5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens

U.S. stock futures are pointing higher as traders watch for new tariff proposals from the White House; McDonald’s (MCD) reports declining U.S. comparable sales as its quarterly results come in below estimates; shares of Nucor (NUE), Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF), and other U.S. steel and aluminum producers are surging in premarket trading on reports that President Donald Trump would enact tariffs on imports; Trump orders the Treasury Department to stop production of the penny, citing costs; and BP (BP) shares are surging after reports that an activist investor has built a stake in the company and is pushing for change. Here’s what investors need to know today.

1. US Stock Futures Point Higher as Investors Mull Tariffs, Earnings

U.S. stock futures are pointing higher as investors evaluate the latest tariff proposals and ready for more corporate earnings reports this week. Nasdaq futures are 0.7% higher after the tech-heavy index declined last week. S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are also pointing higher. Bitcoin (BTCUSD) and gold and oil futures are trading higher. Yields on the 10-year Treasury note are little changed.

2. McDonald’s Results Come Up Short as US Sales Decline

U.S. sales at McDonald’s (MCD) declined in the fourth quarter as its revenue and adjusted earnings missed analysts’ estimates. The company reported that U.S. sales fell 1.4% year-over-year in Q4, when an E. coli outbreak forced the chain to pull its Quarter Pounder burgers in some states. The fast-food giant reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.83 and revenue of $6.39 billion, both below estimates. Shares of McDonald’s nevertheless were up 1% in premarket trading as global comparable sales edged 0.4% higher, returning to growth.

3. US-Based Steel, Aluminum Producer Stocks Surge on Trump Tariff Proposals

Several U.S-based steel and aluminum producers are surging in premarket trading after President Donald Trump said he planned to announce 25% tariffs on imports in addition to existing duties on the metals products. Shares of Nucor (NUE) and Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) are 8% higher in premarket trading, Steel Dynamics (STLD) and U.S. Steel (X) shares are higher by about 6%, and Alcoa (AA) shares are up by nearly 5%.

4. Trump Instructs Treasury Department to Stop Making Pennies, Citing Costs

President Trump said he has instructed the Treasury Department to end printing of the penny, citing the costs to produce the low-denomination coin. A recent report from the U.S. Mint showed that the penny cost $0.0369 to produce, with the government losing $85.3 million in 2024 on the nearly 3.2 billion pennies it printed. “Let’s rip the waste out of our great nations [sic] budget, even if it’s a penny at a time,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

5. BP Stock Rises as Activist Investor Reportedly Takes Stake

American depositary receipts (ADRs) of BP (BP) are 6% higher in premarket trading after reports that activist hedge fund Elliott Investment Management has amassed a stake in the British oil giant. Bloomberg reported that the size of the stake was “significant,” while The Wall Street Journal reported that the fund’s managers sought “transformational changes to improve the company’s performance.” Shares of BP, which has struggled to bring down debt and reduce costs, had been down 11% over the past year through Friday.