Equity index futures fell on tech weakness and hot PCE data

Equity index futures experienced a challenging session, with the Nasdaq-100 leading the decline following a 6% drop in Apple due to announced hardware price increases. Despite Micron's 15% post-earnings surge, broader tech weakness kept indices under pressure. Economic data further weighed on sentiment as the all-items PCE inflation reading hit a 4.1% annual rate, its highest level since April 2023. Additionally, first-quarter GDP surprised to the upside at a 2.1% pace, reinforcing the Federal Reserve's recent hawkish tone. Options market activity reflected growing caution, with short-term Nasdaq-100 and Russell trades heavily skewed toward the put side. In the cryptocurrency space, Bitcoin extended its downswing, dropping below the 58,000 level before finding minor support.