Stock futures are little changed after Wall Street closes out winning August: Live updates

On August 31st, US stocks suffered a decline as investors faced rising oil prices and the prospect of increased interest rates. The war-related spike in crude prices reignited concerns about inflation, prompting market participants to consider the potential for tighter monetary policy. The Federal Reserve's hawkish remarks by Chairman Kevin Warsh on August 28th further fueled this sentiment.

Despite the overall market decline, all three major US stock indexes managed to post monthly gains. The Nasdaq experienced the highest percentage growth for the month, driven by the ongoing AI trade. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 also saw gains, marking their fifth consecutive monthly increase for the Dow. Analyst Peter Tuz from Chase Investment Counsel explained that the combination of ongoing Middle East tensions and the upcoming possible rate hike contributed to the negative market sentiment.

The likelihood of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates by 25 basis points at the end of September rose above 65%, according to CME's FedWatch tool. Financial markets now price in the possibility of the central bank acting sooner rather than later due to the mounting inflationary pressures. Energy shares led the S&P 500 with significant percentage gains, benefiting from the spike in oil prices.

Meanwhile, utilities struggled with concerns over wildfire liabilities following a recent California bill amendment. GameStop rose 2.9% after announcing a US$1.4 billion debt exchange, preventing further share dilution. The market closed with low investor confidence, as declining issues outnumbered advancers on both the NYSE and the Nasdaq, indicating cautious trading activity.