Nasdaq futures rally ahead of big week of earnings, Fed meeting

Stock futures pointed to a higher open on Monday, with Nasdaq futures leading gains, as investors looked ahead to a busy week of corporate earnings reports and a Federal Reserve policy meeting. The rally in futures came alongside a sharp drop in oil prices, which fell about 5% after reports that Iran signaled it would halt attacks on Israel if a U.S.-brokered pause in military strikes holds. The decline in crude prices followed a second day of easing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with peace talks continuing. The moves in futures and oil markets reflect growing optimism that a broader conflict in the Middle East may be avoided, which could reduce inflationary pressures and allow the Fed to consider cutting interest rates later this year. Major companies including Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft are scheduled to report earnings this week, and the Fed is expected to hold rates steady at its meeting. The combination of strong earnings and a potential de-escalation in the Middle East has boosted investor sentiment, though markets remain cautious ahead of the central bank's decision.