US stock futures showed a slight upward trend on Thursday as investors continued to analyze the Federal Reserve’s recent meeting minutes and prepared for Walmart’s earnings report, a crucial indicator of consumer health in the American retail sector.
S&P 500 contracts increased by about 0.2%, while tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 futures saw a rise of 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures remained essentially flat after experiencing a significant advance across major benchmarks in the previous trading session.
The minutes from the Federal Reserve’s January meeting unveiled significant divisions among policymakers about the future trajectory of interest rates. Despite discussions around potential rate hikes in response to persistent inflation, investors remained steadfast in their expectations for at least two rate cuts by the end of the year.
Investors are also keenly awaiting economic data, including weekly jobless claims and the pending home sales report scheduled for Thursday.
On the earnings front, Walmart is poised to take center stage, set to release its financial results before the market opens. As one of the largest retailers in the country, Walmart’s performance is often viewed as a barometer for the overall health of the retail sector and by extension, the consumer market.
In other news, tariff discussions resurfaced as the Trump administration criticized the New York Federal Reserve. This regional Fed bank has come under fire for a report suggesting that US consumers and businesses are disproportionately impacted by tariffs, which have been a key component of the Trump administration’s economic strategy.
Additionally, oil prices stabilized following their most significant daily increase since October, driven by growing concerns over US-Iran relations and potential American military intervention, as reported by Axios.
Meanwhile, Carvana’s stock faced a steep decline after the company released its earnings report, which fell short of analyst expectations for EBITDA due to escalating expenses linked to aggressive growth strategies.
The market continues to watch these developments closely, as they hold implications for both the economy and investor sentiment moving forward.
