U.S. stock index futures opened the week little changed on Sunday night. CNBC reported S&P 500 futures up about 0.12 per cent, Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.24 per cent and Dow futures ahead 28 points, after a winning week led by technology shares; a later Asia update showed futures modestly higher still.
Oil moved the other way. Reuters reported Brent crude down 1.3 per cent to $103.38 a barrel and U.S. crude down 1.7 per cent to $90.29 in Asian trading on Monday, as President Trump's disputed energy-ceasefire announcement muddied supply expectations — though Brent held above $104 in CNBC's wrap. Trading was thin, with Japanese markets shut and U.S. bond markets on a partial Columbus Day holiday on Monday. Asian shares were mixed: South Korea's Kospi fell about 3 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.17 per cent and Australia's ASX 200 gained 0.74 per cent.
The earnings backdrop stays front and centre for the next 24 hours. FactSet's John Butters estimates S&P 500 third-quarter earnings growth of 29.6 per cent — a fourth straight quarter above 25 per cent — powered largely by AI data-centre investment, with investors focused on guidance about fuel and borrowing costs. The 10-year Treasury yield last week reached levels not seen since 2002.
In insider-disclosure news, Super Micro Computer president and CEO Charles Liang sold 100,000 shares at prices between $45.00 and $45.06, an average of $45.02, for roughly $4.5 million, according to an SEC Form 4 filing. The sale represented about 22.9 per cent of his pre-trade direct holding, leaving 337,506 shares held directly. The filing states the broker-assisted sale was made under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by Liang's spouse on May 26, 2026 — in other words, a pre-arranged plan rather than a discretionary trade, as disclosed. Director Chiu-Chu Liang was also reported to have sold 100,000 shares at the same average price under a 10b5-1 plan. This is a report of disclosed market activity, not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
