Dow Jones futures slip ahead of retailers' report, FOMC Minutes

• Dow Jones futures decline as traders adopt caution ahead of corporate reports from major retailers.
• Traders will likely observe the Fed's July Meeting Minutes to gain cues on policy outlook.
• Market sentiment may draw support from any positive outcome toward a possible ending of the Ukraine-Russia war.

Dow Jones futures decline during European trading on Wednesday, ahead of the opening of North American markets, trading below 44,900, down by 0.23%. Moreover, S&P 500 futures fall 0.23% to trade near 6,400, while Nasdaq 100 futures depreciate by 0.31%, trading near 23,400.

US stock futures struggle ahead of corporate reports from major retailers. Traders also await the US Federal Reserve's Minutes for the July meeting due later in the North American session. Market attention would shift toward the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium due on Thursday, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech for guidance on a September policy decision.

However, any positive development toward a possible resolution of the Ukraine-Russia war could lead to an improved market sentiment. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Tuesday that plans for a bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are now underway, according to CNN. Furthermore, US President Donald Trump announced that the US would not place American troops on the ground to help enforce a potential peace deal in Ukraine.

On Tuesday's regular hours, Dow Jones Industrial Average steadied around 44,900, as Home building supplier Home Depot showed ongoing earnings growth in the second quarter. The S&P 500 fell 0.59% and the Nasdaq 1.39% as tech stocks sold off, with Nvidia down 3.5%, AMD 5.4%, and Palantir 9.4%.