Stock futures remain largely unchanged as investors brace for key economic data that could influence the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision on interest rates. Following a strong performance by major indexes, which saw gains for seven out of the last eight trading sessions, futures associated with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 are up 0.1%. Meanwhile, the futures linked to the Nasdaq are slightly lower. Both the Dow and S&P 500 are now less than 1% away from marking new record closing highs, driven by growing optimism regarding potential interest rate cuts next week.
Market participants are closely monitoring jobless claims figures set to be released today, alongside a critical inflation report scheduled for Friday. These data points will provide crucial context for the Fed as it prepares for its policy meeting. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note has increased slightly to 4.09%, influencing borrowing costs on an array of consumer loans. In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin remains steady around $93,000 after recent price fluctuations, while gold futures have dipped by 0.3% to $4,220 an ounce.
In regulatory news, the European Commission has initiated an antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms regarding its artificial intelligence policies on WhatsApp. The scrutiny arises from Meta’s decision to block AI companies from directly reaching users through the platform starting January 15, 2026. The Commission is assessing whether this policy constitutes a violation of EU competition laws, particularly if Meta’s own chatbot becomes the sole communication option available post-implementation. A spokesperson for WhatsApp has dismissed the Commission’s concerns as “baseless,” citing infrastructural strains from current AI interactions.
Salesforce has reported earnings that exceeded analysts’ expectations, driven by its innovative AI offerings. In its latest earnings report, the company announced an adjusted earnings per share of $3.25, outpacing projections by approximately 40 cents. CEO Marc Benioff highlighted the success of Agentforce, which enables companies to create tailored AI agents capable of performing complex tasks. Following these announcements, Salesforce has raised its revenue and profit forecasts, seeing a modest uptick of 1.5% in premarket trading despite a substantial 29% decline in share value so far this year.
In merger and acquisition news, both Paramount Skydance and Netflix are reportedly enhancing their offers to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Reports indicate that Paramount has increased its breakup fee to $5 billion, reflecting confidence in navigating regulatory challenges. After a drop in shares, Paramount Skydance has seen a slight recovery of 1% in premarket trading, while Netflix shares have also rebounded slightly after experiencing losses.
Among discount retailers, Dollar General has emerged as a notable performer, reporting stronger-than-expected earnings. The company has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its footprint with plans to open around 575 new stores next year and remodel existing ones. Dollar Tree and Five Below have similarly reported encouraging earnings, with comparable sales increases noted for Five Below. As a result, Dollar General shares surged nearly 6%, while shares of Five Below and Dollar Tree rose by 3% and 1%, respectively, indicating a broader trend of value-seeking behavior among consumers.
