The major U.S. index futures are currently pointing to a higher open on Monday, with stocks likely to extend the surge seen late in last Friday’s session.

The markets may benefit from an early upward move by shares of Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), as the electric vehicle maker is jumping by 2.9 percent in pre-market trading.

The advance by Tesla comes after Morgan Stanley’s Adam Jonas named the stock his top automotive pick and said recent weakness creates an “attractive entry point.”

Crypto exchanges, such as Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) and Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD), may also help lead the markets higher after President Donald Trump announced the creation of a strategic crypto reserve for the U.S.

Buying interest may be somewhat subdued, however, as concerns about Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China continue to weigh on the markets.

During an appearance on Fox News over the weekend, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the proposed 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada as “fluid” but said the additional 10 percent tariff on imports from China is “set.”

Following the significant pullback seen over the course of the previous session, stocks saw substantial volatility during trading on Friday. The major averages swung wildly back and forth across the unchanged line before eventually closing sharply higher.

The major averages showed strong moves to the upside going into the close, ending the session near their best levels of the day. The Nasdaq surged 302.86 points or 1.6 percent to 18,847.28, the S&P 500 shot up 92.93 points or 1.6 percent to 5,954.50 and the Dow jumped 601.41 points or 1.4 percent to 43,840.91.

Despite the late-day rally, the Nasdaq plunged by 3.5 percent for the week and the S&P 500 slumped by the 1.0 percent. The narrower Dow, on the other hand, posted a 1.0 percent weekly gain.

Stocks moved mostly higher early in the session as traders looked look to pick up stocks at reduced levels following recent weakness, which saw the Nasdaq tumble to a nearly four-month closing low in Thursday’s session.

The Dow and the S&P 500 also ended the previous session at their lowest closing levels in over a month amid a slump by shares of Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA).

Buying interest was also generated in reaction to a Commerce Department report showing closely watched readings on U.S. consumer price inflation increased in line with economist estimates in the month of January.

However, the major averages pulled back well off their best levels and into negative territory in mid-day trading, as a meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy devolved into a shouting match.

The heated exchange came as Trump and Zelenskyy met to discuss a deal on Ukraine’s critical rare earth minerals in exchange for continued aid.

The back-and-forth, which also involved Vice President JD Vance, became increasingly tense as the leaders discussed Trump’s approach to ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Towards the end of the exchange, Trump suggested Ukraine would be left to fend to for itself if they are unwilling to reach a peace deal.

In a statement posted on Truth Social following the dustup, Trump claimed “Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved” and accused the Ukrainian leader of disrespecting the U.S.

Nonetheless, buying interest re-emerged in the latter part of the session, leading to the sharply higher close by the major averages.

Natural gas stocks moved sharply higher despite a steep drop by the price of the commodity, resulting in a 2.1 percent spike by the NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index.

Substantial strength was also visible among banking stocks, as reflected by the 2.1 percent surge by the KBW Bank Index.

Semiconductor, retail and utilities stocks also moved significantly higher over the course of the session, while computer hardware stocks saw considerable weakness on the day.

A steep drop by NetApp (NASDAQ:NTAP) weighed on the computer hardware sector, with the data infrastructure company plunging by 15.6 percent after reporting weaker than expected fiscal third quarter revenues and providing disappointing fiscal fourth quarter earnings guidance.

U.S Index Futures Trading – Taking the first steps with Plus500

Beginning your futures trading journey requires careful preparation. Start by opening a Plus500 account with their minimum $100 deposit — qualifying for their initial bonus program.

Spend time in the demo environment, understanding how futures contracts behave and how the platform’s tools can support your strategy.

As you develop confidence, consider starting with micro contracts, which offer smaller position sizes ideal for learning position management.

Plus500’s educational resources can guide you through this process, helping you understand both basic concepts and advanced trading strategies.

Start your futures trading journey with Plus500 today

Trading futures carries substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Plus500US Financial Services LLC is registered with the CFTC and member of the NFA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Bonus terms and conditions apply.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
Some portions of this content may have been generated or assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) tools and been reviewed for accuracy and quality by our editorial team.