5 Things to Watch Before Monday’s Stock Market Opens

Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

Following last week’s market jitters and with Nvidia’s highly anticipated earnings report looming, investors are assessing the near-term trajectory of the artificial intelligence boom. The crucial question is whether the AI sector, which has dominated Wall Street and Silicon Valley speculation for years, can resume its market leadership or if further volatility is in store. While long-term AI prospects remain strong, analysts are watching for near-term retracements after the sector’s meteoric rise. Some firms are pointing to potential supply chain bottlenecks affecting GPU availability as a concern, while others highlight the regulatory landscape as a possible headwind.

Here’s what to know:

A recently released ethics report reveals that former Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler violated the central bank’s stock trading rules, leading to her resignation months prior.

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics investigation revealed Kugler’s purchases of individual stocks, rather than permissible mutual funds, and trading activity during mandated “blackout periods” around Federal Reserve policy meetings. These actions contravened established Fed regulations. Sources familiar with the situation indicate that Kugler resigned after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell denied a waiver for a mandated disclosure form, which revealed the prohibited holdings.

In related news, the Financial Times reports that New York Fed President John Williams recently engaged with Wall Street firms to solicit feedback on the Fed’s standing repo facility, a permanent lending mechanism designed to provide market backstop liquidity. The feedback will likely inform potential adjustments to the facility’s operational parameters and eligibility criteria.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced the immediate termination of mandated flight reductions at 40 major airports. These restrictions were imposed due to air traffic controller staffing concerns arising during the recent government shutdown, impacting over 5 million travelers through cancellations and delays.

While the government has reopened, the long-standing shortage of air traffic controllers remains a significant challenge. Industry experts suggest that the shutdown may complicate recruitment efforts and exacerbate existing staffing gaps. Airline executives are lobbying lawmakers to ensure that air traffic controllers and other essential airport personnel receive uninterrupted pay in the event of future government shutdowns.

Jeep, facing six consecutive years of declining domestic sales, is aggressively pursuing a turnaround strategy.

The SUV manufacturer is aiming for a resurgence driven by a revamped product pipeline, after grappling with leadership transitions and consumer sensitivity to pricing. Recent indicators suggest a potential recovery: Jeep reported its strongest quarterly sales growth in over two years. Key to this resurgence are new offerings such as the redesigned Grand Wagoneer, electric vehicle push, and focus on revitalizing its brand image to appeal to a broader demographic.

Meanwhile, Ford ceremonially inaugurated its newly constructed 2.1-million-square-foot facility in Dearborn, Michigan. This expansive complex replaces the former “Glass House” headquarters and boasts features such as a test track, a multi-level courtyard, and employee-focused amenities.

Here’s some of the events and releases we’re following this week:

— Reuters contributed to this report.