US stock futures are flat ahead of Fed Chief Kevin Warsh's Jackson Hole speech, where traders seek clarity on his economic outlook and inflation strategy. Nasdaq 100 futures are lower, while the S&P 500 index continues to be driven by a few AI stocks, with most other stocks stagnant. Major tech stocks are mostly higher pre-market, except for Nvidia. PayPal experienced a significant slump after a potential acquisition was abandoned. Bond yields are slightly higher, while the dollar and gold remain largely unchanged. Commodities are showing modest gains across various sectors.Key US economic data releases today include the MNI Chicago PMI, University of Michigan sentiment, and Kansas City Fed services activity. Affirm Holdings saw a jump in pre-market trading after forecasting strong first-quarter revenue and expanding its partnership with Shopify. Autodesk's shares fell on a weaker-than-expected earnings forecast, with analysts noting moderating sales growth. Elastic's stock rose significantly after boosting its full-year earnings guidance and beating estimates for the current quarter. Gap gained on news of a new head for Old Navy and profit exceeding expectations, despite lower sales guidance. Marvell Technology reported results that modestly beat expectations, but its stock declined after a substantial year-to-date rally. SentinelOne's shares fell as its earnings per share forecast trailed average estimates. Solstice Advanced Materials shares increased following the termination of a merger pact with Element Solutions. Ulta Beauty's stock dipped due to increased discounts impacting its margins, though analysts noted potentially conservative guidance.Tencent released a new AI foundation model that reportedly outperforms rivals in internal tests. The UAE granted SpaceX's Starlink a ten-year satellite services license. Fox Corp. denied discussions regarding a recombination with News Corp. European equities are broadly higher, with consumer, auto, and chemical sectors leading the gains. Asian stocks also edged higher as investors awaited Warsh's speech, with financial, industrial, and material sectors performing well. Concerns about Big Tech spending, geopolitical tensions, and high oil prices persist in the region.