US stock futures closed lower early this week ahead of the New Year 2026 celebration, despite major indexes recording gains last Friday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.04% to 20.19 points, the S&P 500 fell 0.03% to 2.11 points, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.09% to 20.21 points.
However, the major US indexes are expected to end December with a positive performance after successfully overcoming uncertainty earlier this month.
The decline in technology stocks was supported by concerns about the scale of spending related to artificial intelligence (AI) which is now the main catalyst for market sentiment.
In other developments, the FOMC meeting minutes to be published on Tuesday are expected to be the main driver of market movements this week.
The data will provide a broader picture of the Federal Reserve's (Fed) policy decision in December, as well as internal discussions shaping a more aggressive outlook for 2026.
Investors are also awaiting US President Donald Trump's announcement of a new Fed chairman to replace Jerome Powell, who will step down in May next year.
Any indication of the decision is expected to have an immediate impact on markets this week.
