US stock futures were muted on Monday as investors awaited the latest Consumer Price Index reading on Wednesday. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged lower by 0.1%, while those on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 gained slightly after a winning week for the major indexes. The CPI report could alter the inflation narrative, with Federal Reserve officials divided on whether to raise interest rates amid the oil shock from the Middle East conflict. A surprisingly weak jobs report on Friday eased some pressure on the Fed, though policymakers remain ready to act if inflation comes in hotter than expected. Oil prices were slightly higher, with global benchmark Brent crude futures trading at $84 per barrel, as Iran indicated a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz is very close.
