Stock Futures Rise Ahead of Earnings, Inflation Concerns Linger
U.S. stock futures gained ground on Thursday as investors anticipated a deluge of earnings reports and kept an eye on President Trump's economic policies.
* Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) climbed 0.3%, while S&P 500 futures (ES=F) advanced 0.2%.
* Nasdaq 100 futures (NQ=F) fluctuated around the breakeven line after two consecutive days of gains.
Concerns over Trump's tariffs that had previously shaken markets may have subsided, but investors remain cautious as earnings reports could provide early indications of potential fallout from the trade policy revamp. Tech and chip-related results will be closely examined for insights into AI demand.
Amazon (AMZN) is set to release its earnings after the bell, following Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) disappointing cloud sales. The report will gauge Big Tech's willingness to continue investing heavily in AI, which has bolstered Nvidia (NVDA) stock in recent days.
Ford (FORD) shares traded lower in pre-market despite exceeding analysts' quarterly earnings estimates due to cautious full-year guidance. The automaker cited tariffs as a headwind, acknowledging their "major impact" on the industry.
Meanwhile, inflation concerns persist as Federal Reserve officials maintain their "wait-and-see" approach to interest rate adjustments amidst Trump's economic initiatives. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant indicated that he and Trump would prioritize lowering 10-year Treasury yields rather than cutting interest rates.
In commodities, gold (GC=F) surged to record highs for the fifth consecutive day, driven by demand from banks and investors seeking stability amid the escalating trade war. Futures are trading at $2885 per ounce, approaching the $2905 peak reached earlier today.