U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell holds a press conference following the issuance of the Federal Open Market Committee's statement on interest rate policy in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 30, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) - What matters in U.S. and global markets today

Fed minutes are due, and top retailers will report earnings in the coming week. But the main attraction will be Jerome Powell's speech on Friday.

Spot gold was down 0.2% to $3,333.01 per ounce, with US gold futures for December delivery also slipping by the same margin to $3,376 an ounce.

U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Thursday, as investors analyzed big-box retailer Walmart's quarterly results for clues about the health of the American consumer, ahead of the Federal Reserve's three-day conference in Jackson Hole.

Futures for the main stock indexes were mostly pointing down after the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks slid for a second day on Wednesday. The group of highly valued technology stocks–Amazon, Apple,

September S&P 500 E-Mini futures (ESU25) are trending down -0.13% this morning, continuing to drop after a tech-led selloff in the prior session, while investors await the Federal Reserve’s July meeting minutes,

Stocks in Asia were flat and oil slid on Tuesday before a key meeting of central bankers and as traders evaluated promising diplomatic signals toward ending hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.

Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures are falling in premarket trading as the stock market braces for the Federal Reserve's minutes and any clues about interest-rate cuts.