Could the U.S. Stock Market Rebound This Week After the Worst Week Since September?

# U.S. Stock Futures Tumble Amid Employment Report Worries and Trade Policy Uncertainty On March 9 (local time), U.S. stock futures extended their decline as investors digest the February employment report while preparing for upcoming economic data releases this week. Concerns over President Donald Trump's unpredictable trade policies reigniting inflation fears have added pressure to the market. According to Yahoo Finance, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) dropped 0.5% on Sunday evening. S&P 500 futures (ES=F) fell 0.7%, continuing the worst weekly performance since September. Meanwhile, Nasdaq futures (NQ=F) slipped 1%, projecting losses for all three major indices, potentially exceeding 2%. President Trump attempted to ease recession fears during an interview with Fox News, stating that the U.S. economy is in "the middle of a transition." However, persistent tariff negotiations among the U.S., Mexico, and Canada remain a market concern. Canada's economy is also facing instability, with Mark Carney set to take office as the new Prime Minister amid ongoing tariff threats from President Trump. This week, the Federal Reserve's consumer inflation expectations survey results are due on Monday, followed by the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index on Friday. Additionally, February’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) will be released on Wednesday and the Producer Price Index (PPI) on Thursday, drawing market attention to inflation pressures. Amid escalating economic uncertainty, gold futures have maintained their upward momentum. Gold futures prices hovered near $2,912 per ounce, up approximately 2% from the previous week. The persistent uncertainty from Trump's trade policies, ongoing central bank gold purchases, and expectations of further rate cuts have driven gold prices higher. Brent crude (BZ=F) fell below $70 per barrel, marking the lowest level since 2021. Similarly, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped below $67 per barrel. Weaker-than-expected Chinese economic data has heightened concerns over global demand. China's consumer price index turned negative for the first time in 13 months, sparking deflation fears. OPEC and its allies' plans for production increases, along with negotiations to end the Ukraine war, have also contributed to the decline in oil prices. Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone Group, noted, "Oil prices are moving downward in tandem with broad market declines." The market is particularly focused on the possibility that Brent crude may fall below last week's intraday low of $68.33 per barrel. Weston warned, "If support levels break, technical and forced selling may ensue." Should this downward trend persist, it is likely to further increase volatility in global equity markets.