The S&P 500 and Nasdaq prepare for a cautious start following the drama of the shutdown crisis, with traders focusing on Powell’s speech and economic data.

The U.S. stock market is poised to begin the week with a negative start as premarket futures on major indices show slight losses. This comes after the U.S. Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown, leading investors to focus on upcoming economic data releases and speeches by Federal Reserve officials. Congress passed a stopgap bill to fund federal agencies, easing concerns about a potential shutdown that could have had broader market implications. Today, manufacturing activity and construction spending data will be released, offering insights into the state of the U.S. economy. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Hasker, and Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester are scheduled to deliver speeches throughout the day.