US Stocks Set For Mixed Open As Traders Await Tech Earnings Deluge, Central Bank Meeting: Analyst Says Fed Will Talk Tough For While Longer

U.S. stocks are poised for a mixed start on Monday ahead of a deluge of big tech earnings, with optimism surrounding tech earnings likely providing support to the market. This week, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT), Alphabet, Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META), and Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) are all set to report their quarterly results, and analysts anticipate that AI-focused companies will outperform expectations, potentially sustaining the equity market rally.

Despite this optimism, investors may exercise caution leading up to a two-day Federal Reserve meeting beginning on Tuesday. While economists expect the Fed to maintain the current high rate, traders will be attentive to signals regarding the trajectory of interest rates. Meanwhile, the Chinese market continues to experience volatility, driven by concerns about its troubled property sector.

Cues From Last Week’s Trading:

In the week ending on Jan. 26, major stock indices saw gains for a third consecutive week, buoyed by optimism surrounding the economy, inflation, and earnings. Key drivers included preliminary fourth-quarter GDP data highlighting the economy’s strength, varied earnings reports, and the December personal consumption expenditure index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure.

The S&P 500 Index reached record levels for four sessions during the week, concluding just below the record, while the Dow Industrials closed the week in record territory.

US Index Performance In Week Ended Jan. 26

Analyst Color:

Following last week’s strong economic data, Comerica Chief Economist Bill Adams said the Fed will not cut rates at this decision, and Chair Jerome Powell will “restrain the urge to kick off the post-decision press conference with a victory lap.”

“The Fed’s policymakers are focused on re-anchoring inflation expectations, which edged higher during the last few year surge in prices and are still above pre-pandemic levels by some measures,” the economist said.

“They are going to talk tough for a while longer to…