Stock futures monday show cautious optimism; S&P 500

Stock futures Monday show cautious optimism; S&P 500 futures are flat after last week’s record close. Financial stocks remain in focus as analysts expect robust Q3 earnings from major banks, driven by higher net interest margins. Profit-taking can be important for any investor on a timeline, or when there’s a high probability the position’s future gain potential is limited compared to other options. Profit-taking is less important for long-term investors who rely on compounding to produce gains over time. With the Fed inherently data dependent, not getting the kind of information policymakers rely on makes the job of deciding where interest rates should be set more complicated. Stock futures Monday trade flat to mildly higher, as corporate buybacks accelerate, reinforcing equity demand into year-end. Analysts see this as a stabilizing force in market valuation.