US pre-open: Markets set for weaker open as investors brace for CPI

13th Feb 2026 10:38

(Sharecast News) - Wall Street futures were in the red ahead of the bell on Friday as investors patiently awaited the release of key consumer inflation figures.

As of 1225 GMT, Dow Jones futures were down 0.31%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures had the indices opening 0.24% and 0.23% softer, respectively.

The Dow closed 669.42 points lower on Thursday amid fears around artificial intelligence disruption.

Friday's primary focus will be January's consumer price index at 1330 GMT, with economists expecting to see the inflation gauge show a 2.5% year-on-year advance and a 0.3% month-on-month uptick.

Rostro's Joshua Mahony said: "Today brings the latest US CPI inflation figures, coming hot off the heels of Wednesday's mixed US jobs report. The headline read of stronger payrolls and weaker unemployment essentially took the chance of a Powell rate cut off the table for many, with markets now pricing a 75% chance that rates stay steady for the next two-meetings.

"However, questions around the annual revision, the role of benchmark adjustments to boost the 130k payrolls figure, and the lack of job creation outside of healthcare and education means that today's CPI figure will still play a key role in sentiment. A hot figure would certainly double down on the notion of a more cautious Fed given the fact that Warsh has repeatedly warned the Fed not to cut rates against a backdrop of rising price pressures. However, a weaker inflation figure could see the dollar turn lower once again as we price a potential for additional easing in the year ahead."

In the corporate space, semiconductor business Applied Materials was up double digitds in pre-market action on the back of strong quarterly earnings and an encouraging outlook, while Airbnb also traded higher on upbeat guidance.

Pinterest, on the other hand, was down roughly 17% after its fourth quarter results missed expectations and the group offered up weak guidance.

No major earnings were slated for release on Friday.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com