U.S. Futures Lower as Microsoft and Meta Outlooks Weigh on Markets; European Markets Also Decline

U.S. stock futures are indicating a lower open as disappointing earnings from Microsoft and Meta Platforms weigh heavily on market sentiment. Both companies reported strong profits for the summer; however, their outlooks fell short of investor expectations, leading to a decline in Nasdaq futures. This downward trend is mirrored in European equity markets, which opened in the red following mixed performance in Asian markets. The Bank of Japan (BoJ) left its monetary policy unchanged, a move anticipated by analysts. The Japanese yen has strengthened against the U.S. dollar, while the euro remained stable despite the release of the HICP data. The British pound is approaching the 1.30 mark against the dollar.