US equity futures were mixed on Monday after the S&P 500 ended Friday’s shortened session just shy of a record high. Sentiment stayed fragile as Wall Street entered another holiday-thinned week, with concerns over an AI-driven valuation bubble lingering. On Friday, losses in chipmakers and select consumer discretionary names offset broader resilience. Investors now await key labor signals, including ADP private payrolls and minutes from the Fed’s December meeting due later this week. Earlier this month, the Fed cut rates but projected only one more reduction in 2026, underscoring caution on inflation risks. On the policy front, minimum wages will rise in 22 U.S. states this year, with 19 implementing hikes on January 1, led by Hawaii’s jump to USD 16 per hour. Geopolitical focus also sharpened after Donald Trump said talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky brought peace negotiations “a lot closer,” though major issues remain unresolved.
