S&P500 and Nasdaq 100: Futures Fall as Tech Stocks Cool and Bitcoin Pressures Sentiment

Futures Slip as Tech and Crypto Pressure Sentiment Early Monday

Stock index futures are under pressure on the Monday open, with sellers leaning in after last week’s strong run. Dow futures are trading at 47,506.00, down 237.00 or 0.50%, while S&P 500 Index futures sit at 6,817.25, off 42.25 or 0.62%. Nasdaq-100 Index futures are taking the heaviest hit, down 210.25 or 0.83% at 25,271.75. The tone feels cautious — traders aren’t chasing strength after a choppy November that left tech looking stretched.

Is Technical Pressure Helping Drive the Pullback?

E-mini S&P 500 futures ran into sellers at 6864.50 early in the session, and that rejection is shaping today’s mood. The setup leaves room for a daily closing reversal if selling holds. Traders are watching the 50-day moving average at 6762.75, which sits as the first meaningful floor. Lose that, and 6739.25 and 6694.75 come into play. It’s not a panic move — more like the futures market testing how much appetite is left after last week’s surge. But the pattern of lower tops has people a little uneasy, especially with tech already on the defensive.

Are AI Stocks Finally Showing Some Fatigue?

Tech weakness continues to be the early drag. Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom are each down more than 1%, with traders becoming more selective after November’s valuation worries. The Nasdaq’s stumble last month — nearly 8% down at one point — still sits in the back of people’s minds.

Synopsys is the exception, up about 8% after Nvidia disclosed a $2 billion investment tied to a broader partnership. Strong move, but not enough to stabilize the rest of the group.

Is Bitcoin’s Slide Hitting Risk Appetite Again?

Bitcoin’s drop — more than 5% and back below $87,000 — is feeding into the risk-off feel. The coin hasn’t been able to hold above the $90,000 mark since losing it late last month, and the weakness is spilling into equities tied to the space. Cleanspark is pulling back after last week’s huge rally, while Mara Holdings and Coinbase are trading sharply lower. When crypto cracks, traders usually trim exposure elsewhere — and that’s what futures are showing.

Which Individual Stocks Are Breaking From the Pack?

Leggett & Platt is up 14% on a $12-per-share all-stock buyout proposal from Somnigroup International — a hefty enough premium to spark talk of whether another bidder steps in. Wynn Resorts is up nearly 2% after Goldman Sachs added it to its conviction buy list. On the downside, Moderna is sliding about 4% after an internal FDA memo linked its Covid vaccine to the deaths of 10 children, prompting fast selling.

Bottom Line: Can Tech Stabilize Enough to Keep December on Track?

Seasonality still tilts bullish — December tends to reward buyers — but this morning’s action shows traders want more clarity before stepping up again. If Bitcoin steadies and tech finds its footing instead of leaking lower, the futures market could regroup quickly. For now, though, buyers are keeping their size small and waiting for cleaner signals from the sector that’s been carrying the tape for months. Technically, another secondary lower top will indicate investors are selling rallies.

More Information in our Economic Calendar.