom.

With a highly anticipated jobs report, Federal Reserve speeches, and ongoing trade policy shifts, markets remain on edge. Traders are preparing for potential swings, with options markets pricing in a 1.7% move in the S&P 500 following the jobs data release.

CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Reuters contributed to this report.