U.S. stock futures pointed down early Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was set to lose 46 points, or 0.1%, before the market opened. Contracts tied to the S&P 500 and the technology-heavy Nasdaq also fell 0.2% each in premarket trading.
The market is digesting a mix of political and economic news. This includes comments from President Donald Trump regarding Ukraine and Russia. Trump referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a dictator.
He blamed him for starting the conflict with Russia. This is a stark departure from the U.S.’s previous stance. In economic news, the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes provided some relief.
They suggested that while inflation targets are still the focus, additional interest-rate cuts might be forthcoming if price gains or growth weaken.
U.S. stock futures decline on news
Investors seemed reassured that a long pause on rate changes might not adversely affect the market.
Earnings from retail giant Walmart are expected to be a major focus today. They will offer insights into consumer sentiment, a vital component of economic growth. Meanwhile, oil prices fell due to concerns over U.S. tariffs and a buildup of crude stockpiles.
Bond yields were slightly lower. The 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.527%, down from 4.564% yesterday. The two-year yield was at 4.268%.
Tech stocks are also in the spotlight. Nvidia’s shares slipped despite a price-target upgrade. Tesla’s stock fell amid distractions involving CEO Elon Musk’s comments on cryptocurrency.
Overall, the stock market, which has been in a bull phase for three years, faces a critical juncture as it tackles these mixed signals.