5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens

Thomas Fuller / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images Robinhood Markets shares soared in premarket trading Monday, Sept. 8, 2025

U.S. stock futures are pointing higher as investors prepare for inflation data later this week; Robinhood Markets (HOOD) and AppLovin (APP) shares are surging on news they will be added to the S&P 500; EchoStar (SATS) stock is soaring after it announced a $17 billion deal to sell spectrum licenses to Elon Musk's SpaceX; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the U.S. would be forced to pay refunds on tariffs if the Supreme Court voids the import taxes; and the U.S. is mulling annual permits for China chipmaking exports for Korean firms Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Here's what investors need to know today.

1. US Stock Futures Point Higher to Begin Week

U.S. stock futures are pointing higher as investors look ahead to key inflation data later this week. Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures are up 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively, after the indexes posted modest gains last week. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are higher by 0.2% after the blue-chip index declined for a second straight week. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note is inching higher. Bitcoin (BTCUSD) is up, trading near $112,000. Oil futures are 2% higher. Gold futures are little changed.

2. Robinhood, AppLovin Stocks Jump on News of S&P 500 Inclusion

Shares of trading app Robinhood Markets (HOOD) and mobile app monetization company AppLovin (APP) are up 8% and 9%, respectively, in premarket trading on news the two companies will be added to the S&P 500 as part of the index's quarterly rebalancing. The firms will join the benchmark index on Sept. 22, replacing Caesar's Entertainment (CZR) and MarketAxess Holdings (MKTX), respectively. Meanwhile, Emcor Group (EME) stock is up 2% on news it also will be included in the index, replacing Enphase Energy (ENPH).

3. EchoStar Stock Soars on $17B Spectrum Sale to Musk's SpaceX

Shares of EchoStar (SATS) are surging 20% in premarket trading after the DISH TV parent agreed to sell approximately $17 billion in spectrum licenses to Elon Musk's SpaceX. EchoStar's Boost Mobile subscribers will have access to SpaceX's Starlink Direct to Cell service as part of the deal, which comes two weeks after EchoStar made a similar deal with AT&T to sell $23 billion in spectrum licenses. EchoStar said the transactions should resolve the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)'s inquiries into whether it was meeting certain requirements for both its wireless and satellite rights.

4. US Would Have to Refund Tariffs if Supreme Court Upholds Ruling, Bessent Says

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the U.S. could have to refund the tariffs it has collected if the U.S. Supreme Court upholds a lower court ruling that President Donald Trump exceeded his legal authority in setting the import taxes. Bessent said on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday that if the ruling was delayed until June 2026, the U.S. could be in a position to refund between $750 billion and $1 trillion in tariffs, noting that it “would be terrible for the Treasury." The Trump administration last week asked the Supreme Court to expedite a ruling in the case.

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5. US Mulls Annual China Chipmaking Permits for Samsung, SK Hynix, Report Says

The U.S. reportedly is mulling annual approvals for exports of chipmaking supplies to Chinese factories of Korean firms Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Bloomberg reported that Commerce Department officials presented the plan for a "site license" idea to Korean counterparts last week. The validated end user designations are set to expire at the end of 2025, the report said. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) said last week that the U.S. pulled its authorization to ship essential chipmaking tools to a key site in China, disrupting its manufacturing base there.

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